The county was officially established in 1808. Portions of the county were later separated into parts of Crawford, Floyd, Washington, Jackson, Clark, Lawrence, Perry, Scott, and Orange Counties. The county was later named for William Henry Harrison, the first governor of Indiana Territory, a General in War of 1812, a hero of Tippecanoe, and the 9th U.S. President. The county has a total area of 486 square miles with a population count of 40,354 residents.
When the eight General Assembly met in 1823 in the former capital of Corydon in the (new) state, three counties were created. One of those counties was Hendricks County, it became the states fifty-first county in order of creation. The county was firt intoduced on December 9th and officially signed on Decmeber 20. Hendricks County is named after the governor who signed off on the county becoming official, William Hendricks. The county has a total area of 409 square miles and also has a population count of 170, 311 residents.
Jackson County was formed in 1816. It was named after General Andrew Jackson. Jackson County was the site of the moving train robbery in the United States. The Ohio and Mississippi Railway train was robbed by the Reno Gang that got away with over $10,000. The county is also home to the world’s second largest 3-span covered bridge which is The Medora Covored Bridge. While the population count sits at 44,111 residents, it also has a total area of 514 square miles.
Jefferson County was formed in 1811 and was named for Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was the principal draftsman of the Northwest Ordinance and President of the United States from 1801 through 1809. The county seat is Madsion and was originally in contention with Vicennes and New Albany to be the states largest incorporated cities. With a total area of 363 sqaure miles, the county also has a population count of 32,208 residents.
Jennings County was formed in 1817. It was named for the first Governor of Indiana and was a nine-term congressman, Jonathan Jennings. Jennings was governor of the county at its time of organization. The county has a total area of 378 square miles with a population count of 27,611 residents.
Johnson County was formed in 1823. It was named for John Johnson who was a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. John Johnson was also a resident of local Knox County, delegate to the State constitutional convention, appointed to the Supreme Court in 1816. The county has a total area of 322 square miles and a population count of 158,167 residents.
It was one of two original counties created in the Northwest Territory in 1790 and was gradually reduced in size as subsequent counties were established. It was established in its present configuration when Daviess County was partitioned off in February of 1818. It was named for Major General Henry Knox, who had completed his term as second U.S. Secretary of War the previous September. The county has a total area of 524 square miles to go with a population count of almost 37,000 residents.
Lawrence County was formed in 1818 by subdividing Orange County. The English name refers to Captain James Lawrence who uttered the famous words “Don’t give up the ship.” after being mortally wounded during the War of 1812. Though the county was organized in 1818, it wasnt until 1825 when a businessman by the name of Joseph Rawlins who was from Bedford County, VA. The county has a total area of 452 sqaure miles along with a population count of 45,668 reesidents.
Marion County was created on April 1, 1822, from part of the “New Purchase” lands that had been obtained from its inhabitants which were the Lenape, by the Treaty of St. Mary’s. It is named for Francis Marion who was a Brigadier General from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War. The state capital was moved to Indianapolis in Marion County from Corydon on January 10, 1825. Marion County has a total area of 403 square miles and a population count of 964,582 residents making Marion County the nation’s 55th most populated county.
Martin County was authorized to become a county of the state on January 20 in 1820. The county was portioned off of land from Dubois and Daviess counties. It was named after a former major from Newport, Kentucky, John T. Martin. Even though the county seat belongs to the town of Shoals, the counties largest city is Loogootee. With a total area of 340 square miles, it also has a population count of 10,217 residents.
