Morgan

Formed December 31, 1822 (44^th county)

Morgan County (71,785), Martinsville (11,934)

The red brick courthouse was constructed in 1857 and enlarged in 1895, 1912, 1934, 1957, and 1977.  It is sited in a city square at Washington, Main, Morgan, and Jefferson streets.  Indiana State Highway 39 is eight blocks west of the courthouse.  Isaac Hodgson designed this Italianate courthouse which features a clock tower.  There is an Annex augmenting the courthouse.  The county was formed on December 31, 1822 from Native American Territory as the 44^th county with Martinsville as the only county seat.  Revolutionary War hero General Daniel Morgan is the county namesake.  County Commissioner John Martin provided the inspiration for the county seat.  Morgan County was the birthplace of 1 Indiana Governor, Emmett F. Branch. 

Morgan County government consists of a sheriff, 3 Commissioners, and 7 Council Members.  A Circuit Court Judge and Three Superior Court Judges serve Morgan County.  The county is in central Indiana directly to the southwest of Indianapolis, Indiana.  The White River flows through the county.  The county center is 8.9 miles Northeast of Martinsville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Hendricks, Marion, Johnson, Brown, Monroe, Owen, and Putnam counties. 

The area of the county is 404 square miles.  It is 41 out of 92 in the state.   It ranks 23 out of 92 in population in the state.  It has a density of 177.7 persons per square mile making it 22 out of 92 in the state.  Morgan County has 37.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 70 cuts the northwest corner of the county from Hendricks County, north, to Putnam County, west.  The county resembles a small letter r turned backwards.  Martinsville is in the southern third of the county.  Martinsville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 16.6% of the county population.  This county is in the Indianapolis-Carmel Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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