County population in 2012: 20,837 (all rural); it was 20,391 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 4,257 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,352 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 6,316 Renter-occupied apartments: 1,473 (it was 1,253 in 2000)
% of renters here:
17%
State:
30%
Land area: 399 sq. mi. Water area: 2.5 sq. mi.
Population density: 53 people per square mile
(average).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Spencer County: 86.9 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Manufacturing (22.4%), Educational,health and social services (17.9%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $840 (0.8%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $726 (0.7%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 11.4%
(10.8% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 16.9% for Black residents, 35.0% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 48.4% for American Indian residents, 50.5% for other race residents, 40.0% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 41 years old
(Males: 41 years old, Females: 42 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 42 years old, Black residents: 43 years old, American Indian residents: 57 years old, Asian residents: 26 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 19 years old, Other race residents: 21 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
6.9%
Whole state:
9.5%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
2.9%
Whole state:
4.2%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Spencer County is $387 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $504 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $652 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Spencer County: Lakewood Country Club (A), Saint Meinrad Volunteer Fire Department (B), Hatfield Fire Department (C), New Boston Fire Company (D), Luce Township Fire Department Station 2 (E), Luce Township Volunteer Fire Department Station 1 (F). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Spencer County include: Friendship Church (A), Highland Church (B), Collins Chapel (C), Larkin Church (D), Little Pigeon Church (E), Mount Olive Church (F), Crossroad Church (G), Mount Zion Church (H), New Bethel Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: McDaniel Cemetery (1), Alexandria Cemetery (2), Meeks Cemetery (3), Arnold Cemetery (4), Baker Creek Cemetery (5), Beasley Cemetery (6), Bender Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Saint Meinrad Lake (A), Dale Reservoir (B), Cedar Crest Lake (C), Vance Lake (D), Miller Lake (E), Chrisney Lake (F), Lake Lincoln (G), Santa Claus Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Sandy Creek (A), Robert Richard Drain (B), Till Drain (C), Lake Drain (D), Swinging Creek (E), Slough Creek (F), Jackson Creek (G), Otter Creek (H), Isaac Wright Drain (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Spencer County include: Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (1), Mill Park (2), Lincoln State Park (3), Lincoln Cabin Site (4), Nancy Hanks Lincoln State Memorial (5). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 573 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 81.2% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.0%
Number of foreign born residents: 184 (16% naturalized citizens)
Spencer County:
0.9%
Whole state:
3.1%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 91
1990 to 1994: 40
1985 to 1989: 19
1980 to 1984: 11
1975 to 1979: 5
1970 to 1974: 3
1970 to 1974: 0
1965 to 1969: 15
Mean travel time to work (commute): 28.0 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 46.9%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 6,555
One, attached: 70
Two: 219
3 or 4: 117
5 to 9: 69
10 to 19: 44
20 or more: 96
Mobile homes: 1,121
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 42
Housing units in Spencer County with a mortgage: 2,826 (210 second mortgage, 400 home equity loan, 13 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,490
Here:
65.5% with mortgage
State:
70.9% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 51.59%
Here
51.6%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 10,519 Total congregations: 49
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Catholic Church
United Methodist Church
American Baptist Churches in the USA
Southern Baptist Convention
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Adherents
4,549 (43.2%)
2,103 (20.0%)
960 (9.1%)
794 (7.5%)
704 (6.7%)
Congregations
8 (16.3%)
16 (32.7%)
5 (10.2%)
4 (8.2%)
3 (6.1%)
Name
United Church of Christ
Lutheran Church
Church of the Nazarene
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Other
Adherents
489 (4.6%)
405 (3.9%)
225 (2.1%)
157 (1.5%)
133 (1.3%)
Congregations
4 (8.2%)
1 (2.0%)
3 (6.1%)
1 (2.0%)
4 (8.2%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 261 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $58,611 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $184.44 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 2.34% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 40.45% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $61,893 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 72.45% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $79,602 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 90.22% Average age of principal farm operators: 54 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 8.25 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 7.39% Corn for grain: 51264 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 4285 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 49676 harvested acres Vegetables: 56 harvested acres
Tornado activity:
Spencer County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Indiana state average. It is 2.2 times below overall U.S. average.
