LaGrange County, Indiana

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LaGrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 40,446.[1] The county seat is LaGrange, Indiana.[2] The county is located in the Northern Indiana region known as Michiana and is about Script error: No such module "convert". east of South Bend, Script error: No such module "convert". west of Toledo, Ohio, and Script error: No such module "convert". northeast of Indianapolis. The area is well known for its large Amish population.[3] For that reason, the county teams up with neighboring Elkhart County to promote tourism by referring to the area as Northern Indiana Amish Country.[4] About half of LaGrange County is Amish,[1] and it is home to the third-largest Amish community in the United States, which belongs to the Elkhart-LaGrange Amish affiliation.

History

The first settlement of LaGrange County was founded about a half mile west of Lima in 1828.[5] Over the next four years, settlers flocked to parts of Lima, Springfield, and Van Buren Townships. Finally in 1832, LaGrange County was carved out of neighboring Elkhart County and established with Lima as the county seat.[6] The town of LaGrange was platted in 1836 and settled in 1842 as the new county seat, closer to the center of the county.[7] Lima's name was changed to Howe in 1909.[6] LaGrange was laid out and platted in 1836.[8]

LaGrange County's initial settlers were Yankee immigrants, that is to say, they were from New England. They were descended from the English Puritans who settled that region in the colonial era. They were part of a wave of New England settlers moving west into what was then the Northwest Territory after the completion of the Erie Canal. The original settlers in LaGrange County specifically hailed from the Massachusetts counties of Worcester County, Suffolk County and Berkshire County; the Connecticut counties of Hartford County and Windham County as well as the Connecticut towns of Sherman, Lebanon and Fairfield; and from the Vermont towns of Burlington, Brookfield, Huntington and Grand Isle. They were mainly members of the Congregational Church, but as a result of the Second Great Awakening, many became Baptists and many also converted to Pentecostalism and Methodism. When they arrived in LaGrange County, there was nothing but a virgin forest and wild prairie. The New England settlers cleared roads, built farms, constructed churches, erected government buildings, and established post routes. As a result of this migration, LaGrange County was culturally continuous with early New England culture for many years.[9]

In 1837, the government removed Chief Shipshewana and the Potawatomi Tribe from the county's northwest corner. Several years later, the Chief was allowed to return and died in Newbury Township in 1841.[6] A town named Georgetown had been platted in 1837 but was abandoned because of lack of development. In 1844, the first Amish came from Pennsylvania to settle around the old town. The village continued to grow, and the town of Shipshewana was platted nearby in 1899 and incorporated in 1916 in Newbury Township.[6]

LaGrange County was named after the Château de la Grange-Bléneau, home of Revolutionary War hero, the Marquis de la Fayette, outside of Paris, France.[10]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". (or 98.17%) is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (or 1.83%) is water.[11]

The county is mostly made up of rural farmland but also some rolling hills and several lakes.

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

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Climate and weather

LaGrange, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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2.9
 
 
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34
20
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[12]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in LaGrange have ranged from a low of Script error: No such module "convert". in January to a high of Script error: No such module "convert". in July, although a record low of Script error: No such module "convert". was recorded in December 2000 and a record high of Script error: No such module "convert". was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Script error: No such module "convert". in February to Script error: No such module "convert". in June.[12]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
18403,664—
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186011,366Script error: No such module "String".%
187014,148Script error: No such module "String".%
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191015,148Script error: No such module "String".%
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193013,780Script error: No such module "String".%
194014,352Script error: No such module "String".%
195015,347Script error: No such module "String".%
196017,380Script error: No such module "String".%
197020,890Script error: No such module "String".%
198025,550Script error: No such module "String".%
199029,477Script error: No such module "String".%
200034,909Script error: No such module "String".%
201037,128Script error: No such module "String".%
202040,446Script error: No such module "String".%
2024 (est.)41,122Script error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15]
1990–2000[16] 2010[17] 2020[1] 2024[18]

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Racial and ethnic composition

LaGrange County, Indiana - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop. 2010[19] Pop. 2020[20] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 35,290 37,834 95.05% 93.54%
Black or African American alone (NH) 109 92 0.29% 0.23%
Asian alone (NH) 118 74 0.32% 0.18%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 65 50 0.17% 0.12%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 1 0.00% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 8 33 0.02% 0.08%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 220 629 0.59% 1.55%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,317 1,733 3.55% 4.28%
Total 37,128 40,446 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 40,446. The median age was 30.8 years. 33.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.8 males age 18 and over.[21][22]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.6% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.3% of the population.[22]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[23]

