Martin County is a county in Indiana, United States, in the hilly southwestern part of the state along the East Fork White River. It had a population of 9,812 at the 2020 census and covers 340.41 square miles (881.7 km2) centred near 38°43′N 86°48′W.
Shoals is the county seat, and its postal code is 47581. Loogootee, on the county’s western border, is the only incorporated city; the county also has one town (Crane) and roughly a dozen unincorporated communities, spread across six civil townships. Martin County is in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Martin County
Martin County has one incorporated city, one town, and about a dozen unincorporated communities. Most of the land is rural and wooded; roughly a third of the county is occupied by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, and about a quarter falls inside the Hoosier National Forest. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no current population count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loogootee | City | — | 47553 |
| Shoals | City · seat | — | 47581 |
| Crane | Town | — | 47522 |
| Burns City | CDP | — | 47581 |
| Dover Hill | CDP | — | 47581 |
| Bramble | Unincorp. | — | 47581 |
| Cale | Unincorp. | — | 47553 |
| Hindostan Falls | Unincorp. | — | 47553 |
| Indian Springs | Unincorp. | — | 47553 |
| Ironton | Unincorp. | — | 47581 |
| Lacy | Unincorp. | — | 47581 |
| Mount Olive | Unincorp. | — | 47553 |
| Mount Pleasant | Unincorp. | — | 47553 |
| Natchez | Unincorp. | — | 47581 |
| Pleasant Valley | Unincorp. | — | 47553 |
| Rusk | Unincorp. | — | 47581 |
| Trinity Springs | Unincorp. | — | 47581 |
| Whitfield | Unincorp. | — | 47553 |
Willow Valley, Windom, and Yenne appeared on the old settlement list carried over from a prior scrape but do not turn up in current gazetteers or the county’s own community list, so they are omitted here pending verification. Scenic Hill and Shoals Overlook likewise appear to be residential subdivisions near Shoals rather than distinct historic communities, and are also left off.
Townships
Martin County is divided into six civil townships, each governing a rural area of the county. 2020 township-level population figures are not independently confirmed for this rewrite, so they are omitted rather than estimated.
| Township | Main settlements |
|---|---|
| Center | Shoals |
| Halbert | Trinity Springs, Rusk |
| Lost River | Dover Hill, Cale |
| Mitcheltree | Bramble, Indian Springs |
| Perry | Loogootee, Whitfield |
| Rutherford | Crane, Burns City |
ZIP Codes
- 47553 — Loogootee (also serves Cale, Hindostan Falls, Indian Springs, Mount Olive, Mount Pleasant, Pleasant Valley, Whitfield)
- 47581 — Shoals (also serves Bramble, Burns City, Dover Hill, Ironton, Lacy, Natchez, Rusk, Trinity Springs)
- 47522 — Crane
All of Martin County is covered by these three ZIP codes; no community here has its own separate postal code.
Geography
Martin County sits in the hill country of southwestern Indiana, cut through by drainages feeding the East Fork White River, which forms part of the county’s northern boundary. The terrain is largely wooded, and a substantial share of the county is federally controlled: about one-third by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, a U.S. Navy installation, and roughly a quarter by the Hoosier National Forest. Of the total 340.41 square miles (881.7 km2), 335.74 square miles (869.6 km2) is land and 4.67 square miles (12.1 km2) is water.
Martin County borders Greene County to the north, Lawrence County to the east, Orange County to the southeast, Dubois County to the south, and Daviess County to the west.
Demographics
Martin County had 9,812 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 29 people per square mile. Loogootee and Shoals are its two largest communities. Indiana’s median household income was $69,477 in the 2023 American Community Survey; Martin County, being rural with a large tax-exempt federal presence, typically runs somewhat below the state figure.
Economy & Local Life
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, one of the largest U.S. Navy installations by land area, is the county’s dominant employer and economic anchor, drawing workers from across southwestern Indiana. Agriculture and forestry remain significant in the county’s rural townships, and Loogootee serves as the county’s retail and school-district hub.
History
Martin County was organized on January 20, 1820, formed from parts of Dubois and Daviess counties. It is named for Major John T. Martin of Newport, Kentucky. Shoals, sited at a natural ford and rock shelf crossing of the East Fork White River, became the county seat for its central, defensible location relative to the county’s early scattered river settlements.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 50, 150, and 231 cross the county, along with State Roads 450, 550, and 650.
- Bedford — 20 miles east, via US 50
- Washington — 15 miles west, via US 50
- Vincennes — 30 miles west, via US 50
- Bloomington — 40 miles northeast, via SR 37/IN-450
The nearest commercial airport is Southern Indiana Regional Airport in Bedford; Indianapolis International Airport, about 100 miles north, is the nearest major hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Martin County, Indiana?
It is in the hill country of southwestern Indiana, along the East Fork White River, between Bedford and Washington.
What is the population of Martin County?
9,812 residents as of the 2020 census.
How big is Martin County?
340.41 square miles (881.7 km2), of which 335.74 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Martin County?
Shoals is the county seat.
How many towns are in Martin County?
One incorporated city (Loogootee), one town (Crane), and about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Martin County?
47553 (Loogootee), 47581 (Shoals), and 47522 (Crane).
What is the largest employer in Martin County?
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, a U.S. Navy installation covering about a third of the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.