Newton County, Indiana

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.[3] The county seat is Kentland.[4] The county is divided into 10 townships which provide local services.[5][6]

Newton County, Indiana
County
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
Country United States
State Indiana
OrganizedFebruary 7, 1835
Abolished1839
Re-organizedDecember 8, 1859
Named forSgt. John Newton
County seatKentland
Largest townKentland
(population and total area)
Incorporated
Municipalities
Five Towns
Government
 • TypeCounty
 • BodyBoard of Commissioners
 • CommissionerKyle Conrad (1st)
 • CommissionerTimothy Drenth (2nd)
 • CommissionerMickey Read (3rd)
Area
 • County403.44 sq mi (1,044.9 km2)
 • Land401.76 sq mi (1,040.6 km2)
 • Water1.68 sq mi (4.4 km2)
 • Metro
10,874 sq mi (28,160 km2)
Area rank43rd largest county in Indiana
 • Region2,726 sq mi (7,060 km2)
Elevation
692 ft (211 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • County14,244
 • Estimate 
(2018)
14,011
 • Rank82nd largest county in Indiana
2,165th largest county in U.S.[1]
 • Density35.5/sq mi (13.7/km2)
 • Region
819,537
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (Central)
ZIP Codes
46310, 46349, 46381, 47922, 47942-43, 47948, 47951, 47963, 47978
Area code219
Congressional district4th
Indiana Senate district6th
Indiana House of Representatives districts15th and 19th
FIPS code18-111
GNIS feature ID0450376
Interstate and U.S. Routes
State Routes
AirportKentland Municipal
WaterwaysIroquois River – Kankakee River
Websitewww.newtoncounty.in.gov
  • Indiana county number 56
  • Second county in Indiana to bear this name
  • Youngest county in Indiana
Demographics (2010)[2]
White Black Asian
96.2% 0.4% 0.3%
Islander Native Other Hispanic
(any race)
0.0% 0.3% 2.8% 5.0%

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.[7]

Upon its re-creation, Newton County was the last of Indiana's 92 counties to be organized.

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.[8]

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
  • 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

Adjacent counties

Municipalities

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

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships

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

Climate and weather
Kentland, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[9]

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
See also: Government of Indiana

The 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.[6] 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]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 70.4% 4,077 24.2% 1,404 5.4% 314
2012 58.0% 3,291 39.0% 2,212 3.0% 169
2008 54.5% 3,301 43.4% 2,625 2.1% 128
2004 64.2% 3,757 34.8% 2,032 1.0% 59
2000 59.0% 3,250 38.1% 2,101 2.9% 159
1996 43.1% 2,075 39.4% 1,897 17.4% 838
1992 43.0% 2,295 32.9% 1,757 24.2% 1,292
1988 65.0% 3,274 34.6% 1,744 0.3% 17
1984 68.5% 3,560 30.7% 1,596 0.7% 38
1980 66.8% 3,850 28.6% 1,649 4.6% 264
1976 58.4% 3,204 40.8% 2,236 0.8% 43
1972 75.0% 3,771 24.9% 1,252 0.1% 5
1968 61.8% 3,145 28.5% 1,453 9.7% 495
1964 52.1% 2,780 47.7% 2,547 0.2% 13
1960 65.1% 3,517 34.6% 1,870 0.3% 14
1956 74.5% 3,890 25.2% 1,316 0.3% 16
1952 74.8% 4,159 24.7% 1,373 0.5% 29
1948 68.4% 3,312 30.6% 1,483 1.0% 50
1944 67.9% 3,398 31.6% 1,583 0.5% 23
1940 62.3% 3,536 37.3% 2,116 0.4% 22
1936 54.3% 2,937 44.9% 2,430 0.8% 41
1932 46.7% 2,380 52.0% 2,654 1.3% 68
1928 64.5% 3,053 34.8% 1,649 0.7% 33
1924 60.4% 2,705 34.0% 1,523 5.7% 253
1920 64.4% 3,129 34.2% 1,664 1.4% 68
1916 47.6% 1,377 44.2% 1,278 8.3% 239
1912 34.1% 892 36.9% 965 29.0% 757
1908 56.5% 1,645 40.9% 1,190 2.7% 78
1904 62.2% 1,803 32.8% 951 5.0% 144
1900 57.5% 1,715 39.0% 1,165 3.5% 105
1896 55.6% 1,545 43.4% 1,204 1.0% 28
1892 52.5% 1,191 38.7% 879 8.8% 199
1888 57.7% 1,283 38.7% 860 3.7% 82

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18602,360—
18705,829147.0%
18808,16740.1%
18908,8037.8%
190010,44818.7%
191010,5040.5%
192010,144−3.4%
19309,841−3.0%
194010,7759.5%
195011,0062.1%
196011,5024.5%
197011,6060.9%
198014,84427.9%
199013,551−8.7%
200014,5667.5%
201014,244−2.2%
2018 (est.)14,011[16]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19]
1990-2000[20] 2010-2013[3]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,244 people, 5,503 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county.[21] 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).[8] 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.[21] 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.[22]

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.[21]

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.[23]

Education

Public schools in Newton County are administered by two districts:

High Schools and Middle Schools

Elementary Schools

  • Lake Village Elementary School
  • Lincoln Elementary School
  • Morocco Elementary School
  • South Newton Elementary School

See also

Bibliography
  • George Pence and Nellie C. Armstrong (1933). Indiana Boundaries: Territory, State, and County. Indiana Historical Society.

References
  1. "USA Counties in Profile". STATS Indiana. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  2. 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 2014-06-29.
  3. "Newton County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  4. "Find a County – Newton County, IN". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  5. "Newton". Indiana Township Association. Archived from the original on 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  6. "Duties". United Township Association of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  7. De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. pp. 581.
  8. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  9. "Monthly Averages for Kentland, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  10. Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". Government of Indiana. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  11. Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). Government of Indiana. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  12. "Government". United Township Association of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  13. "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  14. "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  16. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  17. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  18. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  19. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  20. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  21. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  22. "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 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  23. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
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