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Martin County, Indiana

64 topographic sheets cover 23 settlements here, and 3 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

3 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Indiana within the United States
Martin County within Indiana

What the record shows

  • 320 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 3 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 2 districts and 1 building.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 23 populated places in this county; 23 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

3

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Loogootee Commercial Historic Districtdistrict2025100012179
Martin County Courthousebuilding200505000604
Shoals Historic Districtdistrict201616000906

Wildfire, 2001 to 2020

11 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 11 of them, burning about 82 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning5
Power generation/transmission/distribution2
Smoking1
Equipment and vehicle use1
Recreation and ceremony1
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
11 March 2014Debris and open burning40 acresHoosier National ForestCOUNTY FARM
11 March 2001Smoking17 acresHoosier National ForestWEST BADEN POND
9 April 2005Recreation and ceremony10 acresHoosier National ForestROLAND FIRE
10 March 2001Debris and open burning5.0 acresHoosier National ForestWEST BADEN TRASH
8 March 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined3.6 acresHoosier National ForestDAVIS SCHOOL ROAD
8 February 2001Power generation/transmission/distribution2.0 acresHoosier National ForestRUSK FIRE
10 March 2001Debris and open burning2.0 acresHoosier National ForestWAGGONER CHAPEL
20 March 2014Debris and open burning1.0 acresHoosier National ForestWINDOM