There were 12,676 households in the county, of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 65.7% were married-couple households, 13.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[21]

There were 14,845 housing units, of which 14.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.6% were owner-occupied and 17.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.[21]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 37,128 people, 11,598 households, and 9,106 families residing in the county.[24] The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 14,094 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert"..[11] The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.7% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.[24] In terms of ancestry, 36.1% were German, 13.3% were American, 6.4% were Irish, and 6.4% were English.[25]

Of the 11,598 households, 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 21.5% were non-families, and 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.17, and the average family size was 3.66. The median age was 30.4 years.[24]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $53,793. Males had a median income of $40,960 versus $29,193 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,388. About 12.1% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.[26]

Amish community

File:Jrb 20071024 Mennonite Amish buggy Shipshewana Indiana.JPG
Amish buggy rides are offered in tourist-oriented Shipshewana, Indiana

Approximately 43% of the population of LaGrange County is Amish, as the county is home to the third-largest Amish community in the United States and belongs to the Elkhart-LaGrange Amish affiliation. This is reflected in the linguistic situation in the county: 28.45% of the population report speaking German, Pennsylvania German, or Dutch at home.[27] 68.5% of the total population and 61.29% of the children in 5-17 age group used English as their home language, according to 2000 Census. The Amish languages (German, Pennsylfaansch, and Dutch) were used by 28.47% of the total population and 35.77% of them.[28]

As of 2020 census, Terry Martin, president of the LaGrange County Commissioners, said that "the Amish-English ratio is about 50-50", also adding that the nearly 9% growth, or 3,318 people [between 2010 and 2020 censuses], was mainly due to the increasing Amish population.[1]

Religion

Template:Pie chart *"Nones" is an unclear category.[29][30] It is a heterogenous group of the not religious and intermittently religious.[31] Researchers argue that most of the "Nones" should be considered "unchurched", rather than objectively nonreligious;[30][32][33][34] especially since most "Nones" do hold some religious-spiritual beliefs and a notable amount participate in religious behaviors.[30][32][35][36] For example, 72% of American "Nones" believe in God or a Higher Power.[37]

Communities

Towns

Townships

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Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

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Economy

The economy is based mainly on agriculture and small shops, but tourism also plays a big role, especially in Shipshewana.

Government

The county is led by a board of three elected commissioners that serve as the county government's executive branch. The county council comprises 7 elected members – four from each council district and 3 at large. Also, one assessor serves the entire county as opposed to one for every township.

The current county commissioners are:[38]

  • North District: Terry Martin
  • Middle District: Kevin Myers
  • South District: Peter Cook

The current county council members are:[39]

  • Charles F. Ashcraft D - District 1
  • Ryan Riegsecker R- District 2
  • Harold Gingerich R - District 3
  • Jim Young R - District 4
  • Jeff Brill R - At Large
  • Steve McKowen R - At Large
  • Mike Strawser R - At Large

LaGrange County is part of Indiana's 3rd congressional district; Indiana Senate district 13;[40] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 18 and 52.[41]

LaGrange County has consistently been a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections. In only three elections since 1888 has a Republican candidate failed to win the county, most recently in 1964. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Education

File:Prairie Heights High School, Indiana.jpg
Prairie Heights High School, just off U.S. Route 20 near the Steuben County line.

The county has three public school districts.

Public schools

The Lakeland School Corporation serve the central part of the county. The system includes Lakeland Primary: Grades (K–2), Lakeland Intermediate: grades (3–6), and Lakeland Jr/Sr High: grades (7–12).

The Prairie Heights School Corporation serves the east side of the county and parts of Steuben County. The mascot of Prairie Heights School is a black panther.

The Westview School Corporation serves the west portion of the county. This system consists of Meadowview Elementary, Shipshewana-Scott Elementary, Topeka Elementary (all K–4); Westview Elementary (5–6); and Westview Jr-Sr High School (7–12).[42]

Private schools

Several Amish schools are located across the county.

Public library

LaGrange County is served by the LaGrange County Public Library, with branches in LaGrange, Shipshewana, and Topeka.[43]

See also

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  4. ↑ Welcome to Northern Indiana Amish Country
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b c d http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlagran/lghist.html Template:User-generated source
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ The expansion of New England: the spread of New England settlement and institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620-1865 by Lois Kimball Matthews p. 201
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  22. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  24. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ https://www.westview.k12.in.us/
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Further reading

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  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (Template:Trim History of Northeast Indiana: LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties at the Internet Archive)

External links

Template:Geographic Location

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