Hancock County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. The 2020 United States Census recorded a population of 79,840. The county seat is Greenfield.
Hancock County is included in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Geography
The terrain of Hancock County is low rolling hills, sloping to the south and southwest, carved by drainages. All available area is devoted to agriculture or urban development. The highest point is a small prominence in NW Shirley, at ASL. According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of , of which (or 99.67%) is land and (or 0.33%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Madison County - north
Henry County - east
Rush County - southeast
Shelby County - south
Marion County - west
Hamilton County - northwest
Major highways
Interstate 70
U.S. Route 36
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 52
State Road 9
State Road 13
State Road 67
State Road 109
State Road 234
State Road 238
Airport
KMQJ - Indianapolis Regional Airport
History
Indiana was admitted as a state to the United States on 11 December 1816, although much of its territory was still disputed or held by native peoples at that time. These indigenous claims were quickly reduced and removed by various treaties. The 1818 Treaty with the Delaware Indians brought most of central Indiana into state control, and Madison County was organized on a portion of that area. The lower portion of Madison County was quickly settled, and by the late 1820s the inhabitants were petitioning for a separate county government. Accordingly, a portion of the county was partitioned on 1 March 1828, to form Hancock County. Greenfield was named as the county seat on 11 April. The county name recognized John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, who had signed his name prominently to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The county has retained its original borders since its 1828 creation.
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in Greenfield have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in July.
Government
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 the county's spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve staggered 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.
Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners carry out the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.
Court: The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.
County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. They 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.
Hancock County is part of Indiana's 5th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 28; and Indiana House of Representatives districts 29 and 53.
Education
Hancock County is served by two library systems, the Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library and Hancock County Public Library.
The county's school districts include:
Eastern Hancock County Community School Corporation
Greenfield-Central Community Schools
Mount Vernon Community School Corporation
Southern Hancock County Community School Corporation
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census the population of Hancock County was 79,840.