Wells County, Indiana

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

Wells County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 28,180.<ref name=new-census/> Its seat of government is Bluffton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wells County is included in the Fort Wayne Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Fort Wayne—Huntington—Auburn Combined Statistical Area.

History

The Territory of Indiana was established in 1800 as legitimized by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The governing structure established through this act began creating counties in the territory as it became increasingly populated. In December 1816, the State of Indiana was admitted to the Union. Wells was named after famous frontiersmen William A. Wells who played a central role in the Northwest Indian Wars and the activity surrounding Fort Miami and Kekionga.<ref>Captain William A. Wells was captured by Native Americans as a young boy and adopted by the Miami chief Little Turtle. He eventually became a scout for Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Capt. Wells was killed by Potawatomi allied with the British at the Battle of Fort Dearborn at the outbreak of the War of 1812.</ref> It was initially assigned to Allen County for legislative and administrative affairs.Template:Citation needed

In the winter of 1835, Col. John Vowter of Jennings County, Chairman of the Committee on New Counties, introduced a bill proposing that the assembly "lay out all the unorganized territory to which the Indian title had been extinguished in the state into a suitable number of counties". This bill would be approved later that year on February 7, effectively creating thirteen Northern Indiana counties, one of which was Wells.Template:Sfn

On February 2, 1837, an act was passed by the state, authorizing Wells County to be organized independent of Allen County, and specifying May 1 for the date of the first meeting. However, that meeting did not take place, and so an act dated January 20, 1838, authorized the meeting of appointed commissioners to decide on a county seat. That vote was completed on March 5, 1838, selecting Bluffton.Template:Sfn

Geography

The low rolling hills of Wells County have been deforested and are now completely devoted to agriculture and urban development. The Wabash River flows to the northwest, draining the central and upper part of the county, while the lower part is drained by the Salamonie River, also flowing to the northwest.<ref>Wells County IN (Google Maps, accessed 6 August 2020)</ref> The highest point on the terrain (Template:Convert ASL) is an isolated rise on the county's south borderline with Jay County, one-half mile (0.8 km) east of the NE corner of Blackford County.<ref>Wells County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 6 August 2020)</ref>

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (or 99.42%) is land and Template:Convert (or 0.58%) is water.<ref name=DC/>

Adjacent counties

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Allen County - north
Adams County - east
Jay County - southeast
Blackford County - south
Grant County - west
Huntington County - northwest

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City and towns

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Bluffton (city/county seat)
Markle (town; partly in Huntington County)
Ossian (town)
Poneto (town - named Worthington from 1871 to 1881)
Uniondale (town)
Vera Cruz (town)
Zanesville (town; partly in Allen County)

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Climate and weather

Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in Bluffton 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 1980. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in May.<ref name=WX/>

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 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. 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. The 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.<ref name=inc2102/>

Demographics

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2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,636 people, 10,780 households, and 7,684 families in the county.<ref name=DP>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 11,659 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name=DC>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.<ref name=DP/> In terms of ancestry, 38.4% were German, 12.3% were English, 10.8% were Irish, and 10.3% were American.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Of the 10,780 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.7% were non-families, and 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 40.2 years.<ref name=DP/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $56,885. Males had a median income of $41,871 versus $30,031 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,169. About 6.2% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>