Porter County, Indiana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Porter County, Indiana | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Indiana |
|
 Indiana's location in the U.S. |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1836 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Valparaiso |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
522 sq mi (1,352 km²) 418 sq mi (1,083 km²) 104 sq mi (269 km²), 19.84% |
| PopulationEst. - (2007) - Density |
160,578 384/sq mi (136/km²) |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 2nd |
| Website: www.porterco.org | |
 |
|
Porter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 146,798 and records show that the population has increased to more than 160,000 as of 2007. Much of the population growth has to do with the expansion of the Chicago Metropolitan Area eastward into Indiana. The county seat is Valparaiso[1]. This county is part of Northwest Indiana.
Contents |
[edit] History
The area of Indiana, which became Porter County was occupied by an Algonquian people named by the archeologist as the Huber-Berrien.[2] This was a subsistence culture that arrived after the glaciers retreated somewhere around 15,000 years before present (YBP) and the rise of glacial Lake Algonquian, 4-8,000 YBP.[3] The Huber-Berrien people were a subsistence society. 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 the current boundaries of Porter County. It was not until 1830 when Chiqua's town and Tassinong appear on maps and in records.[2] Chiqua's town is located 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.[4]
Porter County was formed in 1836. From 1832 to 1836, the area that was to become Porter County was part of La Porte County[5]. It was named for Capt. David Porter, naval officer during the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812.[6][7]
[edit] Government
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 county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget and special spending. The council also 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.[8][9]
Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, the collection of revenue and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.[8][9]
Court: The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some 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 terms of four years. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[9]
County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and circuit court clerk. Each of these elected officers serve terms of four years and oversee different parts of the county government. Members elected to any county government position are required to declare a party affiliation and be a resident of the county.[9]
Lake County is part of Indiana's 1st congressional district and in 2008 was represented by Pete Visclosky in the United States Congress.[10]
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 522 square miles (1,351 km²), of which, 418 square miles (1,083 km²) of it is land and 104 square miles (268 km²) of it is water, most of it in Lake Michigan. The total area is 19.84% water.
[edit] Major highways
Indiana Toll Road
Interstate 80
Interstate 90
Interstate 94
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 30
Indiana State Road 2
Indiana State Road 8
Indiana State Road 49
Indiana State Road 130
Indiana State Road 149
Indiana State Road 249
Indiana State Road 520
[edit] Railroads
- Amtrak
- Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad
- Chicago Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad
- Chicago, Southshore and South Bend Railroad
- CSX Transportation
- Norfolk Southern Railway
- Canadian National(Formerly Grand Trunk Western)
[edit] Adjacent counties
- LaPorte County (east)
- Starke County (southeast)
- Jasper County (south)
- Lake County (west)
- Cook County, Illinois (northwest, boundary in Lake Michigan)
- Berrien County, Michigan (northeast, boundary in Lake Michigan)
[edit] National protected area
[edit] Demographics
| Porter County Population by year |
|
|
2000 146,798 |
|
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 146,798 people, 54,649 households, and 39,729 families residing in the county. The population density was 351 people per square mile (136/km²). There were 57,616 housing units at an average density of 138 per square mile (53/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.33% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 4.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.7% were of German, 12.3% Irish, 8.3% Polish, 8.0% English and 7.9% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 54,649 households out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $53,100, and the median income for a family was $61,880. Males had a median income of $50,167 versus $26,347 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,957. About 3.90% of families and 5.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.80% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities
.jpg)
[edit] Towns
[edit] Townships
[edit] Education
Higher Education Campuses include:
.JPG)
Valparaiso University is a Lutheran 4-year degree granting institution.
Public schools in Porter County are administered by several districts, most of which cover areas that roughly follow the county's township boundaries.
