Newton County is a county located near the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 13,830. This county is part of Northwest Indiana as well as the Chicago metropolitan area.[2] The county seat is Kentland.[3] The county is divided into 10 townships which provide local services.[4][5]
Newton County, Indiana | |
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![]() Newton County Courthouse in Kentland | |
![]() Location in the state of Indiana | |
![]() Indiana's location in the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 40°57′N 87°24′W / 40.950°N 87.400°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Organized | February 7, 1835 |
Abolished | 1839 |
Re-organized | December 8, 1859 |
Named for | Sgt. John Newton |
County seat | Kentland |
Largest town | Kentland (population and total area) |
Incorporated Municipalities | |
Government | |
• Type | County |
• Body | Board of Commissioners |
• Commissioner | Kyle Conrad (1st) |
• Commissioner | Timothy Drenth (2nd) |
• Commissioner | Mickey Read (3rd) |
Area | |
• County | 403.44 sq mi (1,044.9 km2) |
• Land | 401.76 sq mi (1,040.6 km2) |
• Water | 1.68 sq mi (4.4 km2) |
• Metro | 10,874 sq mi (28,160 km2) |
• Rank | 43rd largest county in Indiana |
• Region | 2,726 sq mi (7,060 km2) |
Elevation | 692 ft (211 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• County | 13,830 |
• Estimate (2023) | 13,960 ![]() |
• Rank | 82nd largest county in Indiana |
• Density | 34/sq mi (13/km2) |
• Region | 819,537 |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (Central) |
ZIP Codes | 46310, 46349, 46381, 47922, 47942-43, 47948, 47951, 47963, 47978 |
Area code | 219 |
Congressional district | 4th |
Indiana Senate district | 6th |
Indiana House of Representatives districts | 15th and 19th |
FIPS code | 18-111 |
GNIS feature ID | 0450376 |
Interstate and U.S. Routes | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
State Routes | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Airport | Kentland Municipal
|
Waterways | Iroquois River – Kankakee River |
Website | www.newtoncounty.in.gov |
|
Demographic | Proportion |
---|---|
White | 96.2% |
Black | 0.4% |
Asian | 0.3% |
Islander | 0.0% |
Native | 0.3% |
Other | 2.8% |
Hispanic (any race) |
5.0% |
History
editThe original Newton County was formed by statute on February 7, 1835, and was a roughly square area some 30 miles on a side, encompassing what is now the northern half of the county, the northern half of Jasper County, and a large section to the north. The northern border was cut back to the Kankakee River on February 1, 1836, with all land north of the Kankakee River going to Lake and Porter counties. The county was abolished and combined with Jasper County in 1839. On December 8, 1859, the county was re-created and the borders were redrawn to essentially their current state.
Newton County is named after Sgt. John Newton, who served under Gen. Francis Marion (the "Swamp Fox") in the American Revolutionary War. It is adjacent to Jasper County, which was named after Sgt. William Jasper, whose story is similar. At least four other states, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas, have adjacent Jasper and Newton Counties, as though these two were remembered as a pair.[6]
Upon its re-creation, Newton County was the last of Indiana's 92 counties to be organized.
Geography
editAccording to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 403.44 square miles (1,044.9 km2), of which 401.76 square miles (1,040.6 km2) (or 99.58%) is land and 1.68 square miles (4.4 km2) (or 0.42%) is water.[7]
Beaver Lake, once Indiana's largest lake before being drained, existed in what is now Newton County.[8]
J.C. Murphy Lake is at the center of Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area.
Newton County is the site of the Kentland crater, a probable meteorite impact crater located between Kentland and Goodland.
Major highways
edit- Interstate 65
- U.S. Route 24
- U.S. Route 41
- U.S. Route 52
- State Road 10
- State Road 14
- State Road 16
- State Road 55
- State Road 71
- State Road 114
Railroads
editAdjacent counties
edit- Lake County (north)
- Jasper County (east)
- Benton County (south/ET Border)
- Iroquois County, Illinois (west)
- Kankakee County, Illinois (northwest)
Municipalities
editThe municipalities in Newton County, and their populations as of the 2010 Census, are:
Towns
editCensus-designated places
edit- Lake Village – 765
- Roselawn – 4,131
Other unincorporated places
editTownships
editThe 10 townships of Newton County, with their housing units as of the 2010 Census, are:
Climate and weather
editKentland, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In recent years, average temperatures in Kentland have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, with a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.60 inches (41 mm) in February to 4.51 inches (115 mm) in June.[9]
Government
editThe county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana and the Indiana Code. The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms and are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget and special spending. The council also 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.[10][11]
The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue and managing day-to-day functions of the county government.[10][11]
The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some 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 elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[11]
The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and circuit court clerk. Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and be residents of the county.[11]
Each of the townships has a trustee who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief and manages cemetery care, among other duties.[5] The trustee is assisted in these duties by a three-member township board. The trustees and board members are elected to four-year terms.[12]
