Editing Whitley County, Indiana

{{short description|County in Indiana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county        = Whitley County
| state              = Indiana
| seal               =
| founded            = February 7, 1835 (authorized)<br />1838 (organized)
| seat wl        = Columbia City
| largest city   = Columbia City
| area_total_sq_mi   = 337.91
| area_land_sq_mi    = 335.57
| area_water_sq_mi   = 2.34
| area percentage    = 0.69%
| census yr          = 2020
| pop                = 34191
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| population_est     = 34742  {{gain}}
| density_sq_mi      = auto
| time zone          = Eastern
| web  = https://whitleygov.com/
| ex image           = Whitley County Courthouse.jpg
| ex image cap       = Whitley County courthouse in Columbia City
| district           = 3rd
| footnotes          = Indiana county number 92 <br /> Last alphabetical county in Indiana.
| named for          = [[William Whitley]] }}

'''Whitley County''' is a rural [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Indiana]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 36,825.<ref>https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/whitleycountyindiana/PST045219 {{Dead link|date=July 2023}}</ref> Whitley County is the 49th most populous county in Indiana. The [[county seat]] (and only incorporated city) is [[Columbia City, Indiana|Columbia City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county has the highest county number (92) on [[Vehicle registration plates of Indiana|Indiana license plates]], as it is alphabetically the last in the state's list of counties. It is part of the [[Fort Wayne Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and the [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]]–[[Huntington, Indiana|Huntington]]–[[Auburn, Indiana|Auburn]] [[Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
Indiana was granted statehood near the end of 1816. On February 7, 1835, the state legislature approved an omnibus bill<ref>[https://archive.org/details/standardhistoryo01tynd/page/286/mode/2up John W Tyndall & OE Lesh, ''Standard history of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana''. pp. 284-6 (accessed 9 August 2020)]</ref> that authorized the creation of thirteen counties,<ref>The counties are DeKalb, Fulton, Jasper, Jay, Kosciusko, Marshall, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Stark, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley. Newton was dissolved in 1839 and its territory was attached to Jasper; it was re-created in 1859.</ref> including Whitley. It was named for Col. [[William Whitley]], who was killed in the [[Battle of the Thames]] in the [[War of 1812]].<ref name=WCI>{{cite book|author=De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle|publisher=R. S. Peale & co.|year=1875|location=Indiana|title=An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YDIUAAAAYAAJ| pages=577}}</ref>

The first non-Native American settlers arrived in the area during that year, as a result of the end of the [[Black Hawk War]] and the completion of the [[Erie Canal]]. They were from [[New England]] - "[[Yankee]]" settlers, descendants of the [[English people|English]] [[Puritans]] who settled [[New England]] in the colonial era. They were primarily members of the [[Congregational church|Congregational Church]]. However, due to the [[Second Great Awakening]], many of them had converted to [[Methodism]] and some had become [[Baptists]] before coming to Indiana. Whitley County government was organized in 1838.

In the late 1870s, immigrants began arriving from [[Germany]] and [[Ireland]].<ref name=WCI/>

==Geography==
Prior to white settlement, Whitley County's low rolling hills were densely forested, and dotted with lakes across its northern portion. At present, the available land is mostly deforested and is entirely devoted to agriculture or urban development.<ref name=WC>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Whitley+County,+IN/@41.1485432,-85.6376053,41855m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8815d7b28bd0ce0b:0xaa3b2fb7561cadb0!8m2!3d41.1136133!4d-85.520024 ''Whitley County IN'' (Google Maps, accessed 31 July 2020)]</ref> Its highest point (approx. {{convert|1000|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}} ASL) is a small rise NE of Cedar Lake.<ref>[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=23022 ''Whitley County High Point, Indiana'' (PeakBagger.com, accessed 31 July 2020)]</ref> The [[Eel River (Indiana)|Eel River]] flows southwestward through the lower part of the county, and the Blue River flows southwestward through the upper part.<ref name=WC/>

