Henry County, Indiana

Henry County
County
Henry County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°56′N 85°24′W / 39.93°N 85.4°W / 39.93; -85.4
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	1822
Named for	Patrick Henry
Seat	New Castle
Largest city	New Castle
Area
• Total	394.83 sq mi (1,022.6 km2)
• Land	391.88 sq mi (1,015.0 km2)
• Water	2.96 sq mi (7.7 km2)  0.75%
Population  (2020)
• Total	48,914
• Density	120/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.henryco.net
Indiana county number 33

Henry County is a county located in east central Indiana, United States. As of 2020, the population was 48,914.^[1] The county seat and largest and only city is New Castle.^[2] Henry County is the main setting of the novel Raintree County by Ross Lockridge Jr.

Henry County was formed in 1822 from the Delaware New Purchase resulting from the Treaty of St. Mary's in 1818. It was named for Patriot Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia.^[3]

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 394.83 square miles (1,022.6 km²), of which 391.88 square miles (1,015.0 km²) (or 99.25%) is land and 2.96 square miles (7.7 km²) (or 0.75%) is water.^[4]

• New Castle

Blountsville Cadiz Dunreith Greensboro Kennard Knightstown Lewisville Middletown

Mooreland Mount Summit Shirley Spiceland Springport Straughn Sulphur Springs

Ashland Corwin[citation needed] Foley Grant City Hillsboro Honey Creek Knox

Luray Maple Valley Mechanicsburg Messick Millville Mount Lawn New Lisbon

Ogden Raysville Rogersville Stone Quarry Mills Van Nuys Westwood

Blue River Dudley Fall Creek Franklin Greensboro

Harrison Henry Jefferson Liberty

Prairie Spiceland Stoney Creek Wayne

• Castle Lake
• Giboney Lake
• Haven, Lake
• Summit Lake Reservoir
• Westwood Park Reservoir

• Delaware County (north)
• Randolph County (northeast)
• Wayne County (east)
• Fayette County (southeast)
• Rush County (south)
• Hancock County (southwest)
• Madison County (northwest)

Sources: National Atlas,^[5] U.S. Census Bureau^[6]

• Interstate 70
• U.S. Route 35
• U.S. Route 36
• U.S. Route 40
• State Road 3
• State Road 38
• State Road 103
• State Road 109
• State Road 140
• State Road 234
• State Road 236

New Castle, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.2     33 16     2.3     38 19     3     49 28     3.9     60 37     4.7     71 48     4.6     80 57     4.7     84 61     3.6     82 59     2.9     76 52     2.9     64 41     3.7     50 32     2.8     38 22 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel[7]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     57     1 −9     57     3 −7     75     9 −2     100     16 3     119     22 9     117     27 14     119     29 16     91     28 15     73     24 11     75     18 5     93     10 0     71     3 −6 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in New Castle have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.24 inches (57 mm) in January to 4.70 inches (119 mm) in May.^[7]

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 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.^[8][9]

County 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.^[8][9]

County Courts: The county maintains three courts. Circuit Court I, Circuit Court II and Circuit Court III. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.^[9]

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk 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 affiliations and to be residents of the county.^[9]

Henry County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 28;^[10] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 54 and 56.^[11]

United States presidential election results for Henry County, Indiana^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	15,033	72.76%	5,208	25.21%	419	2.03%
2020	15,043	71.43%	5,544	26.32%	474	2.25%
2016	13,895	68.48%	5,124	25.25%	1,271	6.26%
2012	10,838	57.02%	7,613	40.05%	556	2.93%
2008	10,896	51.11%	10,059	47.18%	364	1.71%
2004	13,137	64.07%	7,176	35.00%	191	0.93%
2000	10,321	56.35%	7,647	41.75%	347	1.89%
1996	8,537	45.68%	7,667	41.03%	2,484	13.29%
1992	8,720	43.62%	6,794	33.99%	4,475	22.39%
1988	11,280	59.01%	7,779	40.69%	57	0.30%
1984	11,926	62.56%	7,064	37.06%	72	0.38%
1980	12,724	60.03%	7,626	35.98%	846	3.99%
1976	11,620	53.19%	10,137	46.40%	91	0.42%
1972	14,538	71.94%	5,610	27.76%	60	0.30%
1968	11,626	52.61%	8,045	36.41%	2,426	10.98%
1964	10,184	44.87%	12,374	54.52%	139	0.61%
1960	13,752	58.44%	9,629	40.92%	149	0.63%
1956	13,750	61.33%	8,502	37.92%	166	0.74%
1952	14,184	61.99%	8,378	36.61%	320	1.40%
1948	10,487	54.00%	8,523	43.89%	411	2.12%
1944	10,583	54.85%	8,297	43.00%	416	2.16%
1940	11,051	52.98%	9,623	46.14%	184	0.88%
1936	9,099	46.85%	10,172	52.38%	149	0.77%
1932	8,430	48.67%	8,255	47.66%	634	3.66%
1928	10,502	68.53%	4,554	29.72%	268	1.75%
1924	8,800	60.85%	5,376	37.18%	285	1.97%
1920	8,742	57.03%	5,824	38.00%	762	4.97%
1916	4,386	50.01%	3,560	40.59%	825	9.41%
1912	2,479	32.12%	2,687	34.82%	2,551	33.06%
1908	4,358	54.63%	3,197	40.07%	423	5.30%
1904	4,391	59.99%	2,482	33.91%	446	6.09%
1900	4,047	56.72%	2,754	38.60%	334	4.68%
1896	4,001	56.43%	2,980	42.03%	109	1.54%
1892	3,336	55.04%	1,871	30.87%	854	14.09%
1888	3,849	60.07%	2,277	35.54%	281	4.39%

