Hendricks County, Indiana

Hendricks County
County
Hendricks County courthouse in Danville
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°46′N 86°31′W / 39.77°N 86.51°W / 39.77; -86.51
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	December 20, 1823 (created)[1] Summer 1824 (organized)
Named for	William Hendricks
Seat	Danville
Largest town	Plainfield
Area
• Total	408.78 sq mi (1,058.7 km2)
• Land	406.91 sq mi (1,053.9 km2)
• Water	1.87 sq mi (4.8 km2)  0.46%
Population  (2020)
• Total	174,788
• Density	430/sq mi (170/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.co.hendricks.in.us
Indiana county number 32

Hendricks County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 174,788.^[2] The county seat is the town of Danville.^[3]

Hendricks County is the third largest county in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hendricks County is currently the second fastest-growing county in Indiana and 85th in the nation.^[4][5]

After the American Revolutionary War established US sovereignty over the territory of the upper midwest, the new federal government defined the Northwest Territory in 1787 which included the area of present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separated Ohio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as the Indiana Territory. President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the governor of the territory, and Vincennes was established as the future capital. After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography. By December 1816 the Indiana Territory was admitted to the Union as a state, although much of its territory was still in dispute as to possession by Native Americans. The land containing Hendricks County was brought into the possession of the United States by the Treaty of St. Mary's in 1818 (known as New Purchase).

The eighth General Assembly of the new state of Indiana met at its then-capital town, Corydon, in December 1823, and created three counties before the close of the session, among them being Hendricks, the state's fifty-first county. The bill creating Hendricks County was introduced in the Senate on December 9 and was signed on December 20^[1] by Indiana Governor William Hendricks, in whose honor the new county was named.^[6][7] Until its governing structure was organized, the territory was assigned to neighboring counties for legislative and enforcement matters.^[8]

Prior to the New Purchase treaty, the territory of Hendricks County had been occupied by the Dakota tribe, although there were no significant native villages within its future borders. The treaty authorized the territory to be surveyed by the federal government, with land being available for settlement thereafter. This survey work began in the Hendricks County area in 1819, and settlers began moving in as soon thereafter (the first in future Hendricks County in Spring 1820)^[9] as land filing was authorized, such that by 1823 there were sufficient inhabitants to justify forming a county.^[10] Designated commissioners met in July 1824, and on July 12 selected Danville as its county seat. The town plat was filed for record in October 1824; a court house was erected and in operation there by 1826.^[11]

The county's low rolling hills are entirely devoted to agriculture or urban development, except for wooded drainages. The West Fork of White Lick Creek flows southeastward through the western part of the county and the East Fork flows southward through the east part of the county; the two flows converge at the south county line.^[12] The highest point on the terrain (1,030 feet/310 meters ASL) is a small rise 1.5 miles (2.4 km) WNW from Danville.^[13]

According to the 2010 United States Census, the county has a total area of 408.78 square miles (1,058.7 km²), of which 406.91 square miles (1,053.9 km²) (or 99.54%) is land and 1.87 square miles (4.8 km²) (or 0.46%) is water.^[14]

Danville, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.5     34 18     2.4     40 23     3.4     51 32     3.6     63 41     4.4     74 52     4.1     82 61     4.4     86 65     3.8     84 63     2.9     77 55     2.8     66 44     3.6     52 34     3     39 24 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel[16]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     63     1 −8     61     4 −5     87     11 0     92     17 5     111     23 11     105     28 16     112     30 18     97     29 17     73     25 13     70     19 7     92     11 1     77     4 −4 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Danville have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.41 inches (61 mm) in February to 4.42 inches (112 mm) in July.^[16]

• 2R2 - Hendricks County Airport

• Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	3,975		—
1840	11,264		183.4%
1850	14,083		25.0%
1860	16,953		20.4%
1870	20,277		19.6%
1880	22,981		13.3%
1890	21,498		−6.5%
1900	21,292		−1.0%
1910	20,840		−2.1%
1920	20,291		−2.6%
1930	19,725		−2.8%
1940	20,151		2.2%
1950	24,594		22.0%
1960	40,896		66.3%
1970	53,974		32.0%
1980	69,804		29.3%
1990	75,717		8.5%
2000	104,093		37.5%
2010	145,448		39.7%
2020	174,788		20.2%
2023 (est.)	186,387	[17]	6.6%
US Decennial Census[18] 1790-1960[19] 1900-1990[20] 1990-2000[21] 2010[22]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 145,448 people, 52,368 households, and 39,698 families in the county.^[23] The population density was 357.4 inhabitants per square mile (138.0/km²). There were 55,454 housing units at an average density of 136.3 per square mile (52.6/km²).^[14] The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% white, 4.9% black or African American, 2.1% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population.^[23] In terms of ancestry, 28.3% were German, 16.2% were English, 15.2% were Irish, and 9.4% were American.^[24]

