Steuben County, Indiana

Steuben County
County
Steuben County Courthouse in Angola (on the National Register of Historic Places).
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°38′N85°00′W / 41.64°N 85°W / 41.64; -85
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	February 5, 1836 (authorized) 1837 (organized)
Named for	Baron Frederick von Steuben
Seat	Angola
Largest city	Angola
Area
• Total	322.47 sq mi (835.2 km2)
• Land	308.94 sq mi (800.2 km2)
• Water	13.53 sq mi (35.0 km2)  4.20%
Population  (2020)
• Total	34,435
• Estimate  (2023)	34,917
• Density	110/sq mi (41/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	https://www.co.steuben.in.us/ Official County Website]
Indiana county number 76

Steuben County is a county in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census the county population was 34,435. ^[1] The county seat (and only incorporated city) is Angola. ^[2] Steuben County comprises the Angola, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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 that is 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.

This area was historically occupied by the Potawatomi people, one of the tribes in the Council of Three Fires. Typically they lived in highly decentralized bands. Treaties signed by some leaders with United States representatives ceded large areas of their territory to the US. Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty. The United States acquired land from the Native Americans in the 1809 treaty of Fort Wayne, by the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818, and in 1826 by the Treaty of Mississinewas, which included the future Steuben County.

The Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus county bill ^[3] on February 7, 1835, that authorized the creation of thirteen counties in northeast Indiana, including Steuben. ^[4] In 1837 the county was organized. It was named for Baron Frederick von Steuben, an officer of the American Revolutionary War. ^[5] In 1840 the Potawatomi were forcibly removed from this area and neighboring territory in Michigan and Ohio to Indian Territory in Kansas.

A Potawatomi chief, Baw Beese, led a band that was based at what later became known as Baw Beese Lake nearby in Michigan. His daughter Winona married Negnaska and lived in what is now Indiana. She was executed in the 1830s by her husband's people after she killed Negnaska for selling her pony. ^[6] Winona's husband had pledged his rifle to Aaron B. Goodwin of Fremont for the use of a 5-gallon keg. The Indians had the keg filled with whiskey at Nichols' store in Jamestown, and he took all the money they had. Negnaska sold his wife Winona's pony in order to pawn his rifle. Winona owned the pony outright, either as a gift from her father or having bought it with her own money. She killed Negnaska in anger for selling what was hers. Winona was held by the tribe for a few hours until her husband's nearest relative arrived to execute her. As was their custom, he stabbed her to the heart as she had her husband. ^[7]

John D. Barnard and Sheldon Havens encountered the Potawatomi group after the execution; they helped them move the bodies to a nearby grave that had been dug. The Indians did not bury the bodies until after the white men were out of sight. But Dr. B.F. Sheldon found out about it and exhumed the bodies for dissection a few days later, outraging the mourning Potawatomi. About two weeks later some Potawatomi returned the keg to Goodwin and tried to retrieve Negnaska's rifle, but Goodwin pretended not to know the man had been killed and refused to release the rifle to his friends. ^[7]

Geography

The county's low rolling hills have been largely cleared and leveled for agricultural use, although the drainage areas are still wooded. ^[8] The highest point (1,200 feet/370 meters ASL) is a hillock one mile (1.6 km) east of Glen Eden. ^[9]

The county contains a state park and 105 lakes of various sizes. Some of the larger lakes are Lake James, Lake George, Clear Lake, Jimmerson Lake, Lake Gage, and Crooked Lake.

Steuben County and its lakes

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 322.47 square miles (835.2 km²), of which 308.94 square miles (800.2 km²) (or 95.80%) is land and 13.53 square miles (35.0 km²) (or 4.20%) is water. ^[10]

Adjacent counties

Steuben County touches the states of Michigan and Ohio.

