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Newton County, Indiana
Newton County Courthouse in Kentland
Newton County Courthouse in Kentland
Location in the state of Indiana
Location in the state of Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Indiana
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
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)
Area rank 43rd largest county in Indiana
 • Region 2,726 sq mi (7,060 km2)
Elevation
692 ft (211 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • County 14,244
 • Estimate 
(2018)
14,011
 • Rank 82nd largest county in Indiana
2,165th largest county in U.S.
 • Density 35.5/sq mi (13.7/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 I-65.svg US 24.svg US 41.svg US 52.svg
State Routes Indiana 10.svg Indiana 14.svg Indiana 16.svg Indiana 55.svg Indiana 71.svg Indiana 114.svg
Airport Kentland Municipal
Waterways Iroquois RiverKankakee River
Website www.newtoncounty.in.gov
  • Indiana county number 56
  • Second county in Indiana to bear this name
  • Youngest county in Indiana
Demographics (2010)
White Black Asian
96.2% 0.4% 0.3%
Islander Native Other Hispanic
(any race)
0.0% 0.3% 2.8% 5.0%

Newton County is a county located near the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 14,244. This county is part of Northwest Indiana as well as the Chicago metropolitan area. The county seat is Kentland. The county is divided into 10 townships which provide local services.

History

The 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.

Upon its re-creation, Newton County was the last county to be organized in Indiana.

Geography

According 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.

Newton County is the site of the Kentland crater, a probable meteorite impact crater located between Kentland and Goodland.

J.C. Murphy Lake is at the center of Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area.

Major highways

  • I-65.svg Interstate 65
  • US 24.svg U.S. Route 24
  • US 41.svg U.S. Route 41
  • US 52.svg U.S. Route 52
  • Indiana 10.svg State Road 10
  • Indiana 14.svg State Road 14
  • Indiana 16.svg State Road 16
  • Indiana 55.svg State Road 55
  • Indiana 71.svg State Road 71
  • Indiana 114.svg State Road 114

Railroads

Adjacent counties

Municipalities

The municipalities in Newton County, and their populations as of the 2010 Census, are:

Towns

3

Census-designated places

3

Townships

The 10 townships of Newton County, with their housing units as of the 2010 Census, are:

3

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Kentland, Indiana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
1.8
 
31
14
 
 
1.6
 
36
18
 
 
2.8
 
48
29
 
 
3.4
 
61
38
 
 
4.1
 
73
50
 
 
4.5
 
82
60
 
 
4
 
85
63
 
 
3.7
 
83
60
 
 
3.3
 
78
53
 
 
2.8
 
65
41
 
 
3.2
 
49
31
 
 
2.4
 
36
20
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

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.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
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%
2018 (est.) 14,011 −1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,244 people, 5,503 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county. 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). 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. 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.

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.

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.

Education

Public schools in Newton County are administered by two districts:

  • North Newton School Corporation [1]
  • South Newton School Corporation [2]

High Schools and Middle Schools

  • North Newton Junior-Senior High School [3]
  • South Newton High School [4]
  • South Newton Middle School [5]

Elementary Schools

  • Lake Village Elementary School [6]
  • Lincoln Elementary School [7]
  • Morocco Elementary School [8]
  • South Newton Elementary School [9]

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Newton (Indiana) para niños

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