Marshall County, Indiana

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Marshall County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. The 2020 census recorded the population at 46,095.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat (and only city) is Plymouth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus county bill<ref>John W Tyndall & OE Lesh, Standard history of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana. pp. 284-6 (accessed 9 August 2020)</ref> on February 7, 1835, that authorized the creation of thirteen counties in northeast Indiana, including Marshall.<ref>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.</ref> It was named for U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall, who died in 1835.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The government of the county was organized in 1836, during the early years of settlement and before the forced removal of the Potawatomi people in 1838. The first settlers had arrived in the county in 1835; they arrived as a result of the end of the Black Hawk War as well as the completion of the Erie Canal. They consisted primarily of settlers from New England, "Yankees" descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era. They were mainly members of the Congregational Church, although due to the Second Great Awakening many of them had converted to Methodism and some had become Baptists before migrating to the new area. As a result of this heritage, some place names in Marshall County are named after places in New England, such as Plymouth, which is named after Plymouth, Massachusetts, the site where the Mayflower landed in 1620.<ref>McDonald, Daniel. A Twentieth Century History of Marshall County, Indiana (Vol. 1)</ref>

Geography

The low, rolling hills of Marshall County are completely devoted to agriculture where possible (significant drainages are wooded).<ref name="MCI">Marshall County IN (Google Maps, accessed 29 July 2020)</ref> The highest points on the terrain are three approximately equal swells (Template:Convert ASL) along the south border line with Fulton County, Template:Convert NW of Richland Center.<ref>Marshall County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 29 July 2020)</ref>

Marshall County contains three significant bodies of water: Lake of the Woods (NE portion); Lake Maxinkuckee (SW portion); and part of Koontz Lake (NW portion).<ref name=MCI/> The Yellow River flows through northern, central, and western portions of Marshall County, past Plymouth; the Tippecanoe River flows southwesterly through the SE part of the county.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

According to the 2010 census, Marshall County has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (or 98.64%) is land and Template:Convert (or 1.36%) is water.<ref name=DC/>

Adjacent counties

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St. Joseph County - north
Elkhart County - northeast
Kosciusko County - east
Fulton County - south
Pulaski County - southwest
Starke County - west/CST Border

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Protected areas

Menominee Wetland Conservation Area (W of Plymouth)
Potawatomi Wildlife Park (on W bank of Tippecanoe River in SE county)

Major highways

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Communities

Climate and weather

Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in Plymouth have ranged from a low of Template:Convert in January to a high of Template:Convert in July, although a record low of Template:Convert was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of Template:Convert was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in June.<ref name=WX/>

Demographics

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 47,051 people, 17,406 households, and 12,516 families in the county.<ref name="DP">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 19,845 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="DC">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.4% of the population.<ref name=DP/> In terms of ancestry, 35.4% were German, 11.2% were Irish, 9.4% were American, and 8.5% were English.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 17,406 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.1% were non-families, and 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 38.4 years.<ref name=DP/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $58,017. Males had a median income of $43,732 versus $30,033 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,493. About 8.7% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

Template:See also 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.<ref name="inc3623">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="inc2102">Template:Cite web</ref>

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 functions of the county government.<ref name=inc3623/><ref name=inc2102/>

Current commissioners: Stan Klotz, Jesse Bohannon, Adam Faulstich (as of 2025)

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.<ref name=inc2102/>

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. 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.<ref name=inc2102/>