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1957 to 2026

60 of 174 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 174 reports for this county, causing 4 deaths, 7 injuries and about $14,465,250 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind94
Hail33
Flash Flood21
Flood14
Tornado10
Lightning1
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2023Tornado (EF2)Hindostan Falls1 killed, 1 hurt, $1,150,000A supercell thunderstorm spawned this fourth and final tornado of the day, which tracked in an overall east-southeastern direction across primarily far southern Martin County, before entering northeastern Dubois County for its final 1 mile. The tornado's intensity varied from EF0/EF1 damage along its first 3 miles, to EF1/EF2 impacts amid its middle 3.5 miles, with a slight weakening to EF1 damage seen after leaving Martin County. The tornado also turned to a more southeasterly track for a 2 mile segment within its most intense portion.||The tornado touched down on elevated ground about 250 feet west of Haw Creek Road (just northeast of straight line wind damage that occurred further southwest along the road), causing EF1 damage to a home, ripping off the roof while destroying the 2-car garage. The tornado then crossed the East Fork White River and surrounding lowlands before producing EF1 damage to numerous trees along Jackman Hill Road. The circulation strengthened to EF2 intensity as it crossed the Lost River, snapping scores of hardwood trees. EF2 damage was also inflicted to a home along Windom Road between River Road and Ridge Road, collapsing all but one exterior wall; winds associated with the tornado lifted the structure from under the elevated patio's decking with some 2x4's sticking vertically upwards, which caused the eventual collapse of the structure; one fatality and one serious injury were reported at this home.||The tornado turned southeasterly upon crossing Windom Road before producing widespread tree damage along Blue Creek Lane where multiple trunks were snapped and uprooted. The tornado continued towards Simmons Creek Road producing widespread tree damage over elevated terrain just north of the road. Damage was also reported to a structure north of Simmons Creek Road. The tornado then turned back to an east-southeasterly heading, yet began to weaken as it paralleled Simmons Creek. The tornado crossed into Dubois County near Butler Bridge Road.
March 2026FloodShoals1 killed, $20,000The East Fork White River, rising amid moderate flood stage at Shoals, inundated Sprout Springs Road, which swept an elderly man's truck off the road on the 9th, and while the vehicle's passenger was later rescued from a tree vine, search efforts continued for the man through following days.
February 2008FloodMt Olive1 killed, $10,000Flooding occurred across Low Gap Road in Martin County. A 46 year old man drove into high water on Low Gap Road that was flooded from Indian Creek. The man drowned in the flood waters around 10 pm EST. His vehicle was swept 100 yards downstream and submerged.
March 2008FloodNatchez1 killed, $10,000An elderly man drowned after driving into floodwaters while he was on his way to a doctor's appointment. The 85 year old male was pulled from a flooded area near the Lost River. His body was found about 70 feet away from his car in four and a half feet of water. His death was ruled an accidental drowning. Flooding continued until around April 2nd. The flood death occurred late in the morning on March 31st. Flood times are approximate.
June 1990Tornado (F4)not stated4 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
June 2025Thunderstorm WindWillow Vly1 hurt, $20,000Thunderstorm wind gusts downed many trees along Williams Road NE of Shoals. One tree fell on a house injuring 1 person.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindNatchez1 hurt, $16,000A large tree was downed onto a home due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. One person sustained non-life threatening injuries.
June 2008FloodShoals$8,000,000Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Martin County, including near Shoals, due to heavy rain.
November 2005Tornado (F1)Bramble$500,000An F3 tornado touched down near Washington, Indiana on the afternoon of 15 November 2005, and proceeded northeast for 12 miles, lifting at Crane Naval Base in Martin County. The tornado was up to 1/4 mile wide at times. The worst damage occurred 4 miles northeast of Montgomery. K&K Industries sits at that site. Abe Knepp, the owner, is also a chaplain for Daviess County Emergency Management, and was monitoring law enforcement radio traffic while at work. His decision to send his 120 employees home early likely saved several lives, as the plant was destroyed by the tornado. 123 homes and 20 businesses sustained damage in Daviess County. Despite the amount of damage, only one of the 31 reported injuries was considered serious.The tornado was only on the ground for 2 miles in Martin County, and was significantly weaker and smaller.
October 1993Thunderstorm Windnot stated$500,000About 50 trees were blown down. A tool shed, grain bin, and house were also damaged. There was significant damage to the corn and sorghum crop in the area with 150 acres of sorghum being destroyed.
June 1990Tornado (F3)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2023Thunderstorm WindHindostan Falls$200,000Thunderstorm straight line winds followed approximately 800 to 1700 feet southwest of the center line track of the corresponding EF2 tornado from its start location (where estimated 77 mph winds collapsed a farm outbuilding on Haw Creek Road) to at least as far as the Shoals 8 S COOP station (where 3 trees were downed around the house with several more downed to the east of Windom Road). Fifteen power poles were reported broken from the storm's winds along Windom Road with lines on the ground.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindLoogootee$100,000Widespread tree damage from thunderstorm wind gusts occurred around West|Boggs Lake north of Loogootee where hundreds of trees were downed.
June 2023Tornado (EF1)Crane$100,000Continuation of EF1 supercell tornado from northeastern Daviess County. The tornado continued onto far northwestern portions of Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center's grounds, snapping hardwood trees in a non-continuous path, before lifting about a mile west of Lake Greenwood's southwest corner.
March 2006FloodShoals$100,000no account filed
July 1996LightningLoogootee$70,000no account filed
March 2008FloodShoals$60,000Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Martin County, including near Shoals, due to heavy rain. Flooding continued until April 5th at 22:37. Martin County was under a state of emergency on March 19th. Several roads were flooded due to the heavy rain.
April 2025Flash FloodWhitfield$50,000US 231 was temporarily closed due to water flowing over the road. Flooding later in the week due to river flooding caused significant issues near the town of Shoals. Total rainfall ranged from 1.9 to 2.1 inches.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWindom$50,000Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees across southern Martin County, with power lines also downed in Lost River Township.
April 2020Thunderstorm WindLoogootee$50,000Three houses and one business had significant roof damage due to thunderstorm wind gusts.
April 2006Thunderstorm WindShoals$50,000Shoals town hall lost much of its roof.
May 2002Flash FloodCountywide$50,000no account filed
May 2015Thunderstorm WindLoogootee$40,000A large tree was snapped 10 feet above the base along Highway 231 at Butcher Avenue due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Several other trees were down throughout the city. Some vehicles were damaged from falling tree. Power was out to the entire city.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindShoals$30,000Homes and barns were reported damaged due to damaging thunderstorm winds. Trees were also reported down in the Lost River Township near Shoals.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindShoals$25,000Minor roof damage to homes in Shoals caused by thunderstorm wind gusts.
April 2020Thunderstorm WindShoals$25,000Trailer home rolled over by thunderstorm wind gust.
May 1995Tornado (F1)SE Martin$25,000A brief tornado touchdown over a rural area of southeast Martin county clipped a few tree tops off. Elsewhere across the county, several trees and power lines were blown down by straight-line winds.
May 1974Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 2023Thunderstorm WindShoals$20,000Thunderstorm winds downed trees over much of Martin County.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindWillow Vly$20,000A large tree was downed on top of a pickup truck on US Highway 50 near the National Gypsom Company. The tree caused windshield and hood damage to the truck. Trees were also reported down in Martin State Forest area, approximately 4.5 to 5.5 miles northeast of Shoals on Williams Road, Murray Road, and Stiles Road.
February 2008FloodShoals$20,000Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Martin County, including near Shoals, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
April 1999Thunderstorm WindRusk$20,000no account filed
January 1999Thunderstorm WindLoogootee$20,000no account filed
June 2011Flash FloodShoals$15,000Rainfall of 5.5 inches was measured near this location. East River Road partially slid into the East Fork White River. The road was subsequently closed. Considerable debris washed down from a ridge above and culverts were clogged, with full ditches as well.
March 2008FloodShoals$15,000Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Martin County, including near Shoals, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
July 1995Thunderstorm Windnot stated$15,000Numerous trees were blown down over north Martin County.
April 1998Flash FloodCountywide$15,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindLoogootee$15,000no account filed
June 2009Thunderstorm WindCrane$12,000Trees were downed on multiple roads in Martin County due to thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindShoals$12,000Trees were downed on multiple roads throughout Martin County due to thunderstorm wind gusts.
July 2024Tornado (EF0)Dover Hill$10,000The tornado was spawned along Dover Hill Road, about 500 feet northeast of the intersection with Rama Dye Road, where large tree limbs and small trees were downed in multiple directions. The tornado skipped while tracking from southeast to northwest for almost 2 miles, with further small trees and tree limbs downed at Killion Mill Road about 0.4 miles east of the intersection with Crane Road, near Lark Ranch. Eyewitness accounts, photos, and Doppler radar data indicated a weak tornado in both areas. Only tree damage was reported.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindIronton$10,000Thunderstorm winds downed two trees into Weisbach Community Church; before downing more trees 0.7 miles farther to the east-northeast at Old Paths Tract Society.
July 2020Flash FloodLoogootee$10,000Highway 450 was closed for most of the night due to up to 3 feet of water that was flowing over the road. Highway 50 was also closed along with numerous roads within the town of Shoals. Flooding was noted to be the most severe in recent memory.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindLacy$10,000Significant tree damage was reported from overnight storms along US Highway 150, southeast of Shoals, due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindLoogootee$10,000A thunderstorm wind gust, estimated at 60 mph, was reported in Loogootee. Reports of minor damage to mobile homes and a snapped railroad sign were also reported.
January 2007FloodShoals$10,000The East Fork White at Shoals reached nearly six feet above flood stage in mid January.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindShoals$10,000no account filed
July 2004Thunderstorm WindShoals$10,000no account filed
April 2003Thunderstorm WindBurns City$10,000no account filed
July 2010Thunderstorm WindLoogootee$9,000A few trees were reported down in the city of Loogootee due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Two power poles were also reported to have sustained damage.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindIndian Sprs$8,000Several trees were uprooted around the Indiana Springs area due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindShoals$7,000Numerous trees were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindShoals$7,000Several tree limbs and trees were downed on the north side of Shoals due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
April 2015Thunderstorm WindWhitfield$6,000Several trees fell across US Highway 231 beginning six miles south of Loogootee and extending to eleven miles south. This event was due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Some large tree limbs were also reported down with some equal to or greater than two inches around.
August 2025FloodLoogootee$5,000Several streets were flooded in the town of Loogootee due to heavy rainfall. A nearby station reported 3.50 inches.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindShoals$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees around Shoals.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindCrane$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed several trees along Greenwood Lake.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindDover Hill$5,000Trees downed due to thunderstorm wind gusts across the northern portions of the county. No specific locations or size of tree was given.
August 2020Flash FloodLoogootee$5,000Highway 450 was closed for most of the night due to up to 3 feet of water that was flowing over the road. Highway 50 was also closed along with numerous roads within the town of Shoals. Flooding was noted to be the most severe in recent memory. The exact end time for when the shift from Flash Flood to flood is uncertain with an estimate used for the purposes of Storm Data.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindShoals$5,000Trees were downed near Shoals due to thunderstorm wind gusts.

