Daviess County is a county in Indiana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state along the White River. It had a population of 33,381 at the 2020 census and covers 436.87 square miles (1,131.5 km2) centred near 38°42′N 87°05′W.
Washington is the county seat, and its postal code is 47501. The county has one city, six incorporated towns, and a scatter of unincorporated communities across ten civil townships. Daviess County sits in the Eastern time zone; its FIPS code is 18027.
Towns & Villages in Daviess County
Daviess County has one city and six incorporated towns, plus a number of unincorporated communities. CDP means census-designated place; Unincorp. means the place has no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | City · seat | — | — | 47501 |
| Odon | Town | — | — | 47562 |
| Elnora | Town | — | — | 47529 |
| Montgomery | Town | — | — | 47558 |
| Plainville | Town | — | — | 47568 |
| Cannelburg | Town | — | — | 47519 |
| Alfordsville | Town | — | — | — |
| Cornettsville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Corning | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Epsom | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Glendale | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Graham | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hudsonville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Maysville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pennyville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| South Washington | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Black Oak, Capehart, Cumback, Farlen, Jordan, Lettsville, Sandy Hook, Thomas, and Waco are older place names in Daviess County that appear on historic maps and in local usage but are not verified against a current gazetteer; they are omitted from the table above rather than guessed at.
Townships
Daviess County is divided into ten civil townships: Barr, Bogard, Elmore, Harrison, Madison, Reeve, Steele, Van Buren, Veale, and Washington. Per-township 2020 population figures and the precise town-to-township boundaries were not independently verified this session and are omitted rather than guessed.
ZIP Codes
- 47501 — Washington (also serves South Washington)
- 47562 — Odon
- 47529 — Elnora
- 47558 — Montgomery
- 47568 — Plainville
- 47519 — Cannelburg
Alfordsville and the county’s smaller unincorporated communities use a neighboring town’s ZIP code rather than one of their own.
Geography
Daviess County lies in southwestern Indiana on gently rolling farmland that flattens into bottomland along the East Fork White River, which forms much of the county’s eastern edge. The county is bordered by Greene County to the north, Martin County to the east, Dubois County to the southeast, Pike County to the southwest, and Knox County to the west.
Demographics
Daviess County had 33,381 residents at the 2020 census. Washington and Odon are the county’s two largest communities. The county is home to one of Indiana’s largest Amish settlements, roughly 4,855 people (about 15% of the population) across 29 congregations, established in 1868 by Swiss-German Amish families — a distinctive share of the population still speaking Swiss German dialect at home. Median household income in the county runs below the Indiana median of $69,477. Population density is about 76 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, especially corn, soybeans, and hog and poultry farming, remains central to Daviess County’s economy, alongside furniture and cabinet manufacturing tied to the county’s Amish craftsmen. Washington serves as the county’s retail and government hub, home to the Daviess Community Hospital and Washington community schools. The county’s Amish-run shops, bakeries, and furniture stores around Montgomery and Odon draw regional visitors.
History
Daviess County was authorized on February 2, 1818, and named for Major Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, a U.S. district attorney killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 (the spelling was altered to “Daviess” over time). Washington was platted as the county seat the same year. Swiss-German Amish families began settling in the county starting in 1868, founding what grew into one of the largest Amish communities in Indiana.
Getting There
Interstate 69 crosses the western edge of the county, and US 50, US 150, and US 231 all pass through Washington.
- Vincennes — 20 miles west
- Bloomington — 45 miles northeast
- Evansville — 45 miles south
- Terre Haute — 55 miles north
The nearest commercial air service is Evansville Regional Airport, about 45 miles south of Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Daviess County?
It is in southwestern Indiana, along the East Fork White River, between Vincennes and Bloomington.
What is the population of Daviess County?
33,381 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Daviess County?
436.87 square miles (1,131.5 km2).
What is the county seat of Daviess County?
Washington is the county seat.
How many towns are in Daviess County?
One city (Washington) and six incorporated towns, plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Daviess County?
47501, 47519, 47529, 47558, 47562, and 47568.
Why does Daviess County have a large Amish population?
Swiss-German Amish families began settling near Montgomery and Odon in 1868, and their descendants remain one of Indiana’s largest Amish communities today.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.