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Whitley County, Indiana facts for kids

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Whitley County
Whitley County courthouse in Columbia City
Whitley County courthouse in Columbia City
Map of Indiana highlighting Whitley County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Indiana
Founded 7 February 1835 (authorized)
1838 (organized)
Named for William Whitley
Seat Columbia City
Largest city Columbia City
Area
 • Total 337.91 sq mi (875.2 km2)
 • Land 335.57 sq mi (869.1 km2)
 • Water 2.34 sq mi (6.1 km2)  0.69%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2020)
34,191
 • Density 101.6/sq mi (39.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 3rd
Indiana county number 92

Whitley County is a rural county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 34,191. Whitley County is the 49th largest county in Indiana. The county seat (and only incorporated city) is Columbia City. The county has the highest county number (92) on Indiana license plates, as it is alphabetically the last in the state's list of counties. It is part of the Fort Wayne Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Fort WayneHuntingtonAuburn Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 337.91 square miles (875.2 km2), of which 335.57 square miles (869.1 km2) (or 99.31%) is land and 2.34 square miles (6.1 km2) (or 0.69%) is water.

Adjacent counties

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated places

Townships

Major highways

  • US 24.svg U.S. Route 24
  • US 30.svg U.S. Route 30
  • US 33.svg U.S. Route 33
  • Indiana 5.svg Indiana State Road 5
  • Indiana 9.svg Indiana State Road 9
  • Indiana 14.svg Indiana State Road 14
  • Indiana 105.svg Indiana State Road 105
  • Indiana 109.svg Indiana State Road 109
  • Indiana 114.svg Indiana State Road 114
  • Indiana 205.svg Indiana State Road 205

History

The first non-Native American settlers arrived in what is now Whitley County in 1835. They arrived as a result of the end of the Black Hawk War as well as the completion of the Erie Canal. They consisted entirely of settlers from New England. These were "Yankee" settlers, that is to say they were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era. They were primarily members of the Congregational Church though due to the Second Great Awakening many of them had converted to Methodism and some had become Baptists before coming to what is now Whitley County. When the New England settlers arrived in what is now Whitley County there was nothing but a dense virgin forest and wild prairie. Whitley County was formed in 1838. It was named for Col. William Whitley, who was killed in the Battle of the Thames in the War of 1812. In the late 1870s immigrants began arriving from Germany and Ireland.

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Columbia City, Indiana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
2.1
 
31
14
 
 
1.8
 
35
18
 
 
2.9
 
46
27
 
 
3.7
 
58
37
 
 
3.7
 
70
48
 
 
4.4
 
79
58
 
 
3.8
 
83
62
 
 
3.6
 
81
59
 
 
3.5
 
74
51
 
 
2.8
 
62
40
 
 
3.3
 
48
31
 
 
2.9
 
36
21
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in Columbia City have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 83 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.80 inches (46 mm) in February to 4.44 inches (113 mm) in June.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 1,237
1850 5,190 319.6%
1860 10,730 106.7%
1870 14,399 34.2%
1880 16,941 17.7%
1890 17,768 4.9%
1900 17,328 −2.5%
1910 16,892 −2.5%
1920 15,660 −7.3%
1930 15,931 1.7%
1940 17,001 6.7%
1950 18,828 10.7%
1960 20,954 11.3%
1970 23,395 11.6%
1980 26,215 12.1%
1990 27,651 5.5%
2000 30,707 11.1%
2010 33,292 8.4%
2015 (est.) 33,406 0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 33,292 people, 13,001 households, and 9,228 families residing in the county. The population density was 99.2 inhabitants per square mile (38.3/km2). There were 14,281 housing units at an average density of 42.6 per square mile (16.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 38.2% were German, 12.6% were Irish, 12.5% were American, and 9.3% were English.

Of the 13,001 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, and 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 40.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $63,487. Males had a median income of $44,883 versus $30,724 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,644. About 5.1% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

See also

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

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