Blackford County is a county in Indiana, United States, in the east-central part of the state. It had a population of 12,112 at the 2020 census and covers 165.58 square miles (428.9 km2) centred near 40°28′N 85°19′W.
Hartford City is the county seat, and its postal code is 47348. The county has one incorporated town, two other cities, and five unincorporated communities spread across four civil townships. Blackford County observes Eastern Time and is the fourth-smallest county in Indiana by land area.
Towns & Villages in Blackford County
Blackford County has eight named places: two cities, one town, and five unincorporated communities. Dunkirk sits mostly across the line in neighboring Jay County, with only a small portion inside Blackford. CDP/Unincorp. below marks places with no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford City | City · seat | Licking | 5,617 | 47348 |
| Montpelier | City | Harrison | 1,724 | 47359 |
| Dunkirk | City | — | — | 47336 |
| Shamrock Lakes | Town | Licking | — | 47348 |
| Converse | Unincorp. | Jackson | — | — |
| Matamoras | Unincorp. | Harrison | — | — |
| Millgrove | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Roll | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Trenton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Dunkirk straddles the Blackford–Jay county line and is mostly located in Jay County; the small Blackford-side edge is listed here for completeness rather than as a full Blackford settlement.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Licking | 7,723 | Hartford City, Shamrock Lakes |
| Harrison | 2,353 | Montpelier, Matamoras |
| Jackson | — | Converse |
| Washington | — | Trenton |
ZIP Codes
- 47348 — Hartford City (also serves Shamrock Lakes)
- 47359 — Montpelier
- 47336 — Dunkirk (based in neighboring Jay County, covers the small Blackford-side edge of the city)
Converse, Matamoras, Millgrove, Roll, and Trenton have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest listed ZIP.
Geography
Blackford County lies in the till plains of east-central Indiana, mostly flat farmland drained by the Salamonie River, which crosses the northern part of the county near Montpelier. Land use is dominated by row-crop agriculture, with corn and soybeans covering more than 70 percent of the county.
Blackford County borders Wells County to the north, Jay County to the east, Delaware County to the south, and Grant County to the west. Only the Wells County line has a live neighboring profile on this site at present; Jay, Delaware, and Grant are named without a link.
Demographics
Blackford County had 12,112 residents at the 2020 census. Hartford City and Montpelier are its two largest communities, together home to most of the county’s population. Median household income in the county runs below the Indiana median of $69,477, reflecting the county’s manufacturing- and agriculture-based economy. Population density is about 73 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing, agriculture, government, retail, and healthcare are the county’s leading employment sectors, with manufacturing accounting for roughly 19 percent of jobs. Major employers include 3M Company, Blackford County Schools, Blackford County Hospital, and Emhart Gripco. Corn and soybean farming remain the backbone of the rural economy outside the two cities.
History
Blackford County was organized on April 2, 1838, and named for Judge Isaac Blackford, first speaker of the Indiana General Assembly and a long-serving justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. The county is divided into its four original civil townships: Harrison, Jackson, Licking, and Washington. Former Indiana Governor M. Clifford Townsend was born in Licking Township in 1884, and astronaut Kevin A. Ford graduated from Blackford High School in Hartford City in 1978.
Getting There
Blackford County has no interstate highway; State Roads 3, 18, 26, and 167 carry through-traffic to and from the county.
- Fort Wayne — 55 miles north
- Indianapolis — 78 miles southwest
- Muncie — 20 miles south, in Delaware County
- Marion — 20 miles west, in Grant County
The nearest commercial airport is Fort Wayne International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Blackford County, Indiana?
It is in east-central Indiana, about 55 miles south of Fort Wayne and 78 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
What is the population of Blackford County?
12,112 at the 2020 census, the eighth-smallest of Indiana’s 92 counties.
How big is Blackford County?
165.58 square miles (428.9 km2), making it the fourth-smallest county in Indiana.
What is the county seat of Blackford County?
Hartford City is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Blackford County?
Two cities (Hartford City and Montpelier), one town (Shamrock Lakes), and five unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Blackford County?
47348 (Hartford City) and 47359 (Montpelier) are the county’s own ZIP codes; the small Dunkirk edge uses 47336.
What townships make up Blackford County?
Harrison, Jackson, Licking, and Washington townships.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.