Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County is located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. The county was officially established in 1808. Its population was 39,654 as of the 2020 United States Census. Its county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana.
Harrison County | |
|---|---|
Harrison County courthouse in Corydon, built in 1928 | |
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana | |
Indiana's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 38°12′N 86°07′W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| Founded | December 1, 1808 |
| Named for | William Henry Harrison |
| Seat | Corydon |
| Largest city | Corydon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 486.52 sq mi (1,260.1 km2) |
| • Land | 484.52 sq mi (1,254.9 km2) |
| • Water | 2.00 sq mi (5.2 km2) 0.41% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 39,654 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 40,006 |
| • Density | 82/sq mi (31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 9th |
| Indiana county #31 Fourth oldest county in state FIPS Code 061 | |
Harrison County is part of the Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The county has a diverse economy with no sector employing more than 13% of the local workforce. Caesars Southern Indiana is the largest employer, followed by Tyson Foods and the Harrison County Hospital. Tourism plays a significant role in the economy and is centered on the county's many historic sites. County government is divided among several bodies including the boards of the county's three school districts, three elected commissioners who exercise legislative and executive powers, an elected county council that controls the county budget, a circuit and superior court, and township trustees in the county's 12 townships. The county has 10 incorporated towns with a total population of over 5,000, as well as many small unincorporated towns. One Interstate highway and one U. S. Route run through the county, as do eight Indiana State Roads and two railroad lines.
Migratory groups of Native Americans inhabited the area for thousands of years. The first European settlements in what would become Harrison County were created by American settlers in the years after the American Revolutionary War. The population grew rapidly during first decade of the 19th century. Corydon was platted in 1808 and became the capital of the Indiana Territory in 1813. Many of the state's early important historic events occurred in the county, including the writing of Indiana's first constitution. Corydon was the state capital until 1825, but in the years afterward remained an important hub for southern Indiana. In 1859 there was a major meteorite strike. In 1863 the Battle of Corydon was fought, the only battle of the American Civil War to occur in Indiana.