In 1920 the United States Census Bureau calculated the mean center of U.S. population to fall within this county.

[2] Owen County is part of the Bloomington, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In 1787, the fledgling United States defined the Northwest Territory, which included the area of present-day Indiana.

Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty.

That same winter (December 21, 1818) the state legislature took portions from northern Daviess and eastern Sullivan to create Owen County; it was named for Abraham Owen, a colonel in the US Army who had died at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811.

In 1820 the first commissioners selected Spencer, the county's largest settlement, as its seat of government.

[6] In 1920, the United States Census reported Owen County as the Center of Population for the US at a point 8 miles south-southeast of Spencer, Indiana.

When the East experienced high rates of growth, as it did in the decades between 1890 and 1920, the Westward movement of the center slowed.

[7] Owen County's low hills were completely wooded before the nineteenth century.

It is still largely tree-covered, but significant portions have been cleared and are dedicated to agriculture or urban use.

The District One member must reside in Harrison, Jackson, Jennings, Montgomery, Taylor, or Wayne Townships.

The District Three member must reside in Jefferson, Lafayette, Marion, or Morgan Townships.

Commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.

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