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	6,497		—
1840	15,128		132.8%
1850	17,605		16.4%
1860	20,119		14.3%
1870	22,986		14.3%
1880	24,016		4.5%
1890	23,879		−0.6%
1900	25,088		5.1%
1910	29,758		18.6%
1920	34,682		16.5%
1930	35,238		1.6%
1940	40,208		14.1%
1950	45,505		13.2%
1960	48,899		7.5%
1970	52,603		7.6%
1980	53,336		1.4%
1990	48,139		−9.7%
2000	48,508		0.8%
2010	49,462		2.0%
2020	48,914		−1.1%
2023 (est.)	48,929	[13]	0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16] 1990-2000[17] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census^[18] of 2020, there were 48,914 people, 18,387 households, and 9,489 families living in the town. The population density was 123.89 inhabitants per square mile (47.8/km²). There were 20,952 housing units at an average density of 53.07 per square mile (20.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% White, 2.2% African American, 1.1% Asian, 0.02% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.8% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.

There were 18,387 households, of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 25.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 17.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 7.6% were non-families. 42.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 2.96.

26.8% of the population had never been married. 48.0% of residents were married and not separated, 7.0% were widowed, 16.4% were divorced, and 1.8% were separated.

The median age in the town was 42.0. 5.0% of residents were under the age of 5; 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 79.3% were age 18 or older; and 18.9% were age 65 or older. 9.5% of the population were veterans.

The most common language spoken at home was English with 98.5% speaking it at home, 1.0% spoke Spanish at home, 0.2% spoke other Indo-European languages, 0.2% spoke an Asian or Pacific Islander language at home, and 0.1% spoke other languages. 0.5% of the population were foreign born.

The median household income in Henry County was $51,104, 9.0% less than the median average for the state of Indiana. 13.9% of the population were in poverty, including 19.3% of residents under the age of 18. The poverty rate for the town was 1% higher than that of the state. 18.5% of the population were disabled and 6.8% had no healthcare coverage. 43.8% of the population had attained a high school or equivalent degree, 21.1% had attended college but received no degree, 9.0% had attained an Associate's degree or higher, 10.7% had attained a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.6% had a graduate or professional degree. 9.8% had no degree. 50.7% of Henry County residents were employed, working a mean of 40.0 hours per week. The median gross rent in Henry County was $697 and the homeownership rate was 74.4%. 1,998 housing units were vacant at a density of 5.06 per square mile (2.0/km²).

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 49,462 people, 19,077 households, and 13,020 families residing in the county.^[19] The population density was 126.2 inhabitants per square mile (48.7/km²). There were 21,288 housing units at an average density of 54.3 per square mile (21.0/km²).^[4] The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 2.2% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.^[19] In terms of ancestry, 19.9% were German, 13.3% were American, 11.8% were Irish, and 9.1% were English.^[20]

Of the 19,077 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.8% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 41.4 years.^[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $52,701. Males had a median income of $42,628 versus $30,226 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,879. About 10.2% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.^[21]

• Summit Lake State Park
• Westwood Park

• Steve Alford, NCAA basketball coach and former player^[22]
• Kent Benson, Former NCAA and NBA basketball player
• Edward Black, Civil War soldier
• Omar Bundy, Major General, World War One^[23]
• Clessie Cummins, inventor
• Thomas J. Graves, Medal of Honor recipient
• William Grose, Major General, Civil War
• Ira Hough, Medal of Honor recipient, 1864^[24]
• Robert Indiana, artist
• Arthur C. Mellette, first Governor of South Dakota^[25][26]
• Solomon Meredith, Major General, Civil War
• Edward E. Moore, Indiana state senator and Los Angeles City Council member
• Wilbur Wright, aviation pioneer^[27]
• William Zion, Medal of Honor recipient

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

• New Castle Henry County Chamber of Commerce
• Henry County Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Henry County Government Site
• Henry County collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library

39°56′N 85°24′W / 39.93°N 85.40°W / 39.93; -85.40