Last updated: June 8, 2025

Money on the Move by Morton Marcus.  Brown County is more typical: 32% of the earnings generated in the county flow out while 77% of the earnings realized by local residents originate elsewhere.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

“Gross domestic production (GDP) estimates the size of an area’s economy. It is the total value of all goods and services produced in an area. It includes the total dollar amount of consumption (products like cellphones and bread), government spending (on things like infrastructure and the military), business investment (a manufacturer building a new factory), and the net effect of trade (subtracting imports from exports).”  Ref: USA Facts Economy of Indiana.)

BC Six County GDP 06.18.24   (Source: Councilman Jim Kemp).  

• • The GDP of the five surrounding counties is 29.5 billion.  the GDP of Brown County is 362 million.
  • Reference: Regional Economic Analysis Project

Tourism

• • Rockport Analytics   2023 Brown County Economic Impact (EI)  of Tourism Final
    • $21.0 million in Total Wages.
      • All County taxpayers: Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) – Gross Wages minus Deductions was  $510,703,358.22 million in 2023 (see below)
    • GDP from Tourism:  $39.3 million. Total GDP County – $362 million.

The federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of all county residents is $550 million. This reinforces the assessment by Ball State Economists that Brown County is a “Bedroom Community.” We can also be considered a Natually Recurring Retirement Community (NORC). This demographic supports local businesses in Brown County.

• • The Brown County Community Readiness Initiative, a survey and economic assessment conducted by the Ball State Economic and Research Institute, concluded that Brown County’s greatest potential for economic growth is not tourism, but as a bedroom community. – BC Democrat – Sara Clifford (link not available)

INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE BROWN Local Income Tax County (LIT) Report :  21-Sep-2023 From: 01-Jul-2022 To: 30-Jun-2023

• • Federal AGI:  $510,703,358.22

Additional Information

Federal Reserve Bank: Real Gross Domestic Product by County:
Indiana