Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Indiana

Indiana

Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

. As of 2010, the population was 70,002. The county seat

County seat

A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 is Greenfield

Greenfield, Indiana

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,600 people, 5,917 households, and 4,017 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,818.0 people per square mile . There were 6,449 housing units at an average density of 803.0 per square mile...

.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 307.02 square miles (795.2 km²), of which 306.02 square miles (792.6 km²) (or 99.67%) is land and 1.01 square miles (2.6 km²) (or 0.33%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Madison County
  Madison County, Indiana
  As of the census of 2000, there were 133,358 people, 53,052 households, and 36,234 families residing in the county. The population density was 295 people per square mile . There were 56,939 housing units at an average density of 126 per square mile...
  
    (north)
• Henry County
  Henry County, Indiana
  As of the census of 2000, there were 48,508 people, 19,486 households, and 13,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 20,592 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
  
    (east)
• Rush County
  Rush County, Indiana
  As of the census of 2000, there were 18,261 people, 6,923 households, and 5,046 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 7,337 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
  
    (southeast)
• Shelby County
  Shelby County, Indiana
  As of the census of 2000, there were 43,445 people, 16,561 households, and 12,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 105 people per square mile . There were 17,633 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
  
    (south)
• Marion County
  Marion County, Indiana
  Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
  
   (west)
• Hamilton County
  Hamilton County, Indiana
  Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 274,569. The county seat is Noblesville....
  
   (northwest)

Major highways

Interstate 70 Interstate 70 Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky... U.S. Route 52 U.S. Route 52 U.S. Route 52 is a United States highway that runs across the northern, eastern and southeastern regions of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S... U.S. Route 36 U.S. Route 36 U.S. Route 36 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado to Uhrichsville, Ohio. The highway's western terminus is at Deer Ridge Junction, an intersection in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, where it meets U.S. Route 34. Its eastern... U.S. Route 40 U.S. Route 40 U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...

Indiana State Road 9 Indiana State Road 9 State Road 9 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a long north–south state highway in the eastern portion of Indiana. Its southern terminus is near Columbus at State Road 46, and the northern terminus is at the Michigan/Indiana border between Howe, Indiana, and Sturgis, Michigan, where it... Indiana State Road 67 Indiana State Road 67 State Road 67 in the U.S. State of Indiana cuts a diagonal route from southwest to northeast across the state from the north side of Vincennes to Indianapolis to the Ohio state line, where it becomes State Route 29 east of Bryant.-Route description:... Indiana State Road 109 Indiana State Road 109 -Southern section:The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 40 in Knightstown in Henry County. The highway runs north for about a mile, then heads northwest and intersects Interstate 70 before passing through Wilkinson in Hancock County. In Warrington it heads north into Madison County and crosses... Indiana State Road 234 Indiana State Road 234 State Road 234 exists in two sections in Indiana. The western portion begins at the Illinois border from a Vermilion County, Illinois, county road. It runs east from there to U.S. Route 136 near Jamestown... Indiana State Road 238 Indiana State Road 238 State Road 238 is a short stretch of two-lane undivided road, mostly in Hamilton County, that travels southeast from near Fishers to Fortville. The western portion was concurrent with Greenfield Avenue....

History

Hancock County was officially formed on March 1, 1828. It was named for John Hancock

John Hancock

John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...

, president of the Continental Congress

Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met briefly during 1774,...

, who signed his name prominently to the Declaration of Independence

Declaration of independence

A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...

.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Greenfield have ranged from a low of 17 °F (-8.3 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29.4 °C) in July, although a record low of -29 °F was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 103 °F (39.4 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.37 inches (6 cm) in February to 4.85 inches (12.3 cm) in July.

Government

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana

Constitution of Indiana

There have been two Constitutions of the State of Indiana. The first constitution was created when the Territory of Indiana sent forty-three delegates to a constitutional convention on June 10, 1816 to establish a constitution for the proposed State of Indiana after the United States Congress had...

, and by the Indiana Code

Indiana Code

The Indiana Code is the code of laws for the US State of Indiana. The contents are the codification of the all the laws currently in effect within Indiana...

.

County Council: The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Court: The county maintains a small claims court

Small claims court

Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction; it may be known as a county or magistrate's court...

 that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court

Circuit court

Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...

.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff

Sheriff

A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....

, coroner

Coroner

A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...

, auditor, treasurer

Treasurer

A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...

, recorder

Recorder of deeds

Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...

, surveyor

Surveying

See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

, and circuit court clerk

Court clerk

A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...

 Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 affiliations and to be residents of the county.

