Newton County, Indiana

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Newton County, Indiana
Map
Map of Indiana highlighting Newton County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the U.S. highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 8 December 1859
Seat Kentland
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

404 sq mi (1,046 km²)
402 sq mi (1,041 km²)
2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.42%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

14,566
36/sq mi (14/km²)
Website: www.newtoncountyin.com

Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population is 14,566. The county seat is Kentland[1].

Contents

[edit] 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 sections 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 recreated 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. Other states, including Texas, have adjacent Newton and Jasper Counties, as though these two were remembered as a pair.

Newton County was the last county to be organized in Indiana.

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 404 square miles (1,045 km²), of which 402 square miles (1,041 km²) is land and 2 square miles (4 km²) (0.42%) is water.

[edit] Kentland crater

Newton County is the site of the Kentland crater, a probable meteorite impact crater located between Kentland and Goodland.

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Railroads

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Demographics

Newton County
Population by year

2000 14,566
1990 13,551
1980 14,844
1970 11,606
1960 11,502
1950 11,006
1940 10,775
1930 9,841
1920 10,144
1910 10,504
1900 10,448
1890 8,803
1880 8,167
1870 5,829
1860 2,360

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 14,566 people, 5,340 households, and 3,999 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 5,726 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.33% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 2.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.6% were of German, 14.3% American, 11.8% Irish, 10.0% English and 7.7% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,340 households out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 20.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,944, and the median income for a family was $46,741. Males had a median income of $36,152 versus $20,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,755. About 4.80% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.20% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Cities and towns

[edit] Townships

[edit] Education

Public schools in Newton County are administered by the North Newton School Corporation and the South Newton School Corporation.

High Schools and Middle Schools

  • North Newton Junior-Senior High School [1]
  • South Newton High School [2]
  • South Newton Middle School [3]

Elementary Schools

  • Lake Village Elementary School [4]
  • Lincoln Elementary School [5]
  • Morocco Elementary School [6]
  • South Newton Elementary School [7]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Forstall, Richard L. (editor) (1996). Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division. ISBN 0-934213-48-8. 
  • George Pence and Nellie C. Armstrong (1933). Indiana Boundaries: Territory, State, and County. Indiana Historical Society.

Coordinates: 40°57′N 87°24′W / 40.95, -87.40