Gibson County is a county in Indiana, United States, on the state’s southwestern border with Illinois. It had a population of 33,011 at the 2020 census and covers 499.16 square miles (1,292.8 km2) centred near 38°19′N 87°35′W.
Princeton is the county seat, and its postal code is 47670. The county has 2 cities, 8 towns and a number of unincorporated communities spread across 10 civil townships. Gibson County sits in the Central time zone; its FIPS code is 18051.
Towns & Villages in Gibson County
Gibson County’s settlements range from the two incorporated cities and eight incorporated towns down to small crossroads communities that never took on formal town government. In the table below, CDP marks a census-designated place and Unincorp. marks a small unincorporated community; population and ZIP figures are shown only where independently confirmed, otherwise marked —.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | City · seat | Patoka | 8,301 | 47670 |
| Oakland City | City | Columbia | 2,279 | — |
| Fort Branch | Town | Barton | 2,965 | — |
| Haubstadt | Town | Union | 1,638 | — |
| Owensville | Town | Montgomery | 1,338 | — |
| Patoka | Town | Patoka | — | — |
| Francisco | Town | Barton | 545 | — |
| Hazleton | Town | White River | 194 | — |
| Somerville | Town | Center | — | — |
| Mackey | Town | Montgomery | 131 | — |
| Baldwin Heights | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Buckskin | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Crawleyville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Dongola | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Douglas | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Durham | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| East Mount Carmel | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Egg Harbor | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Giro | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gray Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gudgel | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hickory Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Jimtown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| King | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lyles | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| McGary | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mount Olympus | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mounts | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Oak Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Saint James | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Skelton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Warrenton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wheeling | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Two names in the old scrape were dropped as duplicates of township names already covered below rather than distinct settlements: White River and Johnson, both of which name a civil township directly.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Patoka | — | Princeton, Patoka |
| Columbia | — | Oakland City |
| Barton | — | Fort Branch, Francisco |
| Union | — | Haubstadt |
| Montgomery | — | Owensville, Mackey |
| White River | — | Hazleton |
| Center | — | Somerville |
| Johnson | — | rural |
| Wabash | — | rural |
| Washington | — | rural |
Gibson County has 10 civil townships in all: Barton, Center, Columbia, Johnson, Montgomery, Patoka, Union, Wabash, Washington and White River. Per-township 2020 population breakdowns were not independently verified for this profile and are omitted rather than estimated.
ZIP Codes
- 47670 — Princeton (also serves surrounding Patoka Township)
Other Gibson County towns, including Fort Branch, Haubstadt, Owensville, Oakland City, Patoka, Francisco, Hazleton, Somerville and Mackey, each carry their own ZIP code; those codes were not independently verified for this profile and are omitted rather than guessed.
Geography
Gibson County lies in southwestern Indiana on the east bank of the Wabash River, which forms part of the county’s western boundary with Illinois. The White River and Patoka River both cross the county, and much of its southern and western land is flat bottomland historically drained for row-crop farming, while the north carries rolling upland terrain. Of its 499.16 square miles, 487.49 square miles are land and 11.68 square miles are water.
Gibson County borders Knox County to the north, Pike County to the east, Warrick County to the southeast, Vanderburgh County to the south, Posey County to the southwest, and White County, Illinois across the Wabash River to the west, with Wabash County, Illinois, adjoining the northwest corner.
Demographics
Gibson County had 33,011 residents at the 2020 census. Princeton, the county seat, and Oakland City are the two largest communities. The Census Bureau’s 2010-era estimate of county median household income was $47,697; that figure predates the 2023 American Community Survey used for state comparison. Indiana’s 2023 ACS median household income is $69,477, and Gibson County has historically run somewhat below the state figure, reflecting its manufacturing- and farm-dependent economy. Population density works out to roughly 68 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing anchors the county’s economy: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, headquartered near Princeton, builds the Highlander, Grand Highlander and Sienna along with the Lexus TX and is one of the largest employers in southwestern Indiana. The Gibson Generating Station, a large coal-fired power plant, and rail lines operated by Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation also anchor the local economy, alongside grain and livestock farming across the county’s flatter townships.
History
Gibson County was organized on April 1, 1813, and named for John Gibson, an officer who served in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War and later held territorial office in Indiana. Princeton was platted as the county seat soon after organization. The county’s location on the Wabash River made it an early corridor for river trade and later for coal mining and rail traffic through the 19th and 20th centuries.
Getting There
Interstate 64 crosses the county’s south, Interstate 69 runs along its eastern edge, and US 41 runs north-south through Princeton. State routes 56, 57, 64, 65, 68, 165, 168 and 357 connect the smaller towns.
- Evansville — 25 miles southeast
- Vincennes — 20 miles north
- Terre Haute — 65 miles north
- Owensboro, Kentucky — 45 miles south
Evansville Regional Airport, about 25 miles southeast of Princeton, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gibson County, Indiana?
It is in southwestern Indiana, on the Illinois state line along the Wabash River, between Vincennes to the north and Evansville to the southeast.
What is the population of Gibson County?
33,011 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Gibson County?
499.16 square miles (1,292.8 km2), of which 487.49 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Gibson County?
Princeton is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Gibson County?
Two cities (Princeton and Oakland City) and eight incorporated towns, plus a number of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Gibson County?
Princeton uses 47670; the county’s other towns each have their own ZIP code.
What is Gibson County’s biggest employer?
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, which builds the Highlander, Grand Highlander, Sienna and Lexus TX near Princeton.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.