Porter County, Indiana

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Porter County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 173,215, making it the 10th most populous county in Indiana.<ref name=QF>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Valparaiso.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county is part of Northwest Indiana, as well as the Chicago metropolitan area. Porter County is the site of much of the Indiana Dunes, an area of ecological significance.<ref>Smith, S. & Mark, S. (2006). Alice Gray, Dorothy Buell, and Naomi Svihla: Preservationists of Ogden Dunes. The South Shore Journal, Template:Cite web </ref><ref>Smith, S. & Mark, S. (2009)</ref><ref>The Historical Roots of the Nature Conservancy in the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland Region: From Science to Preservation. The South Shore Journal, 3. Template:Cite web</ref> The Hour Glass Museum in Ogden Dunes documents the region's ecological significance.<ref>Smith, S. & Mark, S. (2007). The cultural impact of a museum in a small community: The Hour Glass of Ogden Dunes. The South Shore Journal, 2. Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The Porter County area was occupied by an Algonquian people dubbed Huber-Berrien.<ref name=HHT>Tanner, Helen Hornbeck, Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History; University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma (1987) Map 5</ref> This subsistence culture arrived after the glaciers retreated around 15,000 years ago and the rise of glacial Lake Algonquian, 4–8,000 years ago.<ref>Hough, Jack L., Geology of the Great Lakes; University of Illinois Press, Urbana (1958) p. 276</ref> 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 Porter County's current boundaries. It was not until 1830 when Chiqua's town and Tassinong appear on maps and in records.<ref name=HHT/> Chiqua's town is a mile east of Valparaiso on State Route 2, the old Sauk Trail. Tassinong is south of Valparaiso about Template:Convert on State Route 49 at Baum's Bridge Road, the main route across the Great Kankakee Marsh.<ref>Shults-Gay, Deborah H., One of the Earliest Authentic Histories of Porter County, Indiana; From 1832 to 1876 (circa 1917)</ref>

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 of 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.

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 Porter.<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> In 1837 the county was organized. It was named for Capt. David Porter, naval officer during the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1962, Bethlehem Steel built a large integrated steel mill on the shores of Lake Michigan, which is now owned and operated by Cleveland-Cliffs. The construction of the mill, as well as the neighboring Port of Indiana, generated enormous controversy between industrial interests and locals who wanted to conserve the natural shoreline and habitat. Although the activists lost and the steel mill and port were constructed, the US Congress created the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966 to protect the area's unique natural habitat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

Porter County lies on the northern edge of Indiana; its north border is formed by Lake Michigan and its south border is formed by the westward-flowing Kankakee River Its once-tree-covered low rolling hills have been cleared and devoted to agriculture; the only exceptions in Porter County are the drainages carved into the terrain, which are brush-filled. The East Arm Little Calumet River flows westward through the upper portion of Porter County.<ref name=PCI>Porter County IN (Google Maps, accessed 24 August 2020)</ref> The highest point, at Template:Convert,<ref>(PeakBagger.com, accessed 24 August 2020)</ref> is a small hill on the county's east border, 2.75 miles (4.4 km) NW of Westville. The lowest point, at approximately Template:Convert, is along the Lake Michigan shoreline (exact elevation varies due to variation in lake level). According to the 2010 census, the county has an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (or 80.14%) is land and Template:Convert (or 19.9%) is water,<ref name=DC/> most of it in Lake Michigan.

Adjacent counties

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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

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Protected areas

Indiana Dunes National Park (part)
Indiana Dunes National Park Heron Rookery
Indiana Dunes State Park
Moraine Nature Preserve<ref name=PCI/>

Major highways

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File:Amtrak Porter Indiana.JPG

Amtrak's Wolverine passing through Porter, Indiana

Railroads

Municipalities

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File:Franklin east of Courthouse(CLight).jpg

Franklin Street, east side of the Courthouse Square, Valparaiso

File:Main Street Bldg Chesterton IN 2012.jpg

Calumet Avenue downtown Chesterton

The municipalities in Porter County and their populations as of the 2010 Census:

