Porter County | |
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Motto: "Front Porch of the Dunes" | |
Coordinates: 41°51′N87°07′W / 41.850°N 87.117°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Indiana |
Region | Northwest Indiana |
Metro area | Chicago Metropolitan |
Established | 1836 |
Named for | David Porter |
County seat | Valparaiso |
Largest city | Portage (population and area) |
Incorporated municipalities | 11 cities and towns
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Government | |
• Type | County |
Area | |
521.8 sq mi (1,351 km2) | |
• Land | 418.2 sq mi (1,083 km2) |
• Water | 103.6 sq mi (268 km2) |
• Metro | 10,874 sq mi (28,160 km2) |
• Rank | 29th largest county in Indiana |
• Region | 2,726 sq mi (7,060 km2) |
Elevation [1] (mean) | 843 ft (257 m) |
Highest elevation [2] – NE Jackson Twp | 870 ft (270 m) |
Lowest elevation [3] – at Lake Michigan | 585 ft (178 m) |
Population (2020) | |
173,215 | |
• Estimate (2023) | 173,335 |
• Rank | 9th largest county in Indiana 374th largest county in U.S. [4] |
• Density | 330/sq mi (130/km2) |
• Metro | 9,522,434 |
• Region | 819,537 |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (Central) |
ZIP Codes | 46301-02, 46304, 46307-08, 46341-42, 46347, 46360, 46368, 46383-85, 46391, 46393 |
Area code | 219 |
Congressional district | 1st |
Indiana Senate districts | 4th, 5th and 6th |
Indiana House of Representatives districts | 3rd, 4th, 10th, 19th and 20th |
FIPS code | 18-127 |
GNIS feature ID | 0450382 |
Interstates | |
U.S. Routes | |
State Routes | |
Airport | Porter County Regional |
Waterways | East Arm Little Calumet River Kankakee River Lake Michigan Little Calumet River Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor Salt Creek |
South Shore Line stations | Beverly Shores – Dune Park Portage/Ogden Dunes |
Public transit | V-Line |
Website | www.porterco.org |
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Porter County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 173,215, making it the 10th most populous county in Indiana. [5] The county seat is Valparaiso. [6] The county is part of Northwest Indiana, as well as the Chicago metropolitan area. Porter County is the site of much of the Indiana Dunes, an area of ecological significance. [7] [8] [9] The Hour Glass Museum in Ogden Dunes documents the region's ecological significance. [10]
The Porter County area was occupied by an Algonquian people dubbed Huber-Berrien. [11] This subsistence culture arrived after the glaciers retreated around 15,000 years ago and the rise of glacial Lake Algonquian, 4–8,000 years ago. [12] The native people of this area were next recorded during the Iroquois Wars (1641–1701) as being Potawatomi and Miami. The trading post system used by the French and then the English encouraged native people to live in central villages along major waterways. Therefore, there are no recorded villages within Porter County's current boundaries. It was not until 1830 when Chiqua's town and Tassinong appear on maps and in records. [11] Chiqua's town is a mile east of Valparaiso on State Route 2, the old Sauk Trail. Tassinong is south of Valparaiso about 5 miles (8.0 km) on State Route 49 at Baum's Bridge Road, the main route across the Great Kankakee Marsh. [13]
After the American Revolutionary War established US sovereignty over the territory of the upper midwest, the new federal government defined the Northwest Territory in 1787 which included the area of present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separated Ohio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as the Indiana Territory. President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the governor of the territory, and Vincennes was established as the capital. After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography. By December 1816 the Indiana Territory was admitted to the Union as a state.
The Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus county bill [14] on February 7, 1835, that authorized the creation of thirteen counties in northeast Indiana, including Porter. [15] In 1837 the county was organized. It was named for Capt. David Porter, naval officer during the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. [16] [17]
In 1962, Bethlehem Steel built a large integrated steel mill on the shores of Lake Michigan, which is now owned and operated by Cleveland-Cliffs. The construction of the mill, as well as the neighboring Port of Indiana, generated enormous controversy between industrial interests and locals who wanted to conserve the natural shoreline and habitat. Although the activists lost and the steel mill and port were constructed, the US Congress created the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966 to protect the area's unique natural habitat. [18]
Porter County lies on the northern edge of Indiana; its north border is formed by Lake Michigan and its south border is formed by the westward-flowing Kankakee River Its once-tree-covered low rolling hills have been cleared and devoted to agriculture; the only exceptions in Porter County are the drainages carved into the terrain, which are brush-filled. The East Arm Little Calumet River flows westward through the upper portion of Porter County. [19] The highest point, at 870 feet (270 m), [20] is a small hill on the county's east border, 2.75 miles (4.4 km) NW of Westville. The lowest point, at approximately 585 feet (178 m), is along the Lake Michigan shoreline (exact elevation varies due to variation in lake level). According to the 2010 census, the county has an area of 521.78 square miles (1,351.4 km2), of which 418.15 square miles (1,083.0 km2) (or 80.14%) is land and 103.63 square miles (268.4 km2) (or 19.9%) is water, [21] most of it in Lake Michigan.
The municipalities in Porter County and their populations as of the 2010 Census:
The 12 townships of Porter County:
Public schools in Porter County are administered by several districts, most of which cover areas that roughly follow the county's township boundaries: [22]
High Schools and Middle Schools
Elementary Schools
The county is served by two public library systems:
Valparaiso, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In recent years, average temperatures in Valparaiso have ranged from a low of 15 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 83 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1934. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.82 inches (46 mm) in February to 4.66 inches (118 mm) in June. [26]
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana and the Indiana Code.
County Council: The legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They set salaries, the annual budget and special spending. The council has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes and service taxes. [27] [28]
Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide, to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue and manage the county government. [27] [28]
Court: The county maintains a small claims court that handles civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court. [28]
County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. These officials are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county. [28]
Porter County is part of Indiana's 1st congressional district. In state government, Porter County is in Indiana Senate districts 4th, 5th and 6th; in Indiana House of Representatives districts 3rd, 4th, 10th, 19th and 20th.
For most of its history, Porter County was a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections. It has become a swing county in recent years, voting for the national winner in every presidential election since 1980 except for 1992 and 2020.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
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No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 46,108 | 54.27% | 37,212 | 43.80% | 1,642 | 1.93% |
2020 | 45,008 | 51.87% | 39,746 | 45.81% | 2,014 | 2.32% |
2016 | 38,832 | 49.62% | 33,676 | 43.03% | 5,745 | 7.34% |
