Scott County is a county in Indiana, United States, about 30 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky, on the Interstate 65 corridor. It had a population of 24,384 at the 2020 census and covers 192.75 square miles (499.2 km2) centred near 38°41′N 85°44′W.
Scottsburg is the county seat, and its postal code is 47170. The county has 2 incorporated cities, several unincorporated communities and 5 civil townships. Scott County lies in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Scott County
Scott County has just two incorporated cities — Scottsburg and Austin — alongside a handful of small unincorporated communities scattered across its five townships. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsburg | City · seat | Finley | 7,345 | 47170 |
| Austin | City | Johnson | — | 47102 |
| Vienna | Unincorp. | Vienna | — | 47170 |
| Lexington | Unincorp. | Lexington | — | 47138 |
| Nabb | Unincorp. | — | — | 47147 |
| Blocher | Unincorp. | — | — | 47170 |
| Leota | Unincorp. | — | — | 47170 |
| Underwood | Unincorp. | — | — | 47177 |
The old county listing also carried Albion, Goshen, Marshfield, New Frankfort, Pigeon Roost Station and Wooster as places in Scott County. Pigeon Roost Station marks the site of the 1812 Pigeon Roost massacre and survives today only as a state historic site, not an inhabited place; the others could not be independently confirmed against current gazetteer or postal records and are omitted here rather than republished unverified.
Townships
Scott County is divided into five civil townships. Population figures for individual townships could not be verified from current sources and are omitted rather than guessed.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Finley | — | Scottsburg |
| Johnson | — | Austin |
| Vienna | — | Vienna |
| Lexington | — | Lexington |
| Jennings | — | Nabb, Blocher |
ZIP Codes
- 47170 — Scottsburg (also serves Vienna, Blocher and Leota)
- 47102 — Austin
- 47138 — Lexington
- 47177 — Underwood
Smaller unincorporated communities without their own post office use the Scottsburg ZIP.
Geography
Scott County sits in the hill country of south-central Indiana, on the transition between the flatter till plains to the north and the knobstone escarpment along its southern edge. The county is drained by Fourteenmile Creek, Fourmile Creek, and several branches of the Muscatatuck River, which forms part of its northern boundary. Woodland covers much of the rougher terrain in the south, while the northern townships are more open and farmed.
Scott County borders Jackson County and Jennings County to the north, Jefferson County to the east, Clark County to the south, and Washington County to the west.
Demographics
Scott County had 24,384 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 128 people per square mile. Scottsburg (7,345) and Austin are the county’s two largest communities and together are home to a majority of county residents. Median household income in Scott County runs below the Indiana median of $69,477, reflecting the county’s rural, manufacturing-dependent economy; a county-specific figure could not be independently verified and is not published here.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing and logistics anchor the local economy, helped by Scott County’s position on Interstate 65 between Indianapolis and Louisville. Scottsburg is the county’s retail and government center, home to the county courthouse and Scott Memorial Hospital. Austin has a long history as a meatpacking town built around its former Morgan Foods and Perdue-linked processing operations. Scott County drew national attention in 2015 when an HIV outbreak concentrated in Austin, ultimately totaling 215 cases, led the state to launch Indiana’s first needle-exchange program.
History
Scott County was organized in 1820 from parts of Clark, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, and Washington counties. It is named for General Charles Scott, who served as governor of Kentucky from 1808 to 1812. The county’s southern reaches were the site of the 1812 Pigeon Roost massacre, one of the deadliest attacks of the War of 1812 era on Indiana Territory settlers, now preserved as a state historic site.
Getting There
Interstate 65 runs the length of the county north–south, with U.S. Route 31 and several state roads providing local connections.
- Louisville, Kentucky — 30 miles south
- Indianapolis, Indiana — 65 miles north
- Seymour, Indiana — 20 miles north
- Madison, Indiana — 25 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, about 35 miles south of Scottsburg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Scott County, Indiana?
It is in south-central Indiana, on Interstate 65 about 30 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky.
What is the population of Scott County?
Scott County had a population of 24,384 at the 2020 census.
How big is Scott County?
The county covers 192.75 square miles (499.2 km2), of which 190.40 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Scott County?
Scottsburg is the county seat.
How many towns are in Scott County?
The county has two incorporated cities, Scottsburg and Austin, plus several unincorporated communities including Vienna, Lexington, Nabb, Blocher and Leota.
What ZIP codes are in Scott County?
The main ZIP codes are 47170 (Scottsburg), 47102 (Austin), 47138 (Lexington) and 47177 (Underwood).
What is Scott County known for?
It is the site of the 1812 Pigeon Roost massacre and, more recently, of a 2015 HIV outbreak in Austin that prompted Indiana’s first needle-exchange program.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.