Southern Indiana Business Report
PIKE COUNTY – Pike County Economic Development Corporation completed an
updated housing study, sponsored by CenterPoint Energy and conducted by Anderson
Partners. Population growth is an important factor in economic development because
population determines the available workforce. When a new business or industry is looking for a new site to invest their company, workforce is always a top concern that needs to be
addressed.
The housing study provided a snapshot of data and analysis regarding the current housing in Pike County and what the projections are based on geography and demand of the region.
According to Stats Indiana, since the 1960s Pike County’s population has been around 12,700. In 2025, the population of Pike County is 12,250. Since the 1960s we have seen a slight decline but not a steep decline. The recent housing study shows that Pike County is projected to dip below 12,000 in population in year 2030, for the first time since before 1900.
What does this mean? It means it’s time to take action! Pike County local leaders have been working diligently the past eight years to show the need and demand for more affordable housing inventory. Housing developments take time due to the infrastructure needs for supporting the developments. This includes water, wastewater, electric, gas, and internet.
Ashley Willis, executive director of Pike County Economic Development Corp. stated, “We are making positive progress, in 2024, we broke ground on our first single-family subdivision over 35 years! Mayor Klipsch has also done a remarkable job getting multiple developers investing in a redevelopment area that totals around 60 new rental units. We have growing interest as Pike County is strategically positioned between Toyota Motor Manufacturing and Crane, and we are a family-friendly community!”
Pike County’s housing strategy includes an all-of-the-above approach to increase housing units for ownership and rentals. The study identified that by 2028 the regional demand, for a 30-mile radius of the I-69 interchange, includes the need for 285 new single-family homes and 190 new multi-family units in Pike County. Willis said the county will achieve these goals by working with local leaders to increase in-fill housing, assisting local builders with subdivision developments, identifying redevelopment properties, identifying possible greenfield multi-family sites, and working with local financial institutions to help educate first time homebuyers.