Population
Brown County has a population of approximately 15k people with a median age of 49.3 years old. 17.3% of the population is under age 18, while 25.4% are age 65 or older. About 10% of the population in Brown County live below the poverty line. The largest demographic living in poverty is Males 45 – 54, followed by Males 25 – 34, and then Females 18 – 24.
Industry
The largest industries in Brown County are Manufacturing, Health Care & Social Assistance, and Retail Trade. The most common job groups are Office & Administrative Support Occupations, Sales & Related Occupations, and Management Occupations. Compared to other counties, Brown County has an unusually high number of residents working as Production Occupations (1.75 higher than average), Construction & Extraction Occupations (1.59 times), and Community & Social Service Occupations (1.53 times).
Economy
The economy of Brown County employs roughly 6.75k people. The median household income is $61,455, and the median property value was $174,800 in 2017 (national averages are $61,937 and $229,700, respectively). Employees in Brown County have a longer commute time (31.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes).
Health
89.9% of the population in Brown County has health coverage, with 45.2% on employee plans, 13.2% on Medicaid, 17.3% on Medicare, 12% on non-group plans, and 2.02% on military or veteran plans. Additionally, 9.6% of the population under age 65 are affected by disability. Primary care physicians in Brown County have an average yearly ratio of 2496 patients: 1 physician, and mental health providers have an average yearly ratio of 1864 patients: 1 provider.
Education
91.2% of people aged 25+ in Brown County are high school graduates or higher. 27.4% of people aged 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. 88.8% of households have a computer, and 72.6% of households have broadband internet subscriptions. The school dropout rate is 9%.
Diversity
Out of the 15K population, the largest ethnic groups are White (95.9%), Hispanic or Latino (1.62%), Two or More Races residents (1.25%), Asian (0.726%) and Black or African American (0.533%).
Brown County Highlights
Brown County Music Center
The Brown County Music Center is a 2000-seat live performance venue. Nestled on the banks of Salt Creek and located less than one-mile from the largest state park in Indiana, this indoor entertainment venue hosts world-class rock, blues, country, pop, jazz, oldies, throwback artists, and more. The Brown County Music Center focuses on fusing this exceptional entertainment with distinctive Brown County culture and art.
Brown County State Park
Experience Indiana’s largest state park! Nicknamed the “Little Smokies” because of the area’s resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Brown County State Park encompasses nearly 16,000-acres of rugged hills, ridges, and fog-shrouded ravines. The Brown County State Park is a traditional fall color hot spot, with nearly 20-miles of tree-lined roads and many scenic vistas overlooking miles of uninterrupted forestland. The park has trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, as well as two lakes that act as important water sources for local wildlife.
TC Steele State Historic Site
Attracted by its natural beauty, famed impressionist artist Theodore C. Steele (1847-1926) was the first major artist to settle in Brown County, now known as the “Art Colony of the Midwest”. The TC Steele State Historic Site offers regularly scheduled tours of Steele’s painting-filled studio and home, where over 50 paintings are on display for the public to explore. The site keeps tradition alive year-round through guided tours, art-related events, and workshops led by contemporary artists.
Lake Lemon
Lake Lemon, a 1,650-acre lake, is located in Northwest Brown County near Unionville. Lake Lemon is the 11th largest lake in Indiana, bounded by property in both Monroe County and Brown County. Riddle Point Park at Lake Lemon has a small beach and swimming area, shelter house, sand volleyball court, nature trail, and more! The lake is also home to two dozen varieties of fish, wildlife and birds, which includes large populations of crappies, largemouth bass, beavers and bald eagles.
Hard Truth Hills
Hard Truth Hills is Indiana’s largest destination craft distillery. The area, nestled within tree lines and forest trails, also includes a full-service Big Woods restaurant and the Hard Truth Hills Tours and Tastings Center. Guests can tour the distillery or hop on an ATV with a Hills Guide and explore 325 wooded acres while learning about the history of distilling. Hard Truth Hills hosts festivals, health and wellness adventures, mixology classes, and more. Live music resonates through the forest-framed Hard Truth Terrace hollow, an outdoor amphitheater, where guests can sip locally crafted beverages, snack on food from the grill, and soak in the fresh air!
Brown County Playhouse
Looking for some live entertainment? Check out the one and only Brown County Playhouse, a hit venue since 1949! Offering a diverse program of live theater, concerts, movies, and special events year-round, the over 400-seat Playhouse is a Brown County gem you shouldn’t miss. Tickets can be purchased at the box office on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday or online. Brown County beer and wine, as well as snacks, are all sold in the Playhouse auditorium.
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