Of the 52,368 households, 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.2% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age was 36.7 years.^[23]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $77,397. Males had a median income of $54,945 versus $38,919 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,880. About 4.3% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.^[25]

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

County Council: The legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They set salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council 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.^[26][27]

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.^[26][27]

Courts: The county has six trial courts consisting of a circuit court and five superior courts, the judges of which are elected to 6-year terms in a countywide election. In addition, two magistrates appointed by the elected judges serve the county as judicial officers. There are currently three town courts that also operate in Hendricks County, one each in Avon, Brownsburg, and Plainfield.

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. These officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.^[27]

Hendricks County is part of Indiana's 4th congressional district, Indiana Senate districts 23 and 24,^[28] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 28, 40, 47, and 91.^[29]

Hendricks County is a Republican stronghold. In only one election (1912) was the county carried by a Democratic presidential candidate since 1888.

United States presidential election results for Hendricks County, Indiana^[30]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	49,783	59.65%	31,917	38.25%	1,753	2.10%
2020	53,802	60.65%	32,604	36.76%	2,299	2.59%
2016	48,337	63.45%	22,600	29.67%	5,247	6.89%
2012	44,312	66.37%	21,112	31.62%	1,337	2.00%
2008	39,728	61.07%	24,548	37.73%	778	1.20%
2004	38,430	73.48%	13,548	25.90%	324	0.62%
2000	28,651	71.23%	10,786	26.82%	784	1.95%
1996	22,293	63.14%	9,392	26.60%	3,621	10.26%
1992	18,373	55.45%	7,071	21.34%	7,692	23.21%
1988	22,090	74.12%	7,643	25.65%	70	0.23%
1984	21,307	75.73%	6,659	23.67%	169	0.60%
1980	19,366	68.88%	7,412	26.36%	1,339	4.76%
1976	16,725	64.07%	9,066	34.73%	313	1.20%
1972	17,699	79.89%	4,384	19.79%	70	0.32%
1968	12,597	59.89%	5,155	24.51%	3,280	15.60%
1964	11,497	56.34%	8,857	43.41%	51	0.25%
1960	12,490	65.51%	6,481	33.99%	95	0.50%
1956	10,578	65.58%	5,521	34.23%	30	0.19%
1952	9,712	66.58%	4,793	32.86%	81	0.56%
1948	6,327	59.23%	4,280	40.07%	75	0.70%
1944	6,673	60.45%	4,297	38.93%	69	0.63%
1940	6,782	57.92%	4,883	41.70%	45	0.38%
1936	5,776	52.05%	5,237	47.19%	84	0.76%
1932	5,317	49.15%	5,293	48.93%	207	1.91%
1928	5,954	64.79%	3,181	34.61%	55	0.60%
1924	5,766	61.02%	3,489	36.92%	194	2.05%
1920	6,293	59.20%	4,192	39.44%	145	1.36%
1916	3,046	53.13%	2,453	42.79%	234	4.08%
1912	1,439	26.15%	2,372	43.10%	1,692	30.75%
1908	3,231	54.28%	2,571	43.19%	151	2.54%
1904	3,434	58.82%	2,164	37.07%	240	4.11%
1900	3,426	57.65%	2,359	39.69%	158	2.66%
1896	3,409	58.06%	2,365	40.28%	98	1.67%
1892	3,020	56.35%	2,028	37.84%	311	5.80%
1888	3,297	58.62%	2,083	37.04%	244	4.34%

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hendricks County, Indiana

• Balough, Linda and Betty Bartley. A Pictorial History of Hendricks County, Indiana. Marceline: Walsworth Publishing Company (1999). ISBN 1-57864-074-1
• Hadley, John Vestal. History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions. Charleston: Nabo Press (2010). ISBN 1-178-24317-6

• Hendricks County Government
• Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership
• Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau Archived February 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
• Leadership Hendricks County
• City-Data.com Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Hendricks County

39°46′N 86°31′W / 39.77°N 86.51°W / 39.77; -86.51