Indiana

Spencer

19,810
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Spencer

Spencer, Indiana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 1,882. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 19,810.

Its recorded population peaked at 22,407 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 12 percent.

On the ground today, 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202019,810
201020,952
200020,391
199019,490
198019,361
197017,134
196016,074
195016,174
194016,211
193016,713
192018,400
191020,676
190022,407
189022,060
188022,122
187017,998
186014,556
18508,616
18406,305
18303,196
18201,882
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Spencer

National Register of Historic Places listings in Spencer, Indiana.

Sharp, Mathias, House
Rockport
Spencer County Courthouse
Rockport
Lincoln Pioneer Village
Rockport
Jones, Col. William, House
Gentryville
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Lincoln City
Browse all Indianahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Indiana

Explore census history and historic records for more Indiana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Spencer County, Indiana

This page charts the census history of Spencer County, Indiana. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Spencer

When does Spencer first appear in the US census?
Spencer, Indiana first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 1,882.
What is the population of Spencer?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Spencer had a recorded population of 19,810.
When did Spencer's population peak?
Spencer's recorded population peaked at 22,407 in 1900.
How many historic places are in Spencer?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spencer, Indiana.
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