Clinton County is a county in Indiana, United States, on the flat till plains south of the Wabash River, in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 33,190 at the 2020 census and covers 405.25 square miles (1,049.6 km2) centred near 40°18′N 86°29′W.
Frankfort is the county seat; its postal code is 46041. The county has one city, five incorporated towns, and about a dozen unincorporated communities, grouped into 14 civil townships. Clinton County observes Eastern Time.
Towns & Villages in Clinton County
Clinton County has one city (Frankfort, the seat), five incorporated towns, and roughly 20 unincorporated communities scattered across its 14 townships. In the table below, CDP marks a Census-Designated Place with its own 2020 count; Unincorp. marks a crossroads or hamlet with no separate census figure.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfort | City · seat | Center | 16,715 | 46041 |
| Rossville | Town | Ross | — | 46065 |
| Kirklin | Town | Kirklin | — | 46050 |
| Colfax | Town | Perry | — | 46035 |
| Michigantown | Town | Michigan | — | 46057 |
| Mulberry | Town | Union | — | 46058 |
| Forest | CDP | Forest | — | 46039 |
| Hillisburg | Unincorp. | Owen | — | 46041 |
| Jefferson | Unincorp. | Jackson | — | — |
| Scircleville | Unincorp. | Warren | — | — |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | Sugar Creek | — | — |
| Sedalia | Unincorp. | Johnson | — | 46067 |
| Cyclone | Unincorp. | Madison | — | — |
| Edna Mills | Unincorp. | Washington | — | — |
| Kilmore | Unincorp. | Center | — | — |
| Middlefork | Unincorp. | Jackson | — | — |
| Moran | Unincorp. | Ross | — | — |
| Pickard | Unincorp. | Forest | — | — |
| Beard | Unincorp. | Warren | — | — |
| Cambria | Unincorp. | Sugar Creek | — | — |
| Avery | Unincorp. | Johnson | — | — |
Forest sits astride the boundary of Forest and Owen townships and is sometimes listed under either; the table above uses its post office township. A handful of very small crossroads named in older gazetteers — Boyleston, East Park, Fickle, Geetingsville, Hamilton, Manson, Mattix Corner, Reagan, Risse, Wesley Manor, Wilshire, and Woodside Park — have no verifiable population or current ZIP assignment and are omitted from the table pending confirmation.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Center | — | Frankfort, Kilmore |
| Ross | — | Rossville, Moran |
| Union | — | Mulberry |
| Perry | — | Colfax |
| Kirklin | — | Kirklin |
| Michigan | — | Michigantown |
| Forest | — | Forest, Pickard |
| Owen | — | Hillisburg |
| Jackson | — | Jefferson, Middlefork |
| Warren | — | Scircleville, Beard |
| Sugar Creek | — | Antioch, Cambria |
| Johnson | — | Sedalia, Avery |
| Madison | — | Cyclone |
| Washington | — | Edna Mills |
Township-level 2020 census counts were not verifiable from the available sources, so the population column is omitted rather than estimated; the county total of 33,190 is confirmed at the 2020 census.
ZIP Codes
- 46041 — Frankfort (also serves Hillisburg)
- 46035 — Colfax
- 46050 — Kirklin
- 46057 — Michigantown
- 46058 — Mulberry
- 46065 — Rossville
- 46039 — Forest
- 46067 — Sedalia (PO Box service only)
The county’s other unincorporated communities have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest listed ZIP code.
Geography
Clinton County lies on flat to gently rolling glacial till plain typical of west-central Indiana, drained mainly by the Wildcat Creek and Prairie Creek systems toward the Wabash River. Farmland dominates the landscape, with Frankfort as the only sizeable built-up area. The county covers 405.25 square miles (1,049.6 km2), of which 405.07 square miles (1,049.1 km2) is land and 0.18 square miles (0.5 km2) is water.
Clinton County borders Carroll County to the north, Howard County to the northeast, Tipton County to the east, Hamilton County to the southeast, Boone County to the south, Montgomery County to the southwest, and Tippecanoe County to the west.
Demographics
Clinton County had 33,190 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 82 people per square mile. Frankfort is by far the largest community, followed by Rossville. The county’s median household income runs below the Indiana median of $69,477, reflecting its largely agricultural and manufacturing employment base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — primarily corn and soybeans — remains the backbone of the county’s economy, alongside manufacturing centred in and around Frankfort, historically tied to the automotive-parts and food-processing sectors. Frankfort High School and the Clinton County Fairgrounds anchor much of the county’s community life, and the annual Clinton County 4-H Fair draws visitors from across the region each July.
History
Clinton County was organized on March 1, 1830, and named for DeWitt Clinton, the sixth governor of New York and the driving force behind the Erie Canal, whose completion helped open the Midwest to settlement. Frankfort was platted as the county seat the same year. Like much of west-central Indiana, the county’s early economy grew around grain milling and, after the arrival of the railroads in the mid-1800s, grain shipping and light industry centred on Frankfort.
Getting There
Interstate 65 crosses the eastern part of the county, and US Routes 52 and 421 both pass through Frankfort, along with several state roads. Nearby cities include:
- Lafayette — 20 miles west
- Kokomo — 20 miles northeast
- Lebanon — 20 miles south
- Indianapolis — 50 miles southeast
Frankfort Municipal Airport serves general aviation; the nearest commercial airport is Indianapolis International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clinton County, Indiana?
It sits in west-central Indiana, on US 421 and US 52 north of Indianapolis, with Frankfort as its county seat.
What is the population of Clinton County?
33,190 at the 2020 census.
How big is Clinton County?
405.25 square miles (1,049.6 km2), of which 405.07 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Clinton County?
Frankfort is the county seat.
How many towns are in Clinton County?
One city (Frankfort) and five incorporated towns — Colfax, Kirklin, Michigantown, Mulberry, and Rossville — plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Clinton County?
46041 (Frankfort), 46035 (Colfax), 46050 (Kirklin), 46057 (Michigantown), 46058 (Mulberry), 46065 (Rossville), 46039 (Forest), and 46067 (Sedalia, PO Box only).
Who is Clinton County named after?
DeWitt Clinton, the sixth governor of New York and the man behind the Erie Canal.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.