Ohio County is a county in Indiana, United States, on the north bank of the Ohio River in the southeastern part of the state. It had a population of 5,940 at the 2020 census and covers 87 square miles (226.4 km2) centred near 38°57′N 84°58′W.
Rising Sun is the county seat, and its postal code is 47040. The county has one incorporated city and roughly a dozen unincorporated communities, spread across four civil townships. Ohio County observes Eastern Time and is Indiana’s smallest county by area and its least populous.
Towns & Villages in Ohio County
Rising Sun is Ohio County’s only incorporated municipality; everything else on the list below is an unincorporated crossroads, landing, or rural community (Unincorp.). Populations are shown where the 2020 census tabulates the place separately; otherwise the community is counted as part of its township.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rising Sun | City · seat | — | 2,248 | 47040 |
| Aberdeen | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Bear Branch | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Buffalo | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Hartford | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Milton | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Norths Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Bascom Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Blue | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Camp Shor | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Cofield Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
| Downey Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | 47040 |
Every place in the table shares Rising Sun’s single county-wide ZIP code, since Ohio County has no second post office. The township each rural community falls in is not confirmed against a current source, so those cells are left blank rather than guessed.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Cass | 694 | Rural, unincorporated |
| Union | 447 | Rural, unincorporated |
| Pike | — | Rural, unincorporated |
| Randolph | — | Rural, unincorporated |
ZIP Codes
- 47040 — Rising Sun (serves the entire county; no other place has its own ZIP)
Because Ohio County is Indiana’s smallest by area, a single post office town covers every community listed above.
Geography
Ohio County sits in a hilly, river-carved landscape along the Ohio River, which forms its entire eastern boundary. Most of the county’s 226.4 km2 is land, with a small share of river frontage and creek bottoms cut by small tributary streams that drain toward the river. The terrain climbs quickly away from the water into wooded ridges, which has kept development concentrated near Rising Sun and along the valley bottoms. Dearborn County lies to the north, Ripley County to the northwest, and Switzerland County to the south. Across the Ohio River to the east is Boone County, Kentucky, reached from Rising Sun by a highway bridge.
Demographics
Ohio County’s 2020 population of 5,940 made it Indiana’s least populous county. Rising Sun, with 2,248 residents, is by far the largest community; the rest of the population is spread across Cass, Pike, Randolph, and Union townships. Median household income runs close to the Indiana median of $69,477, reflecting a mix of riverfront tourism jobs and rural households. Population density is about 68 people per square mile, well below the statewide average.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism and gaming anchor the local economy: the Rising Star Casino Resort, a riverboat casino with about 40,000 square feet of gaming space, has operated in Rising Sun since 1996 and is one of the county’s largest employers. Agriculture and small manufacturing round out the rest of the workforce, with many residents also commuting into the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
History
Ohio County was organized in 1844, carved out of Dearborn County to settle a dispute over the location of the county seat. It takes its name from the Ohio River, which forms its eastern edge. The Ohio County Courthouse in Rising Sun, built in 1845, is the oldest continuously used courthouse in Indiana.
Getting There
Indiana State Road 56 and State Road 262 are the main routes through the county, connecting Rising Sun to river towns on both sides of the Ohio.
- Lawrenceburg, Indiana — 15 miles northeast
- Vevay, Indiana — 20 miles southwest
- Cincinnati, Ohio — 35 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, about 35 miles northeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ohio County, Indiana?
It sits in the southeastern corner of the state, on the Ohio River across from Boone County, Kentucky.
What is the population of Ohio County?
5,940 people, per the 2020 census — the smallest population of any Indiana county.
How big is Ohio County?
87 square miles (226.4 km2), the smallest of Indiana’s 92 counties.
What is the county seat of Ohio County?
Rising Sun is the county seat and the only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Ohio County?
One incorporated city, Rising Sun, plus about a dozen unincorporated communities across four townships.
What ZIP codes are in Ohio County?
The entire county is served by a single ZIP code, 47040.
What is Ohio County known for?
The Rising Star Casino Resort riverboat casino and the 1845 Ohio County Courthouse, the oldest still in continuous use in Indiana.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.