La Porte, Indiana

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City of La Porte, Indiana
Nickname: The Maple City
Location of La Porte in Indiana
Location of La Porte in Indiana
Coordinates: 41°36′33″N 86°43′3″W / 41.60917, -86.7175
Country United States
State Indiana
County LaPorte
Government
 - Mayor Kathleen A. Chroback (D)
Area
 - Total 12.2 sq mi (31.5 km²)
 - Land 11.5 sq mi (29.7 km²)
 - Water 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²)
Elevation 814 ft (248 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 21,621
 - Density 1,886.5/sq mi (728.4/km²)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 46350, 46352
Area code(s) 219
FIPS code 18-42246[1]
GNIS feature ID 0450449[2]
Website: [1],[2], and [3]

La Porte (French for "The Door") is a city in La Porte County, Indiana, United States, of which it is the county seat.[3] Its population was 21,621 at the 2000 census. It is one of the two principal cities of the Michigan City-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin Combined Statistical Area. La Porte is located in northwest Indiana, east of Gary, west of South Bend, and was first settled in 1830. The current mayor is Kathy Chroback, a Democrat serving her second term in 12 years. She was La Porte's first female mayor, and recently replaced Republican Leigh Morris.

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[edit] Geography

La Porte is located at 41°36′33″N, 86°43′3″W (41.609057, -86.717567)[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.5 km²), of which, 11.5 square miles (29.7 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (5.83%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 21,621 people, 8,916 households, and 5,545 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,886.8 people per square mile (728.4/km²). There were 9,667 housing units at an average density of 843.6/sq mi (325.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.60% White, 1.92% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 3.39% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.52% of the population.

There were 8,916 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

LaPorte County Courthouse, LaPorte, Indiana.
LaPorte County Courthouse, LaPorte, Indiana.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,376, and the median income for a family was $45,784. Males had a median income of $32,319 versus $22,756 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,900. About 7.7% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Features

The La Porte Community School Corporation has one high school (La Porte High School), two middle schools (Boston Middle School and Kesling Middle School), and eight elementary schools (Crichfield, Hailmann, Riley, Handley, Indian Trail, Kingsbury, Kingsford Heights and Lincoln). The LPCSC contains approximately 6,500 students.

LaPorte High School has won the most state titles in Indiana Baseball, 8.

La Porte has one daily newspaper, the Herald-Argus.

Radio stations in La Porte include WCOE, 96.7 FM, and WLOI, 1540 AM. La Porte receives its television broadcasts and other radio broadcasts from nearby Chicago and South Bend.

La Porte is twinned with Grangemouth, a town in Scotland, Great Britain.

The famous Advance-Rumely tractor company had a factory in LaPorte from which it made steam engines and eponymous green kerosene tractors.

[edit] Notable natives or residents

[edit] References

[edit] External links