Newton County is part of Indiana's 4th congressional district. It is part of Indiana Senate district 6[13] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 15 and 19.[14]
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 4,942 | 74.78% | 1,509 | 22.83% | 158 | 2.39% |
2016 | 4,077 | 69.57% | 1,404 | 23.96% | 379 | 6.47% |
2012 | 3,291 | 58.02% | 2,212 | 39.00% | 169 | 2.98% |
2008 | 3,301 | 54.53% | 2,625 | 43.36% | 128 | 2.11% |
2004 | 3,757 | 64.24% | 2,032 | 34.75% | 59 | 1.01% |
2000 | 3,250 | 58.98% | 2,101 | 38.13% | 159 | 2.89% |
1996 | 2,075 | 43.14% | 1,897 | 39.44% | 838 | 17.42% |
1992 | 2,295 | 42.95% | 1,757 | 32.88% | 1,292 | 24.18% |
1988 | 3,274 | 65.02% | 1,744 | 34.64% | 17 | 0.34% |
1984 | 3,560 | 68.54% | 1,596 | 30.73% | 38 | 0.73% |
1980 | 3,850 | 66.81% | 1,649 | 28.61% | 264 | 4.58% |
1976 | 3,204 | 58.44% | 2,236 | 40.78% | 43 | 0.78% |
1972 | 3,771 | 75.00% | 1,252 | 24.90% | 5 | 0.10% |
1968 | 3,145 | 61.75% | 1,453 | 28.53% | 495 | 9.72% |
1964 | 2,780 | 52.06% | 2,547 | 47.70% | 13 | 0.24% |
1960 | 3,517 | 65.12% | 1,870 | 34.62% | 14 | 0.26% |
1956 | 3,890 | 74.49% | 1,316 | 25.20% | 16 | 0.31% |
1952 | 4,159 | 74.79% | 1,373 | 24.69% | 29 | 0.52% |
1948 | 3,312 | 68.36% | 1,483 | 30.61% | 50 | 1.03% |
1944 | 3,398 | 67.91% | 1,583 | 31.63% | 23 | 0.46% |
1940 | 3,536 | 62.32% | 2,116 | 37.29% | 22 | 0.39% |
1936 | 2,937 | 54.31% | 2,430 | 44.93% | 41 | 0.76% |
1932 | 2,380 | 46.65% | 2,654 | 52.02% | 68 | 1.33% |
1928 | 3,053 | 64.48% | 1,649 | 34.83% | 33 | 0.70% |
1924 | 2,705 | 60.37% | 1,523 | 33.99% | 253 | 5.65% |
1920 | 3,129 | 64.37% | 1,664 | 34.23% | 68 | 1.40% |
1916 | 1,377 | 47.58% | 1,278 | 44.16% | 239 | 8.26% |
1912 | 892 | 34.12% | 965 | 36.92% | 757 | 28.96% |
1908 | 1,645 | 56.47% | 1,190 | 40.85% | 78 | 2.68% |
1904 | 1,803 | 62.22% | 951 | 32.82% | 144 | 4.97% |
1900 | 1,715 | 57.45% | 1,165 | 39.03% | 105 | 3.52% |
1896 | 1,545 | 55.64% | 1,204 | 43.36% | 28 | 1.01% |
1892 | 1,191 | 52.49% | 879 | 38.74% | 199 | 8.77% |
1888 | 1,283 | 57.66% | 860 | 38.65% | 82 | 3.69% |
Demographics
editCensus | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 2,360 | — | |
1870 | 5,829 | 147.0% | |
1880 | 8,167 | 40.1% | |
1890 | 8,803 | 7.8% | |
1900 | 10,448 | 18.7% | |
1910 | 10,504 | 0.5% | |
1920 | 10,144 | −3.4% | |
1930 | 9,841 | −3.0% | |
1940 | 10,775 | 9.5% | |
1950 | 11,006 | 2.1% | |
1960 | 11,502 | 4.5% | |
1970 | 11,606 | 0.9% | |
1980 | 14,844 | 27.9% | |
1990 | 13,551 | −8.7% | |
2000 | 14,566 | 7.5% | |
2010 | 14,244 | −2.2% | |
2020 | 13,830 | −2.9% | |
2023 (est.) | 13,960 | [16] | 0.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census[17] 1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19] 1990-2000[20] 2010[21] |
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,244 people, 5,503 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county.[22] The population density was 35.5 inhabitants per square mile (13.7/km2). There were 6,030 housing units at an average density of 15.0 per square mile (5.8/km2).[7] The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.8% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.0% of the population.[22] In terms of ancestry, 30.4% were German, 16.9% were Irish, 11.0% were English, 8.1% were Polish, 7.6% were Dutch, and 6.5% were American.[23]
Of the 5,503 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.3% were non-families, and 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 42.4 years.[22]
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $60,242. Males had a median income of $45,389 versus $29,891 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,055. About 4.8% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[24]
Education
editPublic schools in Newton County are administered by two districts:
High Schools and Middle Schools
- North Newton Junior-Senior High School[27]
- South Newton High School[28]
- South Newton Middle School[29]
Elementary Schools
See also
editBibliography
edit- George Pence and Nellie C. Armstrong (1933). Indiana Boundaries: Territory, State, and County. Indiana Historical Society.
References
edit- ^ U.S. 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 29, 2014.
- ^ "Newton County, Indiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County – Newton County, IN". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
- ^ "Newton". Indiana Township Association. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
- ^ a b "Duties". United Township Association of Indiana. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
- ^ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. pp. 581.
- ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ Dobberstein, Michael (2020). "The Selling of Beaver Lake, 1853–1889: How the Largest Lake in Indiana Disappeared". Indiana Magazine of History. 116 (2): 122. doi:10.2979/indimagahist.116.2.02 – via Academic Search Complete.
- ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Kentland, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". Government of Indiana. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). Government of Indiana. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
- ^ "Government". United Township Association of Indiana. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
- ^ "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ "Newton County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
- ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ "North Newton School Corporation – Our mission is for North Newton graduates to be productive and responsible citizens capable of solving problems and communicating effectively".
- ^ "South Newton School Corporation". www.newton.k12.in.us.
- ^ "School Website, CMS & Communications Platform | Finalsite".
- ^ South Newton High School
- ^ South Newton Middle School
- ^ "School Website, CMS & Communications Platform | Finalsite".
- ^ "School Website, CMS & Communications Platform | Finalsite".
- ^ "School Website, CMS & Communications Platform | Finalsite".
- ^ South Newton Elementary School