Pike County is a county in Indiana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state along the Patoka River. It had a population of 12,250 at the 2020 census and covers 341.09 square miles (883.4 km2) centred near 38°24′N 87°14′W.
Petersburg is the county seat and its postal code is 47567. The county has one city, two towns, one census-designated place, and roughly three dozen unincorporated communities spread across nine civil townships. Pike County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Pike County
Pike County has 37 named places on record: one city (Petersburg, the county seat), two incorporated towns (Spurgeon and Winslow), one census-designated place (Otwell), and 33 unincorporated communities — crossroads, rail stops, and former mining settlements that never incorporated. Type key: City · seat = county seat; Town = incorporated town; CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg | City · seat | — | — | 47567 |
| Winslow | Town | — | — | 47598 |
| Spurgeon | Town | — | — | 47584 |
| Otwell | CDP | — | — | 47564 |
| Alford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Algiers | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Arthur Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ashby Yards | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Augusta | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ayrshire | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bowman | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Campbelltown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cato | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Coats Spring | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Coe | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Enos Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Fritz Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Glezen | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hartwell Junction | Unincorp. | Marion | — | — |
| Hedden | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Highbank Town | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Iva | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Littles | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Marysville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Muren | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Oatsville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pikeville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rumble | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Stendal | Unincorp. | — | — | 47585 |
| Survant | Unincorp. | Marion | — | — |
| Union | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Velpen | Unincorp. | Marion | — | 47590 |
| West Petersburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| White Sulphur Springs | Unincorp. | Marion | — | — |
| Whiteoak | Unincorp. | Marion | — | — |
| Willisville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Zoar | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
A handful of names on older lists of Pike County settlements are actually places in neighboring counties and are not included here: Chandler is a community in Warrick County, and Scottsburg is the seat of Scott County — both well outside Pike County and dropped from this list.
Townships
Pike County is divided into nine civil townships. Detailed 2020 population and settlement data is confirmed for Marion Township only; figures for the remaining townships were not independently verifiable and are omitted rather than estimated.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Marion | 683 | Hartwell Junction, Survant, Velpen, White Sulphur Springs, Whiteoak |
| Clay | — | — |
| Jefferson | — | — |
| Lockhart | — | — |
| Logan | — | — |
| Madison | — | — |
| Monroe | — | — |
| Patoka | — | — |
| Washington | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 47567 — Petersburg (county seat)
- 47598 — Winslow
- 47584 — Spurgeon (PO Box-only ZIP)
- 47564 — Otwell
- 47585 — Stendal
- 47590 — Velpen
The county’s smaller unincorporated communities have no dedicated ZIP code of their own and are served by mail from the nearest of these six post office towns.
Geography
Pike County lies along the Patoka River in Indiana, in the state’s southwestern corner, with rolling farmland in the north giving way to bottomland forest near the river in the south. Of its 341.09 square miles, 334.24 square miles are land and 6.86 square miles are water. The county borders Daviess County to the northeast, Dubois County to the east, Warrick County to the south, Gibson County to the west, and Knox County to the northwest.
Demographics
Pike County had 12,250 residents at the 2020 census, a density of roughly 37 people per square mile. Petersburg, the county seat, and Winslow are its two largest incorporated communities. Pike County is rural and its household income runs below the Indiana median of $69,477, in line with most of the small farming and former coal-mining counties in the southwestern part of the state.
Economy & Local Life
Coal mining and agriculture have long anchored Pike County’s economy — corn and soybeans dominate the cropland north of the Patoka River, and surface and underground coal mines have operated in the county for well over a century. Petersburg is the county’s commercial and governmental center. The Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, which reaches into Pike County along the river bottoms, draws hunters and birdwatchers to the area.
History
Pike County was organized on December 21, 1816, only ten days after Indiana became a state. It was named for Zebulon Pike, the U.S. Army officer and explorer who led expeditions through the Louisiana Purchase territory and for whom Pikes Peak is also named. Petersburg was laid out as the county seat soon after the county’s formation, and coal mining became a major employer through the 19th and 20th centuries as railroads reached the area’s deposits.
Getting There
Interstate 69 crosses the northern part of Pike County, and State Roads 56, 57, 61, 64, 65, 257, 356, and 364 serve the rest of the county.
- Evansville — 35 miles southwest
- Jasper — 20 miles east
- Vincennes — 25 miles northwest
- Indianapolis — 110 miles north
Evansville Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pike County, Indiana?
It is in the southwestern part of the state, along the Patoka River, bordering Daviess, Dubois, Warrick, Gibson, and Knox counties.
What is the population of Pike County?
12,250 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Pike County?
341.09 square miles (883.4 km2), of which 334.24 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Pike County?
Petersburg is the county seat.
How many towns are in Pike County?
One city (Petersburg), two towns (Spurgeon and Winslow), one census-designated place (Otwell), and about three dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Pike County?
47567 (Petersburg), 47598 (Winslow), 47584 (Spurgeon), 47564 (Otwell), 47585 (Stendal), and 47590 (Velpen).
What river runs through Pike County?
The Patoka River crosses the county and forms part of its southern landscape, including the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.