2012 | 34,406 | 46.94% | 37,252 | 50.82% | 1,645 | 2.24% |
2008 | 33,857 | 45.60% | 39,178 | 52.77% | 1,211 | 1.63% |
2004 | 34,794 | 53.63% | 29,388 | 45.30% | 691 | 1.07% |
2000 | 31,157 | 52.47% | 26,790 | 45.12% | 1,431 | 2.41% |
1996 | 22,931 | 42.00% | 24,044 | 44.04% | 7,621 | 13.96% |
1992 | 22,644 | 39.68% | 21,022 | 36.84% | 13,401 | 23.48% |
1988 | 29,790 | 60.37% | 19,390 | 39.29% | 165 | 0.33% |
1984 | 32,505 | 64.14% | 17,862 | 35.24% | 315 | 0.62% |
1980 | 30,055 | 64.20% | 12,869 | 27.49% | 3,892 | 8.31% |
1976 | 25,489 | 59.75% | 16,468 | 38.60% | 701 | 1.64% |
1972 | 26,877 | 74.60% | 8,943 | 24.82% | 210 | 0.58% |
1968 | 17,328 | 53.18% | 8,914 | 27.36% | 6,340 | 19.46% |
1964 | 14,480 | 52.45% | 12,975 | 47.00% | 152 | 0.55% |
1960 | 15,666 | 59.18% | 10,733 | 40.54% | 75 | 0.28% |
1956 | 14,970 | 72.71% | 5,574 | 27.07% | 45 | 0.22% |
1952 | 13,194 | 68.75% | 5,909 | 30.79% | 87 | 0.45% |
1948 | 8,907 | 62.21% | 5,161 | 36.05% | 250 | 1.75% |
1944 | 8,561 | 60.52% | 5,528 | 39.08% | 57 | 0.40% |
1940 | 8,270 | 58.40% | 5,840 | 41.24% | 51 | 0.36% |
1936 | 6,278 | 52.60% | 5,560 | 46.58% | 98 | 0.82% |
1932 | 5,631 | 49.47% | 5,542 | 48.69% | 209 | 1.84% |
1928 | 7,107 | 70.44% | 2,921 | 28.95% | 62 | 0.61% |
1924 | 5,613 | 67.76% | 1,640 | 19.80% | 1,031 | 12.45% |
1920 | 5,570 | 72.68% | 1,671 | 21.80% | 423 | 5.52% |
1916 | 2,913 | 59.22% | 1,871 | 38.04% | 135 | 2.74% |
1912 | 1,510 | 35.28% | 1,352 | 31.59% | 1,418 | 33.13% |
1908 | 2,940 | 59.88% | 1,789 | 36.44% | 181 | 3.69% |
1904 | 3,162 | 66.39% | 1,437 | 30.17% | 164 | 3.44% |
1900 | 2,797 | 59.49% | 1,848 | 39.30% | 57 | 1.21% |
1896 | 2,853 | 58.06% | 2,026 | 41.23% | 35 | 0.71% |
1892 | 2,187 | 49.73% | 1,937 | 44.04% | 274 | 6.23% |
1888 | 2,427 | 52.82% | 2,018 | 43.92% | 150 | 3.26% |
Elected Officials:[ citation needed ]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1840 | 2,162 | — | |
1850 | 5,234 | 142.1% | |
1860 | 10,313 | 97.0% | |
1870 | 13,942 | 35.2% | |
1880 | 17,227 | 23.6% | |
1890 | 18,052 | 4.8% | |
1900 | 19,175 | 6.2% | |
1910 | 20,540 | 7.1% | |
1920 | 20,256 | −1.4% | |
1930 | 22,821 | 12.7% | |
1940 | 27,836 | 22.0% | |
1950 | 40,076 | 44.0% | |
1960 | 60,279 | 50.4% | |
1970 | 87,114 | 44.5% | |
1980 | 119,816 | 37.5% | |
1990 | 128,932 | 7.6% | |
2000 | 146,798 | 13.9% | |
2010 | 164,343 | 12.0% | |
2020 | 173,215 | 5.4% | |
2023 (est.) | 175,335 | [32] | 1.2% |
US Decennial Census [33] 1790-1960 [34] 1900-1990 [35] 1990-2000 [36] 2010-2019 [5] |
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 164,343 people, 61,998 households, and 43,901 families in the county. [37] The population density was 393.0 inhabitants per square mile (151.7/km2). There were 66,179 housing units at an average density of 158.3 per square mile (61.1/km2). [21] The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% white, 3.0% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.5% of the population. [37] In terms of ancestry, 29.1% were German, 18.5% were Irish, 10.1% were Polish, 9.7% were English, 5.8% were Italian, and 5.6% were American. [38]
Of the 61,998 households, 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 38.4 years. [37]
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $73,065. Males had a median income of $59,542 versus $35,534 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,922. About 6.6% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over. [39]
Places by population and race [40] | ||||||
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Place | Population (2010) | White | Black or African American | Asian | Other [note 1] | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
Porter County | 164,343 | 91.3% | 3.0% | 1.2% | 4.5% | 8.5% |
Aberdeen, CDP | 1,875 | 91.1% | 3.3% | 2.6% | 3.0% | 5.4% |
Beverly Shores, town | 613 | 96.6% | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.8% | 2.8% |
Burns Harbor, town | 1,156 | 95.4% | 1.8% | 0.3% | 2.5% | 5.8% |
Chesterton, town | 13,068 | 92.7% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 3.8% | 6.9% |
Dune Acres, town | 182 | 95.1% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
Hebron, town | 3,724 | 95.9% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 2.6% | 6.1% |