Cities

Portage – 38,882
Valparaiso – 34,937

Towns

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Beverly Shores – 604
Burns Harbor – 2,185
Chesterton – 14,913
Dune Acres – 234
Hebron – 3,725
Kouts – 2,068
Ogden Dunes – 1,167
Porter – 5,205
Town of Pines – 594

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Census-designated places

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Aberdeen – 1,875
Lakes of the Four Seasons – 3,097 (7,033 including portion in Lake County)
Salt Creek Commons – 2,117
Shorewood Forest – 2,708
South Haven – 5,282
Wheeler – 443

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

The 12 townships of Porter County: Template:Columns-list

Education

File:VU Chapel(CLight).jpg

Valparaiso University Chapel

Colleges and Universities

Public School Districts

Public schools in Porter County are administered by several districts, most of which cover areas that roughly follow the county's township boundaries:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref> Template:Div col

Metropolitan School District of Boone Township – Boone Township
Duneland School Corporation – Jackson, Liberty and Westchester townships
East Porter County School Corporation – Morgan, Pleasant and Washington townships
Michigan City Area Schools – Pine Township
Portage Township Schools – Portage Township
Porter Township School Corporation – Porter Township
Union Township School Corporation – Union Township
Valparaiso Community Schools – Center Township

Template:Div col end High Schools and Middle Schools

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Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Boone Grove High School
Boone Grove Middle School
Chesterton High School
Hebron High School
Hebron Middle School
Kouts Middle-High School
Liberty Intermediate/Middle School
Morgan Township Middle/High School
Portage High School
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Union Township Middle School
Valparaiso High School
Washington Township Middle/High School
Wheeler High School
Westchester Intermediate/Middle School
William Fegely Middle School
Willowcreek Middle School

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Elementary Schools Template:Div col

Aylesworth Elementary School
Bailly Elementary School
Boone Grove Elementary School
Brummitt Elementary School
Central Elementary School (Portage)
Central Elementary School (Valparaiso)
Cooks Corners Elementary School
Crisman Elementary School
Flint Lake Elementary School
Hayes Leonard Elementary School
Hebron Elementary School
Jackson Elementary School
John Simatovich Elementary School
Jones Elementary School
Kouts Elementary School
Kyle Elementary School
Liberty Elementary School
Liberty Intermediate School
Memorial Elementary School
Morgan Elementary School
Myers Elementary School
Northview Elementary School
Parkview Elementary School
Paul Saylor Elementary School
Pine Elementary School
Porter Lakes Elementary School
South Haven Elementary School
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Union Center Elementary School
Washington Township Elementary School
Westchester Intermediate School
Yost Elementary School

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Public libraries

The county is served by two public library systems:

Porter County Public Library has its main branch in Valparaiso with branches in Hebron, Kouts, Portage and South Haven.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Westchester Public Library has its main branch, the Thomas Library, in Chesterton with a branch, the Hageman Library, in Porter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hospitals

Porter Health Care System – 301 beds<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Portage Hospital – Portage
- Porter Regional Hospital – Valparaiso

Climate and weather

Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in Valparaiso 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 1934. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in June.<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 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 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. These 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/>

Porter County is part of Indiana's 1st congressional district. In state government, Porter County is in Indiana Senate districts 4th, 5th and 6th; in Indiana House of Representatives districts 3rd, 4th, 10th, 19th and 20th.

For most of its history, Porter County was a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections. It has become a swing county in recent years, voting for the national winner in every presidential election since 1980 except for 1992 and 2020.

County elected officials

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Board of Commissioners: <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Jim Biggs (R, North District)
Barb Regnitz (R, Center District)
Laura Shurr Blaney (D, South District)

County Council: <ref>Official Porter County website</ref>

Mike Brickner, President (R, At-large)
Ronald "Red" Stone, Vice President (R, 1st)
Sylvia Graham (D, At Large)
Andy Bozak (R, At Large)
Andy Vasquez (R, 4th)
Jeremy Rivas (D, 2nd)
Greg Simms (D, 3rd)

Elected Officials:Template:Citation needed

Assessor: Sue Neff (R)
Auditor: Karen Martin (R)
Clerk: Jessica A. Bailey (D)
Coroner: Cyndi Dykes (R)
Prosecutor: Gary S. Germann (R)
Recorder: Chuck Harris (R)
Sheriff: Jeffery A. Balon (R)
Surveyor: Kevin D. Breitzke (D)
Treasurer: Michelle Clancy (D)

