About Owen County, Indiana

Welcome to Owen County — a community rooted in history, driven by civic pride, and committed to serving its residents with transparency, innovation, and care.

A Brief History of Owen County

Owen County was officially established in 1819 by an act of the Indiana Legislature, although settlers had begun arriving as early as 1816 — the year Indiana became a state. These settlers were largely Scotch-Irish, German, and English immigrants from Appalachia, including veterans of the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The county was named after Colonel Abraham Owen, who died at the Battle of Tippecanoe.

In the 1920 United States Census, Owen County was declared the geographical center of population for the entire United States, located just 8 miles south-southeast of Spencer. This designation reflects the county’s symbolic role at the heart of the growing nation.