La Paz, Indiana

LaPaz, Indiana
Town
Location in Marshall County, Indiana
Coordinates: 41°27′28″N86°18′32″W / 41.45778°N 86.30889°W / 41.45778; -86.30889
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Marshall
Township	North
Area [1]
• Total	0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2)
• Land	0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	863 ft (263 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	475
• Density	1,224.23/sq mi (472.85/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EST)
ZIP code	46537
Area code	574
FIPS code	18-42192 [4]
GNIS feature ID	437489
Website	www.lapazindiana.com

LaPaz ^[5] is a town in North Township, Marshall County, Indiana, United States. The population was 475 at the 2020 census, ^[3] down from 561 in 2010. ^[6]

History

The town was founded in 1873 ^[7] and was named for La Paz, Bolivia. At the time of its founding, it was served by the Chicago branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, now CSX. The B&O named a coach La Paz in 1949 to honor the town.

Geography

LaPaz is located in northern Marshall County at 41°27′26″N86°18′29″W / 41.457159°N 86.308131°W / 41.457159; -86.308131 . ^[1] It is located on former U.S. Route 31 (now Indiana State Road 931), just to the north of where it intersects with U.S. Route 6. US 31 passes 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the town on a four-lane freeway, leading north 17 miles (27 km) to South Bend. Plymouth, the Marshall county seat, is 8 miles (13 km) to the south. US 6 leads east 8 miles (13 km) to Bremen and west 10 miles (16 km) to Walkerton.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, La Paz has a total area of 0.39 square miles (1.01 km²), all land. ^[1] The town sits on a low rise separating land draining west toward Pine Creek and land draining east toward the Yellow River; both waterways are west-flowing tributaries of the Kankakee River and part of the Illinois River watershed.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	84		—
1910	263		—
1920	274		4.2%
1930	375		36.9%
1940	429		14.4%
1950	512		19.3%
1960	545		6.4%
1970	604		10.8%
1980	651		7.8%
1990	562		−13.7%
2000	489		−13.0%
2010	561		14.7%
2020	475		−15.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]

Downtown La Paz

La Paz from the air, looking southeast

2010 census

As of the census ^[9] of 2010, there were 561 people, 216 households, and 144 families living in the town. The population density was 1,476.3 inhabitants per square mile (570.0/km²). There were 251 housing units at an average density of 660.5 per square mile (255.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 216 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.24.

The median age in the town was 35.1 years. 29.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.9% were from 45 to 64; and 12.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 489 people, 209 households, and 136 families living in the town. The population density was 948.6 inhabitants per square mile (366.3/km²). There were 225 housing units at an average density of 436.5 per square mile (168.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.73% White, 0.20% African American, 0.82% Native American, 1.02% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 209 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,961, and the median income for a family was $39,667. Males had a median income of $30,089 versus $21,083 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,658. About 4.1% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools in La Paz are operated by Union-North United Schools.

Notable people

• Gerald Archie Mangun, Pentecostal minister
• Donald Yeagley, Indiana state legislator and labor union activist

References

1. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Indiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "P1. Race – La Paz town, Indiana: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. Spelling used throughout town website: "Home :: Town of LaPaz". Town of LaPaz. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
6. "P1. Race – La Paz town, Indiana: 2010 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
7. McDonald, Daniel (1908). A Twentieth Century History of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume 1. Lewis Publishing Company. p. 134.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. "La Paz town, Indiana". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2015.

External links

• Official website