- Duneland School Corporation [3]
- East Porter County School Corporation [4]
- Metropolitan School District of Boone Township [5]
- Portage Township Schools [6]
- Porter Township School Corporation [7]
- Union Township School Corporation [8]
- Valparaiso Community Schools [9]
High Schools and Middle Schools
|
|
Elementary Schools
|
|
[edit] Porter County Cemeteries
| Name | Location | Township | Picture | Ref pg[12] | Ref pg[13] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnstrom Cemetery | Oak Hill Road, just west of US 12 | Westchester |  |
pg 5 | front |
| Bailly Cemetery | Oak Hill Road, Access from Bailly-Chelburg Contact Station | Westchester | .jpg) |
pg 5 | front |
| Blake Cemetery | Blake Street at Concord Ave, Portage | Portage | pg 8 | front | |
| Temple of Isreal (Bethel) Cemetery | East Central Ave, Portage | Portage | pg 8 | front | |
| Augsburg Cemetery | Mineral Springs Road at Beam Street | Westchester |  |
pg 10 | front |
| Chesterton Cemetery | Porter Ave, Chesterton | Westchester |  |
pg 11 | front |
| St. Patrick’s Cemetery | Calumet Ave, Chesterton | Westchester |  |
pg 11 | front |
| Calvary Cemetery | East Central Ave, Portage | Portage | pg 13 | front | |
| McCool Cemetery | Central Ave at Airport Ave | Portage | front | ||
| Eight Square Cemetery | South County Line Road (LaPorte/Porter) about 1150 N | Pine | front | ||
| James Cemetery | Rushing Water Rd, Portage | Portage | pg 13 | front | |
| Robbins Cemetery | Robbins Road, Portage | Portage | pg 18 | front | |
| Gossett Cemetery (private) | 149, about 900 W | Portage | pg 18 | front | |
| Quackerdom Cemetery (private) | U.S 6 at about 600E | Liberty | front | ||
| Dillingham Cemetery | 750 North at Old 49 | Liberty |  |
pg 19 | front |
| Angel Crest Cemetery | 600 North at SR 49 | Liberty |  |
||
| Kimball Cemetery | 175 W, north of 575 N | Liberty |  |
pg 23 | front |
| James Cemetery (private) | 657 W, just off Jones Road. | Union | pg 26 | front | |
| Mosier Cemetery (private) | 600 W, just south of US 30 | Union | pg 30 | front | |
| Blachley Cemetery | Joliet Road at U.S. 30 | Union | pg 30 | front | |
| Memorial Park Cemetery | State Route 2, south of Valparaiso | Center | pg 31 | front | |
| Graceland Cemetery | U.S. 30 at Sturdy Road | Center |  |
pg 30 | |
| Maplewood Cemetery | Sturdy Road south of US 30 | Center | pg 30 | front | |
| St. Paul’s Cemetery | Sturdy Road south of US 30 | Center |  |
pg 30 | front |
| Luther Cemetery | 100 N at about 375 E | Washington |  |
front | |
| Guernsey Cemetery (private) | Division at County Line Road (Lake/Porter) | Porter | pg 34 | front | |
| Fleming Cemetery | Boone Grove Road (300 W) | Porter | pg 36 | front | |
| Stoner Cemetery (private) | South Sager Rd | Morgan | front | ||
| Sacred Heart Cemetery | U.S. 30 at County Line Road (LaPorte/Porter) | Washington | pg 38 | front | |
| Frame Cemetery (private) | 675 West | Porter | front | ||
| Ludington Cemetery (private) | 500 West, north of SR 2 | Porter | front | ||
| Shurr Cemetery (private) | 300 S, near 500 W | Porter | front | ||
| White Cemetery (private) | 150 S near 75E | Morgan | front | ||
| Adams Cemetery | 150E at 250 S | Morgan |  |
front | |
| Merriman Cemetery | 250 N at 275 W | Porter |  |
front | |
| Hebron Cemetery | 900 S and US 231, Hebron | Boone | pg 47 | back | |
| Cornell Cemetery | North of State Route 8, must north of 350W | Boone |  |
pg 53 | back |
| Hopewell Cemetery | South Baums Bridge Road, just before SR 8 | Pleasant | back | ||
| Spencer Cemetery | South Baums Bridge Road, just before SR 8 | Pleasant |  |
pg 54 | |
| Graceland Cemetery | State Route 8, just west of Kouts | Pleasant | pg 54 | back | |
| St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery | State Route 8, just west of Kouts | Pleasant | |||
| St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery | State Route 8, just west of Kouts | Pleasant |  |
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History; Helen Hornbeck Tanner; University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma; 1987; Map 5
- ^ Geology of the Great Lakes; Jack L. Hough; University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1958; p 276
- ^ One of the Earliest Authentic Histories of Porter County, Indiana; From 1832 to 1876; Deborah H. Shults-Gay; circa 1917
- ^ Calumet Beginnings: Schoon, Kenneth J.
- ^ Baker, Ronald L.; Marvin Carmony (1995). Indiana Place Names. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 133. ISBN 0-253-28340-X.
- ^ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co.. pp. 570. http://books.google.com/books?id=YDIUAAAAYAAJ.
- ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html. Retrieved on 2008-09-16.
- ^ a b c d Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2". IN.gov. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-09-16.
- ^ "US Congressman Pete Visclosky". US Congress. http://www.house.gov/visclosky/. Retrieved on 2008-10-08.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Soil Survey of Porter County, Indiana; USDA, Soil Conservation Service, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, Indiana Department of natural Resources, Soil and Water Conservation Committee; February 1981
- ^ Rand MacNally, Porter County, Indiana, 2001
[edit] External links
- Official Porter County website
- Porter County GenWeb - county history and genealogy website
- Porter County Municipal Airport (VPZ)
- Porter County Public Library System
[edit] References
- Forstall, Richard L. (editor) (1996). Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division. ISBN 0-934213-48-8.
 |
Cook County, Illinois | Lake Michigan | Berrien County, Michigan |
|
|||
| Lake County |  |
LaPorte County | |||||
 Porter County, Indiana  |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
| Jasper County | Starke County |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