According to the [[2010 United States Census]], the county has a total area of {{convert|337.91|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|335.57|sqmi}} (or 99.31%) is land and {{convert|2.34|sqmi}} (or 0.69%) is water.<ref name=DC/>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Noble County, Indiana|Noble County]] - north
* [[Allen County, Indiana|Allen County]] - east
* [[Huntington County, Indiana|Huntington County]] - south
* [[Wabash County, Indiana|Wabash County]] - southwest
* [[Kosciusko County, Indiana|Kosciusko County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===City and towns===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Columbia City, Indiana|Columbia City]] (city/county seat)
* [[Churubusco, Indiana|Churubusco]]
* [[Larwill, Indiana|Larwill]]
* [[South Whitley, Indiana|South Whitley]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Tri-Lakes, Indiana|Tri-Lakes]]

===Unincorporated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Blue Lake, Indiana|Blue Lake]]
* Briggs
* [[Coesse, Indiana|Coesse]]
* [[Coesse Corners, Indiana|Coesse Corners]]
* [[Collamer, Indiana|Collamer]]
* [[Collins, Indiana|Collins]]
* [[Dunfee, Indiana|Dunfee]]
* [[Etna, Indiana|Etna]]
* [[Five Points, Whitley County, Indiana|Five Points]]
* [[Laud, Indiana|Laud]]
* [[Lorane, Indiana|Lorane]]
* [[Luther, Indiana|Luther]]
* [[Peabody, Indiana|Peabody]]
* [[Raber, Indiana|Raber]]
* [[Saturn, Indiana|Saturn]]
* [[Tunker, Indiana|Tunker]]
* [[Washington Center, Indiana|Washington Center]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Cleveland Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Cleveland]]
* [[Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Columbia]]
* [[Etna-Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Etna-Troy]]
* [[Jefferson Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Jefferson]]
* [[Richland Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Richland]]
* [[Smith Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Smith]]
* [[Thorncreek Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Thorncreek]]
* [[Union Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Union]]
* [[Washington Township, Whitley County, Indiana|Washington]]
{{div col end}}

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* Blue Lake
* Brown Lake
* Cedar Lake
* Crooked Lake (part)
* Dollar Lake
* Goose Lake
* Indian Lake
* Little Cedar Lake
* Loon Lake (part)
* Mud Lake
* New Lake
* Old Lake
* Rine Lake
* Robinson Lake (part)
* Round Lake
* Scott Lake
* Shriner Lake
* Tadpole Lake
* Troy Cedar Lake
* Winters Lake<ref name=WC/>
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
* Deniston Resource Area
* Goose Lake Wetland Conservation Area
* Pisgah Marsh Nongame Area (part)<ref name=WC/>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Image:US 24.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 24]]
* [[Image:US 30.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 30]]
* [[Image:US 33.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 33]]
* [[Image:indiana 5.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 5]]
* [[Image:indiana 9.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 9]]
* [[Image:indiana 14.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 14]]
* [[Image:indiana 105.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 105]]
* [[Image:indiana 109.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 109]]
* [[Image:indiana 114.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 114]]
* [[Image:indiana 205.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 205]]
{{div col end}}

==Climate and weather==
{{climate chart
|[[Columbia City, Indiana]]
|14|31|2.12
|18|35|1.80
|27|46|2.90
|37|58|3.67
|48|70|3.70
|58|79|4.44
|62|83|3.82
|59|81|3.58
|51|74|3.52
|40|62|2.80
|31|48|3.31
|21|36|2.86
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name=WX>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0125|title=Monthly Averages for Columbia City IN|access-date=January 27, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref>}}
In recent years, the average temperatures in Columbia City have ranged from a low of {{convert|14|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|83|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-24|°F}} was recorded in January 1994, and a record high of {{convert|103|°F}} was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.80|in}} in February to {{convert|4.44|in}} in June.<ref name=WX/>

==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.<ref name=inc3623>{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|author-link=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html|title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}</ref><ref name=inc2102>{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041227171739/http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2004 |url-status=live|title=Title 2, Article 10, Section 2|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}</ref>

'''Board of Commissioners:''' The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected to four-year staggered terms in county-wide elections. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute the acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.<ref name=inc3623/><ref name=inc2102/>