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Demographics

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2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 164,343 people, 61,998 households, and 43,901 families in the county.<ref name=DP>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 66,179 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name=DC>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% white, 3.0% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.5% of the population.<ref name=DP/> In terms of ancestry, 29.1% were German, 18.5% were Irish, 10.1% were Polish, 9.7% were English, 5.8% were Italian, and 5.6% were American.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 61,998 households, 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07. 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 $73,065. Males had a median income of $59,542 versus $35,534 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,922. About 6.6% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Places by population and race<ref>US Census Bureau. American Community Survey, Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics 2010, Table DP-1, 2010 Demographic Profile Data. U.S. Census website. Retrieved June 14, 2014.</ref>
Place	Population (2010)	White	Black or African American	Asian	Other <ref name="other" group=note>Other = Combined percentages for American Indian or Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; other races; and two or more races</ref>	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Porter County	164,343	91.3%	3.0%	1.2%	4.5%	8.5%
Aberdeen, CDP	1,875	91.1%	3.3%	2.6%	3.0%	5.4%
Template:Nowrap	613	96.6%	1.3%	0.3%	1.8%	2.8%
Burns Harbor, town	1,156	95.4%	1.8%	0.3%	2.5%	5.8%
Chesterton, town	13,068	92.7%	1.4%	2.1%	3.8%	6.9%
Dune Acres, town	182	95.1%	1.1%	2.2%	1.6%	1.6%
Hebron, town	3,724	95.9%	1.1%	0.4%	2.6%	6.1%
Kouts, town	1,879	97.6%	0.3%	0.6%	1.5%	5.1%
Lakes of the Four Seasons, CDP <ref name="lofs" group=note>Population is 3,097 within Porter County; 3,936 reside in Lake County</ref>	7,033	93.4%	1.2%	1.0%	4.4%	8.5%
Ogden Dunes, town	1,110	96.1%	1.1%	1.3%	1.5%	3.2%
Portage, city	36,828	83.6%	7.3%	0.9%	8.2%	16.4%
Porter, town	4,858	94.3%	1.1%	0.9%	3.7%	6.6%
Salt Creek Commons, CDP	2,117	94.2%	1.0%	1.6%	3.2%	8.3%
Shorewood Forest, CDP	2,708	89.4%	3.8%	4.0%	2.8%	3.7%
South Haven, CDP	5,282	91.3%	3.0%	0.3%	5.4%	9.8%
Town of Pines, town	708	93.9%	2.3%	0.3%	3.5%	3.1%
Valparaiso, city	31,730	89.9%	3.3%	2.1%	4.7%	7.1%
Wheeler, CDP	443	94.1%	0.9%	0.2%	4.8%	4.5%

Places by population and standard of living<ref>US Census Bureau. 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table DP03, Selected Economic Charactaristics. US Census website. Retrieved June 14, 2014.</ref><ref>US Census Bureau. 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04, Selected Housing Charactaristics. US Census website. Retrieved June 14, 2014.</ref>
Place	Population (2010)	Per capita income	Median household income	Median home value
Porter County	164,343	$28,244	$62,457	$166,600
Aberdeen, CDP	1,875	$46,604	$100,278	$303,200
Beverly Shores, town	613	$68,750	$39,906	$429,200
Burns Harbor, town	1,156	$26,337	$62,500	$149,700
Chesterton, town	13,068	$29,147	$64,183	$174,500
Dune Acres, town	182	$141,256	$161,875	$677,600
Hebron, town	3,724	$54,276	$23,027	$135,900
Kouts, town	1,879	$22,907	$61,087	$143,100
Lakes of the Four Seasons, CDP <ref name="lofs" group=note/>	7,033	$32,908	$84,242	$182,600
Ogden Dunes, town	1,110	$59,561	$106,406	$343,800
Portage, city	36,828	$23,892	$51,623	$137,700
Porter, town	4,858	$66,304	$32,210	$167,100
Salt Creek Commons, CDP	2,117	$18,778	$60,478	$114,800
Shorewood Forest, CDP	2,708	$49,743	$118,984	$327,400
South Haven, CDP	5,282	$19,355	$49,746	$110,800
Town of Pines, town	708	$20,255	$36,111	$96,600
Valparaiso, city	31,730	$24,894	$50,182	$165,200
Wheeler, CDP	443	$22,481	$58,229	$134,900

