Randall Residence, a senior living community center.
Randall Residence, a senior living community center.
HANCOCK COUNTY – Hancock County was the fastest-growing county in 2023 with a growth of 3.7%, according to a study by Indiana Business Research Center at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

When looking at the numbers, Hancock County took first place with more than a 1% lead within the top six fastest-growing counties — all being suburban communities within the Indianapolis metro area. Following Hancock County, Boone County had a 2.4% growth.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, population in Hancock County grew by 3,049 residents, taking the total to 86,166 as of July 1, 2023. Overall, 66 of the 92 counties reported growth in population.

Contributing to the growth in Hancock County, there have been 25 business announcements of expansions or new locations since 2019, according to information from Indy Partnership.

New additions to the community include but are not limited to PL Cold, a 300,000-square-foot storage facility; and Randall Residence, a senior living community center.

Mitchell Kirk, Communications Director for the Hancock Economic Development Council, said ever since arriving to Hancock County in 2019, he has noticed the growth of the community in a positive way.

“It’s very exciting but comes with little surprise,” said Kirk in a press release by the Hancock Economic Development Council. “Evidence of incredible growth had been mounting all year and continues into 2024.”

Alongside business announcements, the Greenfield Area of Chamber of Commerce had more than 50 new members, breaking their average of 17 new members for the past five years.

Retta Livengood, president of the Greenfield Area of Chamber of Commerce, said that being able to sit on the Economic Development Board of Directors and be a part of those discussions, she gets a strong sense of what is happening in the county.

“There’s just so many things moving in the right direction to make this county even stronger than it is,” said Livengood, also mentioning she was born and raised in Hancock County.

For future growth, the Hancock Gateway Park is planning a convention center with hotels to be able to hold larger events within the county. Not too far down the road, Amplify Hancock — a center for career and technical education of high schoolers and adult learners — looks to be completed in the next few years. McCordsville is also expanding with the addition of McCord Square, which will serve as the town’s new center.

“It’s obvious why people are flocking here,” Kirk said in the release. “We have excellent housing options, schools, healthcare, public safety, and choices for things to do. We have a strong workforce, robust infrastructure and supportive business community. And, with over 9 million square feet of industrial space available – much of it created in the past few years – we have plenty of opportunity.”

Kirk also said that growth is underway with projects currently in the works but not yet announced, such as Project Huskies, located near Fortville Pike.

“I keep using that word, exciting, because it is an exciting feeling to have these things in the works and near being able to maybe talk about and announce more,” Kirk said. “But people should just stay tuned. I can say that. It’ll be exciting.”

Also, Hancock County received recognition by being one of three comprehensive plans in the state honored by the American Planning Association – Indiana Chapter.

“I think it’s been managed really well by leaders who care and who are knowledgeable. When they aren’t knowledgeable, they find people who are to help them,” Kirk said. “It’s a really strategic and thoughtful plan moving forward.”
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