'''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. 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 officers elected to four-year terms, including [[sheriff]], [[coroner]], [[auditor]], [[treasurer]], [[Recorder of deeds|recorder]], [[Surveying|surveyor]], and circuit [[court clerk]]. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare [[political party|party]] affiliations and to be residents of the county.<ref name=inc2102/>

Whitely County is part of [[Indiana's 3rd congressional district]], and as of 2020, is represented by Republican [[Jim Banks|James Edward Banks]] in the [[United States Congress]].
{{PresHead|place=Whitley County, Indiana|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|13,122|4,275|377|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|12,862|4,234|492|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,358|3,379|1,022|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,258|4,420|354|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|9,124|5,862|222|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|9,512|3,880|89|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,080|4,107|245|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|5,965|4,176|1,484|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,217|3,569|3,270|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,679|3,642|65|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|7,763|3,690|98|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,146|4,497|1,178|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|6,761|5,445|235|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|7,489|3,838|77|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,684|3,848|1,139|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,896|5,798|53|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,621|4,266|56|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,422|3,688|47|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,893|3,755|128|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,715|4,240|134|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,268|4,079|80|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,100|4,404|57|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,959|5,115|76|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,471|5,058|324|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,519|3,294|56|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,420|3,484|156|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,530|3,929|170|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,191|2,510|202|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,082|2,206|1,218|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,302|2,493|148|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,359|2,281|175|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,271|2,361|122|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,242|2,494|49|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,958|2,234|203|Indiana}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|2,133|2,325|161|Indiana}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 1237
|1850= 5190
|1860= 10730
|1870= 14399
|1880= 16941
|1890= 17768
|1900= 17328
|1910= 16892
|1920= 15660
|1930= 15931
|1940= 17001
|1950= 18828
|1960= 20954
|1970= 23395
|1980= 26215
|1990= 27651
|2000= 30707
|2010= 33292
|2020= 34191
|estyear=2023
|estimate=34742
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2013<ref name=QF>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18183.html|title=Whitley County QuickFacts|access-date=September 25, 2011|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607092429/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18183.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/whitleycountyindiana/PST040217|title=QuickFacts. Whitley County, Indiana|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>
}}

==2010 Census==
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 33,292 people, 13,001 households, and 9,228 families in the county.<ref name=DP>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18183|title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025416/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18183|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|99.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 14,281 housing units at an average density of {{convert|42.6|/sqmi}}.<ref name=DC>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18183|access-date=July 10, 2015|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212201558/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18183|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population.<ref name=DP/> In terms of ancestry, 38.2% were [[Germans|German]], 12.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 12.5% were [[Americans|American]], and 9.3% were [[English people|English]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18183|title=Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002958/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18183|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 13,001 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, and 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 40.1 years.<ref name=DP/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697, and the median income for a family was $63,487. Males had a median income of $44,883 versus $30,724 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,644. About 5.1% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18183|title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214003225/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18183|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Indiana}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Whitley County, Indiana]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|author1-last=Kaler|author1-first=Samuel P.|author2-last=Maring|author2-first=Richard H.|title=History of Whitley County, Indiana|publisher=B. F. Bowen &amp; Company|year=1907}} ({{Internet Archive|id=historyofwhitley00kale|name=History of Whitley County, Indiana}})
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Whitley County, Indiana}}
* [http://whitleygov.com/ Whitley County Government Website]
* [http://scanwc.com/ Whitley County Online Scanner]
* [http://wcarc.org/ Whitley County ARC Inc]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Whitley County, Indiana
|North     = [[Noble County, Indiana|Noble County]]
|East      = [[Allen County, Indiana|Allen County]]
|South     = [[Huntington County, Indiana|Huntington County]]
|Southwest = [[Wabash County, Indiana|Wabash County]]
|West      = [[Kosciusko County, Indiana|Kosciusko County]]
}}
{{Whitley County, Indiana}}
{{Fort Wayne Metro}}
{{Indiana}}

{{Coord|41.14|-85.50|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Whitley County, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Indiana counties]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]
[[Category:Fort Wayne, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area]]