• Branch County, Michigan - north
• Hillsdale County, Michigan - northeast
• Williams County, Ohio - east
• DeKalb County - south
• Noble County - southwest
• LaGrange County - west

Major highways

• Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80 and Interstate 90)
• Interstate 69
• U.S. Route 20
• State Road 1
• State Road 120
• State Road 127
• State Road 327
• State Road 427
• State Road 827

City and towns

• Angola (city/county seat)
• Ashley
• Clear Lake
• Fremont
• Hamilton
• Hudson
• Orland

Unincorporated communities

• Alvarado
• Berlien
• Clarks Landing
• Cold Springs^{[ citation needed ]}
• Courtney Corner
• Crooked Lake
• Ellis
• Flint
• Forest Park
• Fountain Park
• Glen Eden
• Helmer
• Indian Hills
• Inverness
• Island Park
• Jamestown
• Lake James
• Lakeside Park
• Meadow Shores Park
• Metz
• Moonlight
• Nevada Mills
• Oakwood
• Otsego Center
• Page
• Panama
• Penn Park
• Pleasant Lake
• Ravinia Oaks
• Ray
• Russels Point
• Salem Center
• Steubenville
• Turkey Creek
• Westview
• Wildwood
• York

Townships

• Clear Lake
• Fremont
• Jackson
• Jamestown
• Millgrove
• Otsego
• Pleasant
• Richland
• Salem
• Scott
• Steuben
• York

Protected areas

• Cedar Lake Wetlands Conservation Area
• Marsh Lake Wetlands State Fish and Wildlife Area ^[8]
• Pokagon State Park

Climate and weather

Angola, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2     29 14     1.8     33 16     2.9     44 25     3.4     57 35     3.9     69 47     3.9     78 57     3.7     82 60     4.1     80 58     3.3     73 50     2.6     60 39     3.1     46 30     2.8     34 20 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel [11]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     50     −2 −10     46     1 −9     73     7 −4     86     14 2     99     21 8     100     26 14     93     28 16     104     27 14     83     23 10     66     16 4     77     8 −1     70     1 −7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Angola have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 82 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1981 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.83 inches (46 mm) in February to 4.08 inches (104 mm) in August. ^[11]

Government

See also: Government of Indiana

The county government is a constitutional body and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by 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. ^{[12] [13]}

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. ^{[12] [13]}

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. ^[13]

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. These officers 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. ^[13]

Steuben County is part of Indiana's 3rd congressional district.

Steuben County is very Republican at the Presidential level. The only time it voted for a Democrat was for Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, and it was narrow.

United States presidential election results for Steuben County, Indiana ^{[14] [15]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	11,487	70.00%	4,598	28.02%	324	1.97%
2020	11,327	69.99%	4,513	27.89%	344	2.13%
2016	10,133	68.87%	3,744	25.45%	837	5.69%
2012	8,547	62.41%	4,853	35.44%	295	2.15%
2008	7,674	54.09%	6,284	44.29%	230	1.62%
2004	8,433	65.35%	4,345	33.67%	127	0.98%
2000	6,953	61.66%	4,103	36.38%	221	1.96%
1996	5,513	49.53%	4,124	37.05%	1,493	13.41%
1992	4,868	42.44%	3,630	31.65%	2,971	25.90%
1988	6,855	68.55%	3,114	31.14%	31	0.31%
1984	6,424	72.01%	2,441	27.36%	56	0.63%
1980	5,670	62.94%	2,606	28.93%	732	8.13%
1976	5,079	59.23%	3,323	38.75%	173	2.02%
1972	5,636	69.80%	2,401	29.73%	38	0.47%
1968	4,762	62.51%	2,268	29.77%	588	7.72%
1964	4,075	50.28%	3,999	49.34%	31	0.38%
1960	5,464	67.63%	2,588	32.03%	27	0.33%
1956	5,538	71.56%	2,171	28.05%	30	0.39%
1952	5,322	73.02%	1,886	25.88%	80	1.10%
1948	4,341	67.28%	1,996	30.94%	115	1.78%
1944	4,739	71.61%	1,837	27.76%	42	0.63%
1940	5,056	66.35%	2,524	33.12%	40	0.52%
1936	3,998	52.99%	3,402	45.09%	145	1.92%
1932	3,594	48.38%	3,717	50.04%	117	1.58%
1928	4,435	71.35%	1,730	27.83%	51	0.82%
1924	4,046	68.52%	1,610	27.27%	249	4.22%
1920	4,963	72.47%	1,676	24.47%	209	3.05%
1916	2,418	50.72%	1,427	29.93%	922	19.34%
1912	1,290	32.34%	1,266	31.74%	1,433	35.92%
1908	2,704	62.00%	1,453	33.32%	204	4.68%
1904	2,864	66.59%	1,260	29.30%	177	4.12%
1900	2,715	61.94%	1,522	34.73%	146	3.33%
1896	2,655	60.16%	1,674	37.93%	84	1.90%
1892	2,100	55.73%	1,264	33.55%	404	10.72%
1888	2,352	61.12%	1,348	35.03%	148	3.85%