Hancock County is part of Indiana's 5th congressional district

Indiana's 5th congressional district

Indiana's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana that takes in the eastern and northern suburbs of Indianapolis, including Marion, Carmel, Shelbyville, and Noblesville and parts of Kokomo...

; Indiana Senate

Indiana Senate

The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits...

 district 28; and Indiana House of Representatives

Indiana House of Representatives

The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...

 districts 29 and 53.

Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 55,391 people, 20,718 households, and 16,160 families residing in the county. The population density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 181 people per square mile (70/km²). There were 21,750 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.13% Black

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or African American

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.17% Native American

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.37% Asian

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.03% Pacific Islander

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.23% from other races

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.62% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or Latino

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 of any race. 29.3% were of German

Germans

The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....

, 20.4% American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, 12.6% English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 and 11.1% Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 20,718 households out of which 36.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.50% were married couples

Marriage

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.00% were non-families. 18.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $56,416, and the median income for a family was $63,083. Males had a median income of $44,001 versus $28,562 for females. The per capita income

Per capita income

Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the county was $24,966. About 1.90% of families and 3.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.80% of those under age 18 and 5.10% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Fortville
  Fortville, Indiana
  Fortville is a town in Vernon Township, Hancock County, Indiana, United States, established in 1865. The population was 3,929 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Fortville is located at ....
  
  
• Greenfield
  Greenfield, Indiana
  -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,600 people, 5,917 households, and 4,017 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,818.0 people per square mile . There were 6,449 housing units at an average density of 803.0 per square mile...
  
  
• Maxwell
  Maxwell, Indiana
  Maxwell is an unincorporated town in Center Township, Hancock County, Indiana....
  
  
• McCordsville
  McCordsville, Indiana
  McCordsville is a town in Vernon Township, Hancock County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,797 at the 2010 census.-Geography:McCordsville is located at ....
  
  
• New Palestine
  New Palestine, Indiana
  New Palestine is a town in Sugar Creek Township, Hancock County, Indiana, along Sugar Creek. The population was 2,055 at the 2010 census.-History:...
  
  
• Shirley
  Shirley, Indiana
  Shirley is a town in Brown Township, Hancock County and Greensboro Township, Henry County in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 830 at the 2010 census.-History:...
  
  
• Spring Lake
  Spring Lake, Indiana
  Spring Lake is a town in Sugar Creek Township, Hancock County, Indiana, along Sugar Creek. The population was 218 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Spring Lake is located at ....
  
  
• Wilkinson
  Wilkinson, Indiana
  Wilkinson is a town in Brown Township, Hancock County, Indiana, United States. The population was 449 at the 2010 census.Located in the northeast corner of Hancock County, the town sits along Indiana State Road 109, which runs north to Anderson and south to I-70 and Knightstown...
  
  

Townships

• Blue River
  Blue River Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Blue River Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,328.-Geography:Blue River Township covers an area of . Lakes in this township include Hamilton Twin Lake...
  
  
• Brandywine
  Brandywine Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Brandywine Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,255.-Geography:Brandywine Township covers an area of...
  
  
• Brown
  Brown Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Brown Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,579.-Geography:Brown Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.13 percent is water...
  
  
• Buck Creek
  Buck Creek Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Buck Creek Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 6,659.-Geography:Buck Creek Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.1 percent is water...
  
  
• Center
  Center Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Center Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 20,096.-Geography:Center Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.55 percent is water. Lakes in this township include Roberts Lake...
  
  
• Green
  Green Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Green Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,622.-Geography:Green Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.6 percent is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Eden* Milners Corner...
  
  
• Jackson
  Jackson Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Jackson Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,793.-Geography:Jackson Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.08 percent is water. Lakes in this township include Perry Lake...
  
  
• Sugar Creek
  Sugar Creek Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Sugar Creek Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,165.-Geography:Sugar Creek Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.02 percent is water. Lakes in this township include Spring Lake...
  
  
• Vernon
  Vernon Township, Hancock County, Indiana
  Vernon Township is one of nine townships in Hancock County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 6,894.-Geography:Vernon Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.07 percent is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Colonial Village...
  
  

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hancock County, Indiana
  National Register of Historic Places listings in Hancock County, Indiana
  This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hancock County, Indiana.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Hancock County, Indiana, United States...
  
  
• Edward E. Moore
  Edward E. Moore
  Not to be confused with George E. Moore, Los Angeles City Council member, 1943–51Edward E. Moore , an attorney and real-estate man, was an Indiana state senator for eight years in the early part of the 20th Century and a City Council member in Los Angeles, California, from 1925 to...
  
  , Indiana state senator and Los Angeles City Council member