Starke County, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Starke County is a county located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

. As of 2010, the population was 23,363. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 is Knox
Knox, Indiana
Knox is a city in Center Township, Starke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,704 at the 2010 census. Knox is also within the Chicago Metropolitan Area along with the City of Valparaiso. The city is the county seat of Starke County. The city was founded in 1851 and is named after...

.

History

Starke County was created in 1835 and organized in 1850. It was named for Gen. John Stark
John Stark
John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...

, who commanded New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...

 troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...

 in 1775 in the Revolutionary War and defeated the British at the Battle of Bennington
Battle of Bennington
The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about from its namesake Bennington, Vermont...

 in 1777.

Before white settlement, all of the land that forms modern-day Starke County and adjacent LaPorte County to the north belonged to the Potawatami Indian nation. These Indians were forcibly removed to Kansas by the United States government in 1838, and many died on what has been called the Trail of Death.

When Starke County was created, it included the area of land that today comprises the LaPorte County townships of Cass
Cass Township, LaPorte County, Indiana
Cass Township is one of twenty-one townships in LaPorte County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,677.-External links:* *...

, Dewey
Dewey Township, LaPorte County, Indiana
Dewey Township is one of twenty-one townships in LaPorte County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 970.-External links:* *...

, Hanna
Hanna Township, LaPorte County, Indiana
Hanna Township is one of twenty-one townships in LaPorte County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 993.-External links:* *...

, and Prairie
Prairie Township, LaPorte County, Indiana
Prairie Township is one of twenty-one townships in LaPorte County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 181.-External links:* *...

. It was necessary for residents in this area to travel some distance east to Lemon's Bridge to cross the Kankakee River
Kankakee River
The Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. At one time the river drained one of the largest wetlands in North America and furnished a significant portage between the Great Lakes and the...

 in order to travel south to the center of the county, the future site of the county seat at Knox. Therefore, because they were effectively isolated from the rest of Starke county, residents north of the river petitioned to be annexed to LaPorte county and this was done on January 28, 1842.

Name

Despite being named for Gen. John Stark and originally being known and appearing on maps as Stark County when initially created and organized, an e was added to the county's name fairly early in its history. There appears to be no solid evidence to clearly explain the alteration. There are at least three as yet unsubstantiated explanations for the change. It is possible that an early scribe had 'fancy lettering', including a k with a long tail or flourish that appeared to others as ke, the new spelling sticking. It has also been said that Gen. Stark himself used a similar flourish at the end of his signature which became a point of confusion to Indiana officials. This seems most unlikely when one considers that Stark counties in Ohio (1808) and Illinois (1839) both preceded Starke County's organization and offered clear precedence and guidance on the spelling of the name, not to mention other numerous settlements within the United States named after the General also predating Starke County. Lastly, and possibly most plausibly, it is thought that the change occurred around 1860 as the result of a clerical error by an official in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 312.21 square miles (808.6 km²), of which 309.13 square miles (800.6 km²) (or 99.01%) is land and 3.07 square miles (8 km²) (or 0.98%) is water. The northwestern boundary of Starke County is defined by the Kankakee River
Kankakee River
The Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. At one time the river drained one of the largest wetlands in North America and furnished a significant portage between the Great Lakes and the...

; the Yellow River
Yellow River (Indiana)
The Yellow River is a tributary of the Kankakee River in northern Indiana in the United States. Via the Kankakee and Illinois rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...

, a tributary of the Kankakee, flows through the central part of the county, past Knox.

Cities and towns

  • Hamlet
    Hamlet, Indiana
    Hamlet is a town in Davis and Oregon Townships, Starke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 800 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John Hamlet, who established the town in 1863.-Geography:...

  • Knox
    Knox, Indiana
    Knox is a city in Center Township, Starke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,704 at the 2010 census. Knox is also within the Chicago Metropolitan Area along with the City of Valparaiso. The city is the county seat of Starke County. The city was founded in 1851 and is named after...

  • North Judson
    North Judson, Indiana
    North Judson is a town in Wayne Township, Starke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,675 at the 2000 census. The town owns and is the headquarters of the Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad.-History:...


Unincorporated towns

  • Bass Lake
    Bass Lake, Indiana
    Bass Lake is a census-designated place in California and North Bend Townships, Starke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,249 at the 2000 census...

  • English Lake
    English Lake, Indiana
    English Lake is an unincorporated community in Starke County, Indiana, United States, located along the Kankakee River. It is a small community of only a few hundred individuals. It is named for English Lake, which once existed at the junction of the Yellow River with the Kankakee...

  • Grovertown
    Grovertown, Indiana
    Grovertown is an unincorporated community in southeastern Oregon Township, Starke County, Indiana, United States. It lies along State Road 23 northeast of the city of Knox, the county seat of Starke County. Its elevation is 725 feet , and it is located at...

  • Koontz Lake
    Koontz Lake, Indiana
    Koontz Lake is a census-designated place in Marshall and Starke Counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,554 at the 2000 census...

