[1] The county seat and only incorporated municipality is Rising Sun.

The county is divided into four townships which provide local services.

[18] Rising Sun High School served a total of 264 students during the same period.

The council members serve four-year terms and are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget and special spending.

[22][23] A board of commissioners serves as the county's executive body.

The board executes the acts legislated by the council, collects revenue, and manages day-to-day functions of the county government.

[22][23] The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some civil cases.

The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association.

[23][24] The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and circuit court clerk; they are elected to four–year terms.

[23] Each of the townships has a trustee who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief and manages cemetery care, among other duties.

[27] As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 6,128 people, 2,477 households, and 1,737 families residing in the county.