Kouts, town | 1,879 | 97.6% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 1.5% | 5.1% |
Lakes of the Four Seasons, CDP [note 2] | 7,033 | 93.4% | 1.2% | 1.0% | 4.4% | 8.5% |
Ogden Dunes, town | 1,110 | 96.1% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 3.2% |
Portage, city | 36,828 | 83.6% | 7.3% | 0.9% | 8.2% | 16.4% |
Porter, town | 4,858 | 94.3% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 3.7% | 6.6% |
Salt Creek Commons, CDP | 2,117 | 94.2% | 1.0% | 1.6% | 3.2% | 8.3% |
Shorewood Forest, CDP | 2,708 | 89.4% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 2.8% | 3.7% |
South Haven, CDP | 5,282 | 91.3% | 3.0% | 0.3% | 5.4% | 9.8% |
Town of Pines, town | 708 | 93.9% | 2.3% | 0.3% | 3.5% | 3.1% |
Valparaiso, city | 31,730 | 89.9% | 3.3% | 2.1% | 4.7% | 7.1% |
Wheeler, CDP | 443 | 94.1% | 0.9% | 0.2% | 4.8% | 4.5% |
Places by population and standard of living [41] [42] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Population (2010) | Per capita income | Median household income | Median home value |
Porter County | 164,343 | $28,244 | $62,457 | $166,600 |
Aberdeen, CDP | 1,875 | $46,604 | $100,278 | $303,200 |
Beverly Shores, town | 613 | $68,750 | $39,906 | $429,200 |
Burns Harbor, town | 1,156 | $26,337 | $62,500 | $149,700 |
Chesterton, town | 13,068 | $29,147 | $64,183 | $174,500 |
Dune Acres, town | 182 | $141,256 | $161,875 | $677,600 |
Hebron, town | 3,724 | $54,276 | $23,027 | $135,900 |
Kouts, town | 1,879 | $22,907 | $61,087 | $143,100 |
Lakes of the Four Seasons, CDP [note 2] | 7,033 | $32,908 | $84,242 | $182,600 |
Ogden Dunes, town | 1,110 | $59,561 | $106,406 | $343,800 |
Portage, city | 36,828 | $23,892 | $51,623 | $137,700 |
Porter, town | 4,858 | $66,304 | $32,210 | $167,100 |
Salt Creek Commons, CDP | 2,117 | $18,778 | $60,478 | $114,800 |
Shorewood Forest, CDP | 2,708 | $49,743 | $118,984 | $327,400 |
South Haven, CDP | 5,282 | $19,355 | $49,746 | $110,800 |
Town of Pines, town | 708 | $20,255 | $36,111 | $96,600 |
Valparaiso, city | 31,730 | $24,894 | $50,182 | $165,200 |
Wheeler, CDP | 443 | $22,481 | $58,229 | $134,900 |
Maplewood Cemetery, next to Graceland in Valparaiso, has burials from the 1700s. The Bailly Cemetery was started in 1827. [43] Additional cemeteries were created as the population grew. Early cemeteries were often family owned or church related. As communities grew, community cemeteries developed. The newest cemetery in the county is Angel Crest Cemetery north of Valparaiso, near Indiana State Road 49.
Porter County has grown from a single park, Sunset Hill Farm County Park, to four, including: Calumet Trail, Dunn's Bridge County Park, and the newest, Brincka Cross Gardens. [44]
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. In 2020, its population was 498,700, making it Indiana's second-most populous county. The county seat is Crown Point. The county is part of Northwest Indiana and the Chicago metropolitan area, and contains a mix of urban, suburban and rural areas. It is bordered on the north by Lake Michigan and contains a portion of the Indiana Dunes. It includes Marktown, Clayton Mark's planned worker community in East Chicago.
Burns Harbor is a town in Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States on the shores of Lake Michigan in Northwest Indiana. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 1,156 at the 2010 census. Burns Harbor is located adjacent to the Indiana Dunes, an area that conservationists have fought hard to preserve.
Chesterton is a town in Westchester, Jackson and Liberty townships in Porter County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 14,241 at the 2020 Census. The three towns of Chesterton, Burns Harbor, and Porter are known as the Duneland area.
Dune Acres is a town in Westchester Township, Porter County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 234 as of the 2020 census. Dune Acres is located in the duneland of the south shore of Lake Michigan. Many residents of Dune Acres and surrounding communities helped preserve parts of the Indiana Dunes.
Hebron is a town in Boone Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,755 as of the 2020 census.