  • Ora
    Ora, Indiana
    Ora is an unincorporated community in southern North Bend Township, Starke County, Indiana, United States. It lies along CR750E southeast of the city of Knox, the county seat of Starke County. Its elevation is 718 feet , and it is located at . Although Ora is unincorporated, it has a post...

  • San Pierre
    San Pierre, Indiana
    San Pierre is a census-designated place in Starke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 156 at the 2000 census. In spite of being an unincorporated town, San Pierre has a post office, ZIP Code 46374.-History:...


Townships

  • California
    California Township, Starke County, Indiana
    California Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,116.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, California Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Aldine at * Bass...

  • Center
    Center Township, Starke County, Indiana
    Center Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 6,271.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Center Township covers an area of .-Unincorporated towns:* Brems at...

  • Davis
    Davis Township, Starke County, Indiana
    Davis Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,142.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Davis Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Adjacent townships:* Union Township, LaPorte County...

  • Jackson
    Jackson Township, Starke County, Indiana
    Jackson Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 526.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Jackson Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Adjacent townships:* Davis Township * Center...

  • North Bend
    North Bend Township, Starke County, Indiana
    North Bend Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,294.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, North Bend Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Ora at * Winona at...

  • Oregon
    Oregon Township, Starke County, Indiana
    Oregon Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 3,074.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Oregon Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Cities, towns, villages:* Hamlet * Koontz Lake...

  • Railroad
    Railroad Township, Starke County, Indiana
    Railroad Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,353.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Railroad Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water...

  • Washington
    Washington Township, Starke County, Indiana
    Washington Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,793.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Washington Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Oak Grove at *...

  • Wayne
    Wayne Township, Starke County, Indiana
    Wayne Township is one of nine townships in Starke County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,987.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Wayne Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Lena Park at Wayne Township...


Adjacent counties

  • LaPorte County
    LaPorte County, Indiana
    LaPorte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 111,467. The county seat is the city of La Porte. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, Northwest Indiana and Michiana. The largest city is Michigan City...

      (north)
  • St. Joseph County
    St. Joseph County, Indiana
    As of the census of 2000, there were 265,559 people, 100,743 households, and 66,792 families residing in the county. The population density was 581 people per square mile . There were 107,013 housing units at an average density of 234 per square mile...

      (northeast)
  • Marshall County
    Marshall County, Indiana
    As of the census of 2000, there were 45,128 people, 16,519 households, and 12,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 18,099 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...

      (east)
  • Fulton County
    Fulton County, Indiana
    As of the census of 2000, there were 20,511 people, 8,082 households, and 5,738 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 9,123 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...

      (southeast)
  • Pulaski County
    Pulaski County, Indiana
    As of the census of 2000, there were 13,755 people, 5,170 households, and 3,779 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 5,918 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...

      (south)
  • Jasper County
    Jasper County, Indiana
    As of the census of 2000, there were 30,043 people, 10,686 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,236 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...

     (west)
  • Porter County
    Porter County, Indiana
    Porter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 164,343. Much of the population growth has to do with the expansion of the Chicago Metropolitan Area eastward into Indiana. The county seat is Valparaiso...

     (northwest)

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Knox have ranged from a low of 14 °F (-10 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (28.9 °C) in July, although a record low of -29 °F was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 102 °F (38.9 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.68 inches (4.3 cm) in February to 4.09 inches (10.4 cm) in June.

Government

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana
Constitution of Indiana
There have been two Constitutions of the State of Indiana. The first constitution was created when the Territory of Indiana sent forty-three delegates to a constitutional convention on June 10, 1816 to establish a constitution for the proposed State of Indiana after the United States Congress had...

, and by the Indiana Code
Indiana Code
The Indiana Code is the code of laws for the US State of Indiana. The contents are the codification of the all the laws currently in effect within Indiana...

.

County Council: The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four year terms. They 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.

Board of Commissioners: 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 the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Court: The judge on the court is elected to a term of six years. The judge is assisted by a magistrate who is appointed by the judge. The court handles criminal and civil cases, and has a small claims division. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...

.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....

, coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...

, auditor, treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...

, recorder
Recorder of deeds
Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...

, surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

,, and circuit court clerk
Court clerk
A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...

. 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
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 affiliations and to be residents of the county.

Starke County is part of Indiana's 2nd congressional district
Indiana's 2nd congressional district
Indiana's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in South Bend, the district is located in north-central Indiana and takes in the Indiana portion of the Michiana region...

 and in 2008 was represented by Joe Donnelly
Joe Donnelly
Joseph Simon "Joe" Donnelly, Sr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Donnelly announced Monday May 9 that he would run for the United States Senate seat that is held by Republican Richard Lugar.-Early life, education and career:Joe Donnelly...

 in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 23,556 people, 8,740 households, and 6,450 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 76 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 10,201 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.52% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.22% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.24% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.20% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.74% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 1.05% from two or more races. 2.18% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 of any race. 25.2% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....

, 17.5% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, 11.0% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

, 8.2% Polish and 6.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 8,740 households out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,243, and the median income for a family was $42,355. Males had a median income of $32,779 versus $21,071 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the county was $16,466. About 8.80% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over. These numbers routinely rank among the lowest per capita incomes and highest poverty rates in the state of Indiana.
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