Switzerland County is a county in Indiana, United States, on the Ohio River in the state’s southeastern corner. It had a population of 9,737 at the 2020 census and covers 220.63 square miles (571.4 km2) of land centred near 38°49′N 85°02′W.
Vevay is the county seat, and its postal code is 47043. The county has two incorporated towns (Vevay and Patriot) and more than a dozen unincorporated communities spread across six civil townships. Switzerland County sits in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 18155.
Towns & Villages in Switzerland County
Switzerland County has two incorporated towns and around twenty smaller unincorporated communities. “CDP” marks a Census Bureau statistical area with no town government; “Unincorp.” marks a crossroads, hamlet, or historic community with no incorporation.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vevay | Town · seat | Craig | 1,565 | 47043 |
| Patriot | Town | Posey | 202 | 47038 |
| Aaron | Unincorp. | Jefferson | — | — |
| Allensville | Unincorp. | Jefferson | — | — |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | Pleasant | — | — |
| Avonburg | Unincorp. | Jefferson | — | — |
| Bennington | Unincorp. | Cotton | — | — |
| Braytown | Unincorp. | Cotton | — | — |
| Center Square | Unincorp. | Pleasant | — | — |
| East Enterprise | Unincorp. | Cotton | — | 47012 |
| Fairview | Unincorp. | Craig | — | — |
| Five Points | Unincorp. | Craig | — | — |
| Florence | Unincorp. | York | — | 47031 |
| Gurley Corner | Unincorp. | Jefferson | — | — |
| Jacksonville | Unincorp. | York | — | — |
| Lamb | Unincorp. | Posey | — | — |
| Long Run | Unincorp. | Craig | — | — |
| Markland | Unincorp. | Posey | — | — |
| Moorefield | Unincorp. | York | — | — |
| Mount Sterling | Unincorp. | Jefferson | — | — |
| Pleasant | Unincorp. | Pleasant | — | — |
| Quercus Grove | Unincorp. | Cotton | — | — |
| Searcy Crossroads | Unincorp. | Craig | — | — |
Townships
Switzerland County is divided into six civil townships: Cotton, Craig, Jefferson, Pleasant, Posey, and York. The Census Bureau does not publish separate 2020 population totals for Indiana’s civil townships, so exact figures are unavailable; the table below lists each township’s main settlement instead.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Craig | — | Vevay (county seat), Fairview, Five Points, Long Run, Searcy Crossroads |
| Jefferson | — | Allensville, Aaron, Avonburg, Gurley Corner, Mount Sterling |
| Posey | — | Patriot, Markland, Lamb |
| York | — | Florence, Jacksonville, Moorefield |
| Cotton | — | East Enterprise, Bennington, Braytown, Quercus Grove |
| Pleasant | — | Pleasant, Antioch, Center Square |
ZIP Codes
- 47043 — Vevay (also serves the county’s central townships)
- 47038 — Patriot (also serves Markland and the Ohio River bottoms)
- 47012 — East Enterprise (also serves northern Cotton Township)
- 47031 — Florence (also serves York Township’s river communities)
Most of the remaining unincorporated crossroads share a ZIP with their nearest post office town rather than carrying one of their own.
Geography
Switzerland County occupies a hilly stretch of Indiana’s Ohio River bluffs, its southern boundary formed entirely by the river itself. The terrain is rugged compared to most of Indiana, cut by ridges and creek hollows draining toward the Ohio; there is little level farmland outside the river bottoms. The county’s largest engineered feature is Markland Lock and Dam, on the river near Patriot.
Switzerland County borders Jefferson County to the west, Ripley County to the northwest, and Ohio County to the north, all in Indiana. Across the Ohio River lie three Kentucky counties: Boone County to the northeast, Gallatin County to the east, and Carroll County to the south.
Demographics
Switzerland County had 9,737 residents at the 2020 census. Vevay, the county seat, and Patriot are its two incorporated towns; nearly all other residents live in unincorporated crossroads communities or on rural acreage. Indiana’s 2023 median household income is $69,477 — Switzerland County, a small rural river county with no larger city to anchor higher wages, typically runs below that state figure. Population density is roughly 44 people per square mile, well under the statewide average.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, forestry, and small manufacturing anchor the local economy, alongside jobs commuting across the Ohio River to the Cincinnati and Louisville metro areas. Historically, Switzerland County’s hillside vineyards earned it the nickname “the Rhineland of America” after Swiss immigrants planted grapes along the river bluffs in the early 1800s; the county still hosts an annual Swiss Wine Festival in Vevay each summer. Markland Lock and Dam is a major employer and river-traffic landmark near Patriot.
History
Switzerland County was organized on October 1, 1814, and named for the immigrants’ native Switzerland — a group of Swiss settlers, many from the Vaud canton, who established vineyards on the Ohio River bluffs starting in 1802. Vevay, the county seat, takes its own name from the Swiss city of Vevey. The county’s wine industry was one of the earliest commercial vineyard operations in the United States, predating California’s by decades, though it declined after Prohibition.
Getting There
State Roads 56, 129, and 156 are the main routes through the county; SR 250 crosses the Ohio River into Kentucky via the Markland Dam area, and SR 101 runs along the county’s western edge.
- Madison, Indiana — 20 miles west
- Rising Sun, Indiana — 15 miles northeast
- Carrollton, Kentucky — 8 miles south, across the river
- Cincinnati, Ohio — 45 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Switzerland County, Indiana?
It is in southeastern Indiana, on the Ohio River across from Kentucky, between Jefferson and Ohio counties.
What is the population of Switzerland County?
9,737 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Switzerland County?
220.63 square miles (571.4 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Switzerland County?
Vevay is the county seat.
How many towns are in Switzerland County?
Two incorporated towns, Vevay and Patriot, plus about twenty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Switzerland County?
Mainly 47043 (Vevay), 47038 (Patriot), 47012 (East Enterprise), and 47031 (Florence).
Why is Switzerland County called “the Rhineland of America”?
Swiss immigrants planted hillside vineyards along the Ohio River bluffs starting in 1802, and the county’s wine industry was one of the earliest in the United States.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.