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Newton County, Indiana
—  County  —
Newton County Courthouse in Kentland from southeast
Newton County Courthouse in Kentland
Map of Indiana highlighting Newton County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of USA IN
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Country Flag of the United States United States
State Flag of Indiana 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
 • 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)
Area rank 43rd largest county in Indiana
 • Region 2,726 sq mi (7,060 km2)
Elevation 692 ft (211 m)
Population (2020)
 • County 13,830
 • Rank 82nd largest county in Indiana
2,165th largest county in U.S.[1]
 • Density 35.5/sq mi (13.7/km2)
 • Region 819,537
Time zone Central (UTC−6)
 • Summer (DST) Central (UTC−5)
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 US 24 US 41 US 52
State Routes Indiana 10 Indiana 14 Indiana 16 Indiana 55 Indiana 71 Indiana 114
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)[2]
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%

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

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[]

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

Railroads[]

  • CSX Transportation
  • Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway

Adjacent counties[]

Municipalities[]

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

Towns[]

  • Brook – 997
  • Goodland – 1,043
  • Kentland – 1,748
  • Morocco – 1,129
  • Mount Ayr – 122

Census-designated places[]

Other unincorporated places[]

  • Ade
  • Beaver City
  • Conrad
  • Effner
  • Enos
  • Foresman
  • Newton
  • Pembroke
  • Perkins
  • Sumava Resorts
  • Thayer

Townships[]

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

  • Beaver
  • Colfax
  • Grant
  • Iroquois
  • Jackson
  • Jefferson
  • Lake
  • Lincoln
  • McClellan
  • Washington

Climate and weather[]

Climate chart for Kentland, Indiana
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.76
 
31
14
 
 
1.60
 
36
18
 
 
2.77
 
48
29
 
 
3.37
 
61
38
 
 
4.05
 
73
50
 
 
4.51
 
82
60
 
 
4.03
 
85
63
 
 
3.67
 
83
60
 
 
3.25
 
78
53
 
 
2.84
 
65
41
 
 
3.20
 
49
31
 
 
2.43
 
36
20
temperatures in °Cprecipitation totals in mm
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 (−31.7 °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[]

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]

United States presidential election results for Newton County, Indiana[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
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[]

Historical populations
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%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2020[3]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,244 people, 5,503 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county.[20] 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.[20] 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.[21]

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.[20]

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.[22]

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[]

Commons-logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Newton County, Indiana

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. http://www.stats.indiana.edu/uspr/a/us_profile_frame.html. 
  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. ^ a b "Newton County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18111.html. 
  4. ^ "Find a County – Newton County, IN". National Association of Counties. http://www.uscounties.org/cffiles_web/counties/county.cfm?id=18111. 
  5. ^ "Newton". Indiana Township Association. http://indianatownshipassoc.org/component/option,com_mtree/task,listcats/cat_id,180/Itemid,76/. 
  6. ^ a b "Duties". United Township Association of Indiana. http://unitedtownships.org/?page_id=22. 
  7. ^ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co.. pp. 581. https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog. 
  8. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18111. 
  9. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Kentland, Indiana". The Weather Channel. http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0320. 
  10. ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". Government of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html. 
  11. ^ a b c d Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). Government of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf. 
  12. ^ "Government". United Township Association of Indiana. http://unitedtownships.org/?page_id=95. 
  13. ^ "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm. 
  14. ^ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm. 
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  16. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  17. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  18. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt. 
  19. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  20. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18111. 
  21. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18111. 
  22. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18111. 

External links[]


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Newton County, Indiana. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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