Mines and quarries

167 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 167 workings inside this county. 7 still produce and 160 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Iron159
Gypsum-Anhydrite6
Clay1
Silica1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
General Refractories QuarrySilicaPast Producer
Mineral Resources PitClayProducer
National Gypsum Co. Shoals MineGypsum-AnhydriteProducer1951, 1955
Shoals MineGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Shoals MineGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
U.S. Gypsum Co. Shoals MineGypsum-AnhydriteProducer1951, 1955
United States Gypsum CompanyGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
United States Gypsum CompanyGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Opening No. 11IronOccurrence
Opening No. 12IronOccurrence
Opening No. 12IronProspect
Opening No. 13IronOccurrence
Opening No. 13IronProspect
Opening No. 14IronOccurrence
Opening No. 14IronProspect
Opening No. 15.IronOccurrence
Opening No. 15.IronProspect
Opening No. 16IronOccurrence
Opening No. 16IronProspect
Opening No. 17IronOccurrence
Opening No. 17IronProspect
Opening No. 18IronOccurrence
Opening No. 18IronProspect
Opening No. 19IronOccurrence
Opening No. 19IronProspect
Opening No. 20IronOccurrence
Opening No. 20IronProspect
Opening No. 22IronOccurrence
Opening No. 22IronProspect
Opening No. 23IronOccurrence
Opening No. 23IronProspect
Opening No. 4IronOccurrence
Opening No. 4IronProspect
Opening No. 5IronOccurrence
Opening No. 5IronProspect
Opening No. 6IronOccurrence
Opening No. 6IronProspect
Opening No. 7IronOccurrence
Opening No. 7IronProspect
Opening No. 8IronOccurrence
Opening No. 8IronProspect
Opening No. 9.IronOccurrence
Opening No. 9.IronUnknown
Prospect No. 1IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 1IronProspect
Prospect No. 10IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 10IronProspect
Prospect No. 11IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 11IronProspect
Prospect No. 12IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 12IronProspect
Prospect No. 13IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 13IronProspect
Prospect No. 14IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 14IronProspect
Prospect No. 3IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 3IronUnknown
Prospect No. 4IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 4IronProspect
Prospect No. 5IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 5IronProspect
Prospect No. 6IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 6IronProspect
Prospect No. 7IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 7IronProspect
Prospect No. 8IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 8IronProspect
Prospect No. 9IronOccurrence
Prospect No. 9IronProspect
Unnamed MineIronPast Producer
Unnamed MineIronPast Producer
Unnamed OpeningIronOccurrence
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Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
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Unnamed ProspectIronProspect
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Every populated place in the county

23

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.