Decatur County is a county in Indiana, United States, in the southeastern part of the state. It had a population of 26,472 at the 2020 census and covers 373.32 square miles (966.9 km2) centred near 39°18′N 85°30′W.
Greensburg is the county seat, and its postal code is 47240. The county has one city, four towns, two census-designated places, and a scatter of unincorporated communities, spread across nine civil townships. Decatur County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Decatur County
Decatur County has one incorporated city and four incorporated towns, plus two census-designated places (CDPs) and a long list of unincorporated communities and crossroads. Unincorp. entries below are historic place names, not municipalities.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensburg | City · seat | Clay | — | 47240 |
| Westport | Town | Clinton | — | 47283 |
| St. Paul | Town | — | — | 47272 |
| New Point | Town | Sand Creek | — | 47270 |
| Millhousen | Town | Clay | — | — |
| Clarksburg | CDP | Washington | — | — |
| Lake Santee | CDP | Fugit | — | — |
| Adams | Unincorp. | Adams | — | — |
| Alert | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Burney | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Craig | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Downeyville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ewington | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Forest Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gaynorsville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Germantown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Harper | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Harris City | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Horace | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kingston | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Knarr Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Letts | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Letts Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mapleton Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| McCoy | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mechanicsburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Middle Branch | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Milford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Neff Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| New Pennington | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pinhook | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rossburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Saint Maurice | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Saint Omer | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sandusky | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sardinia | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Slabtown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Smiths Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Smyrna | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Tarkeo Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Waynesburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Williamstown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
St. Paul straddles the Decatur–Shelby–Bartholomew county line; only its Decatur County portion is counted here.
Townships
Decatur County is divided into nine civil townships: Adams, Clay, Clinton, Fugit, Jackson, Marion, Salt Creek, Sand Creek, and Washington. Township-level 2020 census counts are not independently verified for this profile, so they are omitted rather than estimated. Greensburg sits mainly in Clay Township, Westport in Clinton Township, New Point in Sand Creek Township, Clarksburg in Washington Township, and Lake Santee in Fugit Township.
ZIP Codes
- 47240 — Greensburg
- 47283 — Westport
- 47272 — St. Paul
- 47270 — New Point
Smaller unincorporated communities generally use the ZIP code of the nearest post office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Decatur County lies on the till plains of southeastern Indiana, drained by Sand Creek and Clifty Creek. The terrain is gently rolling farmland, with 372.57 square miles of land and 0.76 square miles of water. The county borders Rush County to the north, Franklin County to the east, Ripley County to the southeast, Jennings County to the south, Bartholomew County to the west, and Shelby County to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 26,472 residents of Decatur County. Greensburg is the largest community, followed by Westport. Median household income in the county has not been independently verified for this profile; the Indiana state median is $69,477. Population density works out to roughly 71 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Decatur County’s economy centers on manufacturing and agriculture. Honda’s engine and transmission plant near Greensburg is among the county’s largest employers, alongside farming operations growing corn and soybeans across the county’s rolling fields. Decatur County Memorial Hospital and Decatur County schools are also major local employers. The county fair, held each summer in Greensburg, is a longstanding local event.
History
Decatur County was authorized on December 12, 1821, and organized in 1822. It is named for Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr., a U.S. naval officer who fought in the First and Second Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Greensburg, the county seat, is known for the tree that has grown from its 1844 courthouse tower for well over a century.
Getting There
- Columbus — 22 miles west
- Shelbyville — 20 miles northwest
- Batesville — 15 miles southeast
- Indianapolis — 55 miles northwest
Interstate 74 runs through the northern part of the county past Greensburg, connecting to Indianapolis and Cincinnati. The nearest commercial airport is Indianapolis International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Decatur County, Indiana?
It is in the southeastern part of Indiana, centred near 39°18′N 85°30′W, between Indianapolis and Cincinnati.
What is the population of Decatur County?
Decatur County had a population of 26,472 at the 2020 census.
How big is Decatur County?
The county covers 373.32 square miles (966.9 km2), of which 372.57 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Decatur County?
Greensburg is the county seat and the county’s only city.
How many towns are in Decatur County?
The county has one city (Greensburg), four towns (Millhousen, New Point, St. Paul, and Westport), and two census-designated places (Clarksburg and Lake Santee).
What ZIP codes are in Decatur County?
Verified ZIP codes include 47240 (Greensburg), 47270 (New Point), 47272 (St. Paul), and 47283 (Westport).
What is Decatur County known for?
Greensburg’s courthouse is famous for the tree growing out of its clock tower, and the county is home to a major Honda engine plant.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.