Kouts is a town in Pleasant Township, Porter County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 2,028 at the 2020 census. Since 2010, Kouts has had a population growth of 7.90 percent.
Indiana Dunes National Park is a national park of the United States located in northwestern Indiana managed by the National Park Service. It was authorized by Congress in 1966 as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and was redesignated as the nation's 61st national park on February 15, 2019. The park runs for about 20 miles (32 km) along the southern shore of Lake Michigan and covers 15,349 acres (6,212 ha). Along the lakefront, the eastern area is roughly the lake shore south to U.S. 12 or U.S. 20 between Michigan City, Indiana, on the east and the Cleveland-Cliffs steel plant on the west. This area's conservation scheme is enhanced by the older Indiana Dunes State Park. To the west of the steel plant lies West Beach and a small extension south of the steel mill continues west along Salt Creek to Indiana 249. The western area is roughly the shoreline south to U.S. 12 between the Burns Ditch west to Broadway in downtown Gary, Indiana. In addition, there are several outlying areas, including Pinhook Bog, in LaPorte County to the east; the Heron Rookery in Porter County, the center of the park; and the Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve and the Hobart Prairie Grove, both in Lake County, the western end of the park.
The Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River, approximately 133 miles (214 km) long, in the Central Corn Belt Plains of northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. At one time, the river drained one of the largest wetlands in North America and furnished a significant portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Significantly altered from its original channel, it flows through a primarily rural farming region of reclaimed cropland, south of Lake Michigan.
Boone Grove is an unincorporated town in Porter County, Indiana, southwest of the city of Valparaiso.
The Porter County Conference (PCC) is an athletic conference made up of eight Indiana high schools. Five of the eight schools are within Porter County, Indiana. The three remaining are in LaPorte County.
The Calumet Region is the geographic area drained by the Grand Calumet River and the Little Calumet River of northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana in the United States. It is part of the Great Lakes Basin, which eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. It is a sub-region of the greater Northwest Indiana region and the even larger Great Lakes region.
Northwest Indiana, nicknamed The Region after the Calumet Region, is an unofficial region of northern Indiana, United States that is located at the northwestern corner of the state. Though there is no official definition of the region, it is based on the Gary, Indiana Metropolitan Division, which comprises Jasper, Lake, Porter and Newton counties in Indiana, and the Michigan City-La Porte, IN Metropolitan Statistic Area, which comprises LaPorte, with unofficial definitions also including Starke and Pulaski counties. This region neighbors Lake Michigan and parts of it are in the Chicago metropolitan area. According to the 2020 Census, the largest definition of Northwest Indiana has a population of 866,965 and is the state's second largest urban area after the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. It is also the home of the Indiana Dunes, parts of which have been preserved through conservation efforts. The town of Ogden Dunes houses the Hour Glass, a museum showcasing the ecological and conservation efforts of O. D. Frank.
Boone Township is one of twelve townships in Porter County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 6,160.
Liberty Township is one of twelve townships in Porter County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 9,319.
Portage Township is one of twelve townships in Porter County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 47,085. Portage Township was established in 1835.
Westchester Township is one of twelve townships in Porter County, Indiana. It is included in the Calumet, Northwest Indiana, and Great Lakes regions. It is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Chicago. It stretches from the famous Indiana Dunes on its northern border, south to the Valparaiso Moraine, a ridge of rolling hills left by the last glacier to pass through the area. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,396.
Portage is a city in Portage Township, Porter County, in the U.S. state of Indiana, on the border with Lake County. The population was 37,926 as of the 2020 census. It is the largest city in Porter County, and third largest in Northwest Indiana.
The East Porter County School Corporation is a school district in the northwest part of the U.S. State of Indiana that serves Pleasant Township, Morgan Township, and Washington Township. Kouts, located in Pleasant Township, is the only town in the district, though the district also includes parts of the city of Valparaiso that extend into Washington Township.
Salt Creek is a 24.0-mile-long (38.6 km) tributary of the East Arm Little Calumet River that begins south of Valparaiso in Porter County, Indiana and flows north until it joins the East Arm Little Calumet River just before it exits to Lake Michigan via the Port of Indiana-Burns Waterway.