Cemeteries

Template:Main Maplewood Cemetery, next to Graceland in Valparaiso, has burials from the 1700s. The Bailly Cemetery was started in 1827.<ref>Bailly Cemetery, at Baileytown, near Porter, Westchester Township, Porter County Indiana; Cemetery of the Pioneer family of Honore Gratien Joseph Bailly de Messein and Marie LeFevre, Burials 1827 to 1918; compiled by Olga Mae Schiemann; Chicago, Illinois; 1952</ref> Additional cemeteries were created as the population grew. Early cemeteries were often family owned or church related. As communities grew, community cemeteries developed. The newest cemetery in the county is Angel Crest Cemetery north of Valparaiso, near Indiana State Road 49.

Parks

Porter County has grown from a single park, Sunset Hill Farm County Park, to four, including: Calumet Trail, Dunn's Bridge County Park, and the newest, Brincka Cross Gardens.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Brincka Cross Gardens Pine Township (Template:Convert)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Calumet Trail (Template:Convert long), parallel to U.S. 12, at the north end of the county. A mixed use trail for walking, running, biking and cross-country skiing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Dunn's Bridge County Park on the southern boundary of the county on County Road 500 East, Dunn's Bridge spans the Kankakee River to Jasper county. It is one of the oldest landmarks in the region. Built over a century ago across the Kankakee River by a resident farmer named Dunn, legend suggests its origins may be traced to the famous George Ferris, creator of the first 'Ferris Wheel'. The park provides small boat access to the Kankakee River and a parking lot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sunset Hill Farm County Park (Template:Convert). Built around the Col. Murray farm, the open meadows are used for festivals and events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cultural activities

Museums

Alton Goin Museum is operated by the Portage Community Historical Society at Countryside Park in Portage to preserve the city's history, including the Trager farmhouse.<ref name=IDCAG>Indiana Dunes Country Activities Guide, The Official Guide to Porter County, Indiana; The Indiana Dunes: 2015, p. 19</ref>
Bailly Homestead & Chellberg Farm is part of Indiana Dunes National Park.<ref name=IDCAG/>
Brauer Museum of Art is operated by Valparaiso University and is located in Valparaiso University Center for the Arts. It has the largest collection of works by Junius R. Sloan.<ref name=IDCAG/>
Depot of Beverly Shores Museum & Art Gallery is a pink stucco museum to preserve Beverly Shores history through rotating exhibits of paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and woodcarving.<ref name=IDCAG/>
Hour Glass House Museum has the works of local artists.<ref name=IDCAG/>
Porter County Museum of History maintains the history of Porter County.<ref name=IDCAG/>
Stagecoach Inn & Panhandle Depot is operated by the Hebron Historical Society in Hebron.<ref name=IDCAG/>
Westchester Township History Museum is operated by the Westchester Public Library and is located in the George Brown Mansion, the former home of a wealthy family that exhibits local history of the Indiana Dunes.<ref name=IDCAG/>
Task Force Tips Fire Museum is operated by Task Force Tips in Valparaiso to preserve the history of fire equipment.<ref name=IDCAG/>

Live Theater

4th Street Theater is a community theater in Chesterton.<ref name=IDCAG22>Indiana Dunes Country Activities Guide, The Official Guide to Porter County, Indiana; The Indiana Dunes: 2015, pp. 22-23</ref>
Chicago Street Theatre is a community theater in Valparaiso.<ref name=IDCAG22/>
Front Porch Music is a music supply store that offers a weekly 'open mic' night and sponsors concerts in Valparaiso.<ref name=IDCAG22/>
Memorial Opera House presents live theater and a variety of other monthly programs.<ref name=IDCAG22/>
Valparaiso Theatrical Company travels to different venues in Porter County presenting live theater with the proceeds benefitting a variety of charities.<ref name=IDCAG22/>
Valparaiso University Center for the Arts is the Valparaiso University's performing arts center.<ref name=IDCAG22/>