Earthquake activity:
Spencer County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Indiana state average. It is 62% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 55.9 miles away from the county center On 6/18/2002 at 17:37:15, a magnitude 5.0 (4.3 MB, 4.6 MW, 5.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 41.9 miles away from the county center On 6/10/1987 at 23:48:54, a magnitude 5.1 (4.9 MB, 4.4 MS, 4.6 MS, 5.1 LG) earthquake occurred 72.6 miles away from the county center On 4/18/2008 at 15:14:16, a magnitude 4.8 (4.5 MB, 4.8 MW, 4.6 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 55.0 miles away from Spencer County center On 4/3/1974 at 23:05:02, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 LG) earthquake occurred 70.6 miles away from the county center On 1/24/1990 at 18:20:24, a magnitude 4.1 (4.1 MB, 3.8 LG, 4.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 32.4 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Indiana Severe Winter Storm, Incident Period: January 26, 2009 to January 28, 2009, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1828): March 5, 2009, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1828, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
Indiana Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: September 12, 2008 to October 6, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1795): September 23, 2008, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1795, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Indiana Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3238): September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3238, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Indiana Snow, Incident Period: December 21, 2004 to December 23, 2004, Emergency Declared (EM-3197): January 11, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3197, Natural disaster type: Snow
Indiana Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: July 3, 2004 to July 18, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1542): September 1, 2004, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1542, Natural disaster type: Tornado, Flood
Indiana Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 25, 2004 to June 25, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1520): June 3, 2004, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1520, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Indiana Severe Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: February 28, 1997 to March 31, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1165): March 6, 1997, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1165, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Indiana Blizzard of 96, Incident Period: January 6, 1996 to January 12, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1109): April 2, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1109, Natural disaster type: Blizzard
Indiana Flooding, Severe Storm, Incident Period: December 28, 1990 to January 22, 1991, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-891): January 5, 1991, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-891, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Indiana SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: July 31, 1979, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-596): July 31, 1979, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-596, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
The number of natural disasters in Spencer County (10) is near the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 8 Emergencies Declared: 2
Other production occupations including supervisors (10%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (8%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (6%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (5%)
Laborers and material movers, hand (5%)
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (4%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (4%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (7%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (6%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (4%)
Registered nurses (4%)
Cooks and food preparation workers (4%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (3%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (62%)
Canada (12%)
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (10%)
Germany (8%)
Philippines (3%)
Russia (2%)
El Salvador (2%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Spencer County (%):
German (41%)
United States or American (22%)
English (9%)
Irish (8%)
French (except Basque) (3%)
Italian (2%)
Scottish (1%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 8,327 (84%)
Carpooled: 1,031 (10%)
Bus or trolley bus: 13 (0%)
Motorcycle: 11 (0%)
Walked: 135 (1%)
Other means: 52 (1%)
Worked at home: 376 (4%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Spencer County, Indiana in 2000:
163 people in religious group quarters
144 people in nursing homes
56 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
People in group quarters in Spencer County, Indiana in 2010:
169 people in other noninstitutional facilities
139 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
60 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $47,637.
6.30% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($35,813 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.30%
Indiana average:
6.54%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.35% relocated from other counties in Indiana ($23,847 average AGI)
1.95% relocated from other states ($11,964 average AGI)
Spencer County:
1.95%
Indiana average:
2.47%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
6.40% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($33,896 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.40%
Indiana average:
6.56%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.52% relocated to other counties in Indiana ($22,485 average AGI)
1.88% relocated to other states ($11,411 average AGI)
Spencer County:
1.88%
Indiana average:
2.55%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 13.6 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.8
Births per 1000 population in Spencer County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 9.3 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 9.0
Deaths per 1000 population in Spencer County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 8.0 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 9.9
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Spencer County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 3,141 (2,708 aged, 433 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 11% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8%
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1086.320 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 886.590 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 9.74
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 19.1 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 43.84
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 4.87 Beer, wine & liquor stores per 100,000 population in 2005: 1
Household type by relationship:
Households: 20,584
In family households: 18,048 (4,705 male householders, 1,202 female householders)
4,915 spouses, 6,104 children (5,489 natural, 189 adopted, 426 stepchildren), 358 grandchildren, 100 brothers or sisters, 104 parents, 133 other relatives, 347 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,536 (1,097 male householders (902 living alone)), 1,078 female householders (971 living alone)), 361 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 368 (199 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,728 2-persons, 1,257 3-persons, 1,192 4-persons, 476 5-persons, 166 6-persons, 88 7-or-more-persons.
96.9% of residents of Spencer County speak English at home.
1.5% of residents speak Spanish at home (56% speak English very well, 12% speak English well, 25% speak English not well, 7% don't speak English at all).
1.5% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (70% speak English very well, 22% speak English well, 8% speak English not well).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (100% speak English very well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $106,110,000 ($5225 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $2,222,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $47,952,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $21,071,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $6,511,000 Federal grants: $24,757,000 Federal procurement contracts: $1,331,000 ($341,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $4,489,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $715,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $3,956,000 Federal Government insurance: $28,212,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,257
Here:
61 per 1000 residents
State:
72 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 962
Here:
47 per 1000 residents
State:
47 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +64
Here:
+3 per 1000 residents
State:
+9 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -200
Here:
-10 per 1000 residents
State:
-3 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Spencer County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 2.09 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.0
State:
6.1
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.4
State:
4.2
Year house built
2005 or later: 188
2000 to 2004: 695
1990 to 1999: 1,589
1980 to 1989: 1,161
1970 to 1979: 1,852
1960 to 1969: 1,123
1950 to 1959: 765
1940 to 1949: 534
1939 or earlier: 1,168
Rooms in houses/apartments in Spencer County, Indiana
66% of Spencer County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 50% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 62% lived in Indiana.
Spencer County:
66.2%
State average:
55.7%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 13791
Northeast: 217
Midwest: 1420
South: 4414
West: 271
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $61,700
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Spencer County
41.0 years
37.0 years
(48.8%)
(51.2%)
, Daviess County, Kentucky 
, Hancock County, Kentucky 
, Perry County 
, Warrick County 
.
