Johnson County was created on May 5, 1823 and was formed from Delaware New Purchase. The Delaware New Purchase: Set up in 1820, portions were set apart as the entire counties of Allen, Bartholomew, Hamilton, Henry, Johnson, Marion, Rush, and Shelby. Parts of the counties of Delaware, Hendricks, Madison, and Morgan also were located in the Delaware Purchase. In 1827, the name of the tract was changed to the Adams New Purchase. The County was named for John Johnson, a judge of the Indiana Supreme Court.
The County Seat is Franklin, was laid out in 1822 and the first settlers were Samuel Herriott, George King, John Smiley and W. G. Springer. By 1849 it was the site of Franklin College, had four good churches (one for each of the denominations of the Old and New School Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists), a County Seminary, about 250 houses and a population of 1,750. Also in 1949, a "plank" road was underway to the bluffs of the White River and was projected to extend to Mooresville.
Counties adjacent to Johnson County are Marion County (north), Shelby County (east), Bartholomew County, Brown County (southwest), Morgan County (west).
Johnson County is divided into 9 Civil Townships as follows: Blue River, Clark, Franklin, Hensley, Needham, Nineveh, Pleasant, Union and White River.
Cities, Towns and Communities include Amity, Anita, Banta, Bargersville, Bluff Creek, Bud, Critchfield, Edinburgh, El Dorado, Frances, Franklin, Frances, Greenwood, Hendricks, Hopewell, Imperial Hills, Kinder, McCarty, Mt. Pleasant, Needham, New Whiteland, Nineveh, Old Bargersville, Princes Lakes, Providence, Reds Corner, Rocklane, Samaria, Smith Valley, Stones Crossing, Trafalgar, Urmeyville, Waterloo and Whiteland.

NOTE: The date listed for each category of record is the earliest record known to exist in that county. It does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and certainly does not indicate that all such events that year were actually registered. Courthouse destroyed by Fire in May 1849 and Dec. 1874, Records that survived: marriages from 1830, "complete" court records from 1823; recorder's entry book from 1822 and deeds and deed indexes from 1824. See also the Johnson County Courthouse History
Johnson County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1830 , Probate Records from 1821 and Court Records from ? and is located at Johnson County Courthouse, 1st Floor, Franklin Indiana 46131; (317) 346-4450, Fax (317) 736-3749
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a ministerial officer who is the custodian of the Clerk's record and seal, issues process, accepts filings of commencement of actions in litigation, enters judgments and orders of the court, receives money in his official capacity, makes certified copies of record, issues many miscellaneous licenses, and keeps a record of all wills and matters of trust in probate proceedings.
Johnson County Recorder has Land Records from 1825 and is located at Courthouse Annex Building, 86 W. Court Street, P.O. Box 475 Franklin IN 46131; (317) 346-4385.
The county recorder's function is to maintain permanent public records involving a wide variety of instruments. These documents detail transactions involving real estate, mining, personal property, mortgages, liens, leases, subdivision plats, military discharges, personal bonds, etc. Generally, all of these instruments are recorded either for giving legal public notice of their existence or for safekeeping and future reference. The recorder maintains and preserves all legal documents affecting title to real property.
Records of county taxes were kept as early at 1842, although most were discarded. Remaining ones would be at the county courthouse. National Archives-Great Lakes Region has records of the Internal Revenue Service for Indiana for 1867 to 1873. These are tax assessment records, arranged by district and then chronologically.
Johnson County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at 86 West Court Street, Franklin, IN 46131; (317) 346-4365
Below is a list of online resources for Johnson County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Johnson County Court Records by clicking the link below:

Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records office is located at 6 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The office is open for walk-in requests from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., Monday through Friday (excluding official State Holidays). They have the following records:
Below is a list of online resources for Johnson County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Johnson County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Johnson County, Indiana are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Johnson County, Indiana are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.
Below is a list of online resources for Johnson County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Johnson County Census Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Johnson County Maps. Email us with websites containing Johnson County Maps by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Johnson County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Johnson County Military Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Johnson County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Johnson County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
There are many churches and cemeteries in Johnson County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Johnson County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Below is a list of online resources for Johnson County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Johnson County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Johnson County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Johnson County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below: