GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes 1 Indiana Prevention Resource Center GIS in Prevention County Profiles Series, No. 4 Henry County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP, Project Director The Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Department of Applied Health Science and The School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes GIS in Prevention County Profile Series, No. 4 Henry County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP Project Director Project Staff : Indiana Prevention Resource Center Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Indiana University accepts full Responsibility for the content of this publication. ©2005 The Trustees of Indiana University. Permission is extended to reproduce this County Profile for non-profit educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Ritika Bhawal, MPH Ryan Chopra, MPH Kyoungsun Heo, MPA Tuba M. Pervin Altay, MPH

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Henry County Map The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Henry County is located in East Central Indiana. It is bordered by the following counties: Delaware to the north, Randolph to the northeast, Wayne to the east, Fayette to the southeast, Rush to the south, Hancock to the southwest, and Madison to the northeast. U.S. Highways 36 and 40 and Interstate Highway 70 cross the county. Elevation is 900-1,100 feet. The terrain is nearly level, except for slightly sloping topography along waterways and in the east. The landscape features maple, beech and birch trees. The county pertains to the Indiana and Ohio Till Plain land resource area. Henry county is in the Eastern Time Zone and observes DST. Average daily temperatures are 16٥/34٥ in January and 59٥/86٥ in July. Annual precipitation is about 39 and snowfall about 23 inches. Typically the first freeze of the season occurs October 10-15, except it is earlier in the far eastern sector (Oct 5-10). The last freeze occurs usually between April in the western half, and May 1-5 in the eastern half of the county. The growing season lasts about days. Agricultural activity is mainly soybeans, corn for grain, and livestock. About three-fourths of the land is farmland and about four-fifths of that land is in cash crops. Additional crops are hay and winter wheat. Tomatoes are a primary vegetable. Popcorn is a special crops. Livestock include cattle/calves and hogs/pigs. Main natural resources include construction sand, gravel, petroleum, and forestland. Water resources include the Flat Rock and Big Blue Rivers; Giboney Lake and Lake Haven; Summit Lake Reservoir, and Big Blue River Reservoirs Nos. 7A, 13, 14, and 15. Communities include the city of New Castle (the county seat) and the towns of Bountsville, Cadiz, Dunrieth, Greensboro, Kennard, Knightstown, Lewisville, Middletown, Moooreland, Mount Summit, Shirley (which extends into Hancock County), Spiceland, Springport, Straughn, and Sulphur Springs. 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Sources: Map from PCensus for MapInfo; Geographic Notes from Indiana Facts: Flying the Colors by John Clements, 1995.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Henry County The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus 7.06 for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional 7.0.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Famous sons and daughters of Henry County include sculptor and painter Robert Indiana and Steve Alford. Born Robert Clark in New Castle in 1928, Robert gained fame for his LOVE sculptures and paintings and changed his name to Robert Indiana. He attended high school in Indianapolis, and his LOVE statue can be seen at the entrance of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Steve Alford attended New Castle High School and is mainly identified with New Castle, although he moved around Indiana and lived in several different cities. (Nelson Price, Indiana Legends, Carmel: Guild Press of Indiana, Inc., 1997, p ) Henry County is not a tobacco-producing county, according to the Strategic Development Group’s “Alternative Agricultural Strategy” (Bloomington, March 15, 2001) report, which is part of Governor Joseph E. Kernan’s “Recipient Final Reports for Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture Grant Programs” ( 3. Location and Historical Notes

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Don’t Know Your Block Group Number? You can find it easily at the American Factfinder Web SiteAmerican Factfinder Web Site 3. Henry County Block Group Maps

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Henry County Block Groups Slide #1

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Henry County Block Groups Slide #2