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Hancock County, Indiana facts for kids

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Hancock County
U.S. county
Hancock County courthouse in Greenfield
Hancock County courthouse in Greenfield
Map of Indiana highlighting Hancock County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Indiana
Founded March 1, 1828
Named for John Hancock
Seat Greenfield
Largest city Greenfield
Area
 • Total 307.02 sq mi (795.2 km2)
 • Land 306.02 sq mi (792.6 km2)
 • Water 1.01 sq mi (2.6 km2)  0.33%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 79,840
 • Density 260.048/sq mi (100.405/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th
Indiana county number 30

Hancock County is a cool place in Indiana, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 79,840 people lived here. The main city, where the county government is, is called Greenfield.

Hancock County is part of a bigger area that includes the cities of Indianapolis, Carmel, and Anderson. This whole area is called the Indianapolis Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Exploring Hancock County's Geography

Hancock County has gentle, rolling hills that slope down towards the south and southwest. These hills have been shaped by natural water flows. Most of the land is used for farming or for cities and towns. The highest spot in the county is near Shirley, about 1,040 feet (317 meters) above sea level.

In 2010, the county covered a total area of about 307 square miles (795 square kilometers). Almost all of this area, about 306 square miles (792 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers), is water.

Neighboring Counties Around Hancock

Hancock County shares its borders with several other counties:

Main Roads in Hancock County

Many important roads run through Hancock County, helping people travel easily.

  • I-70.svg Interstate 70
  • US 36.svg U.S. Route 36
  • US 40.svg U.S. Route 40
  • US 52.svg U.S. Route 52
  • Indiana 9.svg State Road 9
  • Indiana 13.svg State Road 13
  • Indiana 67.svg State Road 67
  • Indiana 109.svg State Road 109
  • Indiana 234.svg State Road 234
  • Indiana 238.svg State Road 238

Local Airport

  • KMQJ - Indianapolis Regional Airport is located here.

A Look Back at Hancock County's History

Indiana became a state in the United States on December 11, 1816. At that time, Native American tribes still owned much of the land. Over time, through different agreements, these lands became part of the state.

One important agreement was the 1818 Treaty with the Delaware Indians. This treaty brought most of central Indiana under state control. Soon after, Madison County was created from some of this new land.

As more people moved into the southern part of Madison County, they wanted their own local government. So, on March 1, 1828, a part of Madison County was separated to form Hancock County. The town of Greenfield was chosen as the county seat on April 11.

The county was named after John Hancock. He was a very important person who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He signed his name very largely, so everyone could see it! Hancock County has kept the same borders since it was created in 1828.

Hancock County's Climate and Weather

Weather chart for Greenfield, Indiana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
2.5
 
34
17
 
 
2.4
 
39
20
 
 
3.3
 
50
30
 
 
4.1
 
62
40
 
 
4.7
 
73
51
 
 
4.5
 
82
61
 
 
4.9
 
85
64
 
 
4
 
84
62
 
 
3.2
 
78
55
 
 
3.1
 
65
43
 
 
3.9
 
51
33
 
 
3.1
 
39
23
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel
Metric conversion
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
63
 
1
-8
 
 
60
 
4
-7
 
 
85
 
10
-1
 
 
103
 
17
4
 
 
119
 
23
11
 
 
114
 
28
16
 
 
123
 
29
18
 
 
102
 
29
17
 
 
80
 
26
13
 
 
77
 
18
6
 
 
99
 
11
1
 
 
78
 
4
-5
temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm

The weather in Greenfield changes throughout the year. In January, the average temperature is around 17°F (-8°C). In July, it gets warmer, with an average high of 85°F (29°C).

The coldest temperature ever recorded was -29°F (-34°C) in January 1985. The hottest was 103°F (39°C) in June 1988. The amount of rain also changes. February usually has about 2.37 inches (60 mm) of rain. July is often the wettest month, with about 4.85 inches (123 mm) of rain.

Learning and Libraries in Hancock County

Hancock County has two library systems to help people learn and read. These are the Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library and the Hancock County Public Library.

The county also has several school districts for students:

  • Eastern Hancock County Community School Corporation
  • Greenfield-Central Community Schools
  • Mount Vernon Community School Corporation
  • Southern Hancock County Community School Corporation

Hancock County's Population Over Time

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 1,436 —
1840 7,535 424.7%
1850 9,698 28.7%
1860 12,802 32.0%
1870 15,123 18.1%
1880 17,123 13.2%
1890 17,829 4.1%
1900 19,189 7.6%
1910 19,030 −0.8%
1920 17,210 −9.6%
1930 16,605 −3.5%
1940 17,302 4.2%
1950 20,332 17.5%
1960 26,665 31.1%
1970 35,096 31.6%
1980 43,939 25.2%
1990 45,527 3.6%
2000 55,391 21.7%
2010 70,002 26.4%
2020 79,840 14.1%
2023 (est.) 86,166 23.1%
US Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

Hancock County in 2020: A Snapshot

In 2020, the 2020 United States Census counted 79,840 people living in Hancock County.

Hancock County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 71,106 89%
Black or African American (NH) 2,346 3%
Native American (NH) 121 0.15%
Asian (NH) 734 0.9%
Pacific Islander (NH) 42 0.05%
Other/Mixed (NH) 3,289 4.1%
Hispanic or Latino 2,202 2.75%

Hancock County in 2010: Population Details

The 2010 United States Census showed that 70,002 people lived in Hancock County. There were 26,304 households, with 19,792 of them being families. On average, there were about 229 people per square mile.

Most people in the county were white (95.2%). About 2.1% were black or African American, and 0.8% were Asian. About 1.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin. Many people had German (26.2%), Irish (13.9%), or English (11.8%) backgrounds.

About 37.2% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (61.0%) were married couples. The average age of people in the county was 39.1 years.

The average income for a household was $47,697. For families, it was $69,734. About 7.3% of all people in the county lived below the poverty line. This included 8.0% of those under 18.

Cities and Towns in Hancock County

Hancock County is home to several cities and towns:

Townships of Hancock County

The county is divided into smaller areas called townships:

  • Blue River
  • Brandywine
  • Brown
  • Buck Creek
  • Center
  • Green
  • Jackson
  • Sugar Creek
  • Vernon

Smaller Communities in Hancock County

There are also many smaller, unincorporated communities:

Images for kids

  • I-70

    Interstate 70 sign

  • US 36

    U.S. Route 36 sign

  • US 40

    U.S. Route 40 sign

  • US 52

    U.S. Route 52 sign

  • Indiana 9

    Indiana State Road 9 sign

  • Indiana 13

    Indiana State Road 13 sign

  • Indiana 67

    Indiana State Road 67 sign

  • Indiana 109

    Indiana State Road 109 sign

  • Indiana 234

    Indiana State Road 234 sign

  • Indiana 238

    Indiana State Road 238 sign

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Hancock (Indiana) para niños

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