Henry County, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry County
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Henry County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
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 Indiana's location within the U.S. |
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| 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)
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| • Total | 48,914  |
| • Density | 120/sq mi (50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Indiana county number 33 | |
Henry County is a county located in the eastern part of Indiana, United States. It's a place where many people live and work.
As of 2020, about 48,914 people call Henry County home. The main city and the place where the county government is located is New Castle. You might know Henry County from the novel Raintree County by Ross Lockridge Jr., as it's where the story takes place!
Contents
History of Henry County
Henry County was officially created in 1822. This happened after a special agreement called the Treaty of St. Mary's in 1818. This treaty allowed new land to be settled.
The county was named after a very important American Patriot, Patrick Henry. He was a famous speaker and one of the first governors of Virginia.
Geography and Nature
Henry County covers a total area of about 395 square miles. Most of this area, about 392 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3 square miles, is water.
Cities and Towns
The biggest city and the county seat is New Castle. Here are some of the towns you can find in Henry County:
Nearby Counties
Henry County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Delaware County to the north
- Randolph County to the northeast
- Wayne County to the east
- Fayette County to the southeast
- Rush County to the south
- Hancock County to the southwest
- Madison County to the northwest
Major Roads
Many important roads pass through Henry County, making it easy to travel. These include:
- Interstate 70
- U.S. Route 35
- U.S. Route 36
- U.S. Route 40
- State Road 3
- State Road 38
Lakes and Reservoirs
Henry County has several beautiful lakes and reservoirs:
- Castle Lake
- Giboney Lake
- Summit Lake Reservoir
- Westwood Park Reservoir
Climate and Weather
| Weather chart for New Castle, Indiana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2.2
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2.3
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28
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3.9
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37
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4.7
71
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4.6
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4.7
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3.6
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2.9
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2.9
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41
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3.7
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32
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2.8
38
22
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| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches source: The Weather Channel |
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Metric conversion
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The weather in Henry County changes with the seasons. In New Castle, the average temperature in January is around 16°F (about -9°C). In July, it gets much warmer, with average temperatures around 84°F (about 29°C).
The county also gets a good amount of rain throughout the year. The wettest month is usually May, with about 4.70 inches (11.9 cm) of rain. January is typically the driest, with about 2.24 inches (5.7 cm).
People of Henry County (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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 | −1.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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According to the 2020 census, there were 48,914 people living in Henry County. Most residents, about 93.8%, are White. Other groups include African American (2.2%) and Asian (1.1%). About 0.2% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino background.
The average age of people in Henry County is about 42 years old. About 20.7% of the residents are under 18 years old. Many households are made up of married couples living together.
The main language spoken at home is English, with about 98.5% of people speaking it. A small number of people also speak Spanish.
Fun and Recreation
Henry County offers some great places for outdoor activities and fun:
- Summit Lake State Park: A wonderful place for camping, fishing, boating, and hiking.
- Westwood Park: Another park where you can enjoy nature and outdoor recreation.
Famous People from Henry County
Many notable individuals have come from Henry County, including:
- Steve Alford: A well-known NCAA basketball coach and former player.
- Kent Benson: A former basketball player who played in both NCAA and the NBA.
- Clessie Cummins: An inventor, famous for his work with diesel engines.
- Robert Indiana: A celebrated American artist.
- Arthur C. Mellette: The very first Governor of South Dakota.
- Wilbur Wright: One of the famous Wright brothers, pioneers of aviation!
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Henry (Indiana) para niños