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	2,578		—
1850	6,104		136.8%
1860	10,374		70.0%
1870	12,854		23.9%
1880	14,645		13.9%
1890	14,478		−1.1%
1900	15,219		5.1%
1910	14,274		−6.2%
1920	13,360		−6.4%
1930	13,386		0.2%
1940	13,740		2.6%
1950	17,087		24.4%
1960	17,184		0.6%
1970	20,159		17.3%
1980	24,694		22.5%
1990	27,446		11.1%
2000	33,214		21.0%
2010	34,185		2.9%
2020	34,435		0.7%
2023 (est.)	34,917	[16]	1.4%
US Decennial Census [17] 1790-1960 [18] 1900-1990 [19] 1990-2000 [20] 2010 [21]

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 34,185 people, 13,310 households, and 9,153 families in the county. ^[22] The population density was 110.7 inhabitants per square mile (42.7/km²). There were 19,377 housing units at an average density of 62.7 per square mile (24.2/km²). ^[10] The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.9% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.9% of the population. ^[22] In terms of ancestry, 37.8% were German, 12.6% were English, 10.5% were Irish, and 8.2% were American. ^[23]

Of the 13,310 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 40.2 years. ^[22]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $57,154. Males had a median income of $40,833 versus $29,614 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,950. About 7.7% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over. ^[24]

Education

Colleges and universities

• Trine University

Fremont High School

School districts

• Fremont Community Schools
• Hamilton Community Schools
• M S D of Steuben County
• Prairie Heights Community School Corporation

Notable people

• Edgar "Pop" Buell (1913–1980), humanitarian aid worker in Laos in the 1960s and 1970s, was born in Richland Township and farmed there until he joined International Voluntary Services in 1960. ^[25]
• Sile Doty (1800-1876), infamous robber, burglar, horse thief, highwayman, counterfeiter, and criminal gang leader.

See also

• The Herald Republican , daily newspaper covering Steuben County
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Steuben County, Indiana

References

1. "Steuben County, Indiana". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 7, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. John W Tyndall & OE Lesh, Standard history of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana. pp. 284-6 (accessed 9 August 2020)
4. The counties are Dekalb, Fulton, Jasper, Jay, Kosciusko, Marshall, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Stark, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley. Newton County was merged with Jasper County in 1839 and was re-authorized as a separate county in 1859.
5. De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. pp.  573.
6. Fuller, George Newman and Beeson, Lewis Michigan History Vol. 6 Lansing: Michigan State Historical Society, 1922. p. 582
7. History of Steuben County, Indiana, Chicago: Inter-state Publishing Company, 1885. pp. 550-551.
8. Steuben County IN (Google Maps, accessed 13 August 2020)
9. Tamarack Mountain/Steuben County, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 13 August 2020)
10. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
11. "Monthly Averages for Angola IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
12. Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
13. Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 27, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
15. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,210 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 177 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 41 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 5 votes.
16. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
17. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
18. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
19. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
20. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
21. "Steuben County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
22. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
23. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
24. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
25. See 1920 Federal Census, Richland Township, Steuben County, Indiana, page 5B, Enumeration District 161; and; Theory and Practice of Communism in 1972 (Southeast Asia), Part I. Hearings of the House Committee on Internal Security, May 25, 1972, on northeastern Laos. pp. 1-4, 7761-7817. Testimony of Edgar M. Buell.

External links

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Steuben County, Indiana
• Official Site of Steuben County, Indiana
• Steuben County Tourism Bureau
• Steuben County Community Foundation
• Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County
• Steuben County Genealogical Society

41°38′N85°00′W / 41.64°N 85.00°W / 41.64; -85.00