Hamilton County, Indiana

Hamilton County
County
Hamilton County courthouse in Noblesville, Indiana
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°04′N 86°03′W / 40.07°N 86.05°W / 40.07; -86.05
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	1823
Named for	Alexander Hamilton
Seat	Noblesville
Largest city	Carmel
Area
• Total	402.44 sq mi (1,042.3 km2)
• Land	394.27 sq mi (1,021.2 km2)
• Water	8.17 sq mi (21.2 km2)  2.03%
Population  (2020)
• Total	347,467
• Density	690/sq mi (266/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov
Indiana county number 29 Fastest-growing county in the state Most affluent county in the state

Hamilton County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. The 2020 United States Census recorded a population of 347,467.^[1] The county seat is Noblesville.

Hamilton County is part of the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Hamilton County has been the second most populous county in Central Indiana.

Hamilton County's roots are in agriculture. However, after World War II, development in Indianapolis grew northward, and towns in the southern part of Hamilton County developed as suburbs. Residential and commercial development have replaced many farm fields, although the county's northern part remains largely agricultural. In the first decades of the 21st century, the county is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. According to 2007 estimates by the US Census, the county's population increased from 182,740 in 2000 to an estimated 261,661 in 2007, making it the fastest-growing county of Indiana's 92. As of the 2010 census, Hamilton County has surpassed St. Joseph County in population, making it the state's fourth most populous.^[2] It is also the fourth densest in the state, after Marion, Lake and Vanderburgh Counties.

In 2020, Hamilton County was home to three of the state's 20 largest cities and towns: Carmel (5th), Fishers (6th), and Noblesville (12th).

Geist and Morse reservoirs are two man-made lakes in Hamilton County that offer boating, fishing, and waterfront living.

In June 2008, Hamilton County was named America's Best Place to Raise a Family by Forbes.com^[3] due to its strong economy, affordable living, top-ranked schools, and close proximity to Indianapolis. The city of Carmel in southwestern Hamilton County was designated CNN Money's top place to live in 2013^[4] and in 2017, the city of Fishers was named best place to live.^[5]