| City of La Porte, Indiana | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| La Porte County Courthouse, La Porte, Indiana | |
| Nickname(s): The Maple City | |
| Location of La Porte in Indiana | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | La Porte |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Blair Milo (R) |
| 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 | http://www.cityoflaporte.com |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,824 |
|
|
| 1860 | 5,028 | 175.7% | |
| 1870 | 6,581 | 30.9% | |
| 1880 | 6,195 | −5.9% | |
| 1890 | 7,126 | 15.0% | |
| 1900 | 7,113 | −0.2% | |
| 1910 | 10,525 | 48.0% | |
| 1920 | 15,158 | 44.0% | |
| 1930 | 15,755 | 3.9% | |
| 1940 | 16,180 | 2.7% | |
| 1950 | 17,882 | 10.5% | |
| 1960 | 21,157 | 18.3% | |
| 1970 | 22,140 | 4.6% | |
| 1980 | 21,796 | −1.6% | |
| 1990 | 21,507 | −1.3% | |
| 2000 | 21,621 | 0.5% | |
| Source: US Census Bureau | |||
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, and west of South Bend and was first settled in 1832. The previous mayor was Kathleen Chroback, a Democrat serving her second term in 12 years. Chroback was defeated in the 2011 elections by Blair Milo. At 28, Milo is one of the youngest mayors in La Porte's history.
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The settlement of La Porte was established in July 1832. Abraham P. Andrew, one of the purchasers of the site, constructed the first sawmill in that year. The first settler arrived in October, building a permanent cabin just north of what would become the Courthouse square.[4] In 1833 a Federal Land Office was established in La Porte. People would come to this office from newly established surrounding counties to buy land from the government, including Solon Robinson, founder of Crown Point.[5] The office was moved to Winamac in 1839.[6]
By 1835 the settlement had grown to the extent that it was decided that La Porte should become incorporated as a town. A newspaper was established in 1836 and La Porte Medical School was founded in 1842, the first of its kind in the Midwest. A former graduate of the school William Worrall Mayo established the famed Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in 1889. By 1852 La Porte had become a well established settlement of considerable size for its time, with 5,000 residents. In that same year it was granted a city charter by the Indiana General Assembly and the first mayor was elected. La Porte continued to grow, attracting numerous diverse industries, the largest of which became the Advance-Rumely company. Advance-Rumely was responsible for developing the Oil-Pull tractor engine, considered to have played a pivotal role in the agricultural development of the Great Plains. In 1869, Advance-Rumely was the largest employer in La Porte.[7]
During the 1850s, numerous maple trees were planted along Indiana and Michigan avenues in La Porte by local resident Sebastian Lay. Subsequently, La Porte became known as the 'Maple City'. Today, Indiana and Michigan avenues comprise a historic district in the city, containing many homes and structures of architectural and historical interest. Between 1892 and 1894, the third La Porte county courthouse was erected at a cost of $300,000. The structure is built of red sandstone from Lake Superior, shipped via boat to Michigan City and then by rail to La Porte. The courthouse is considered to be one of La Porte's best known structures.[8] In 2007 the building had its exterior extensively restored at a cost of $2.9 million.[9]
La Porte is located at (41.609057, -86.717567)[10].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (32 km2), of which, 11.5 square miles (30 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (5.83%) is water.
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 per square mile (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.
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.
The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in citywide vote. The city council consists of seven members. Five are elected from individual districts. Two are elected at-large.
The La Porte Community School Corporation consists of 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 corporation serves approximately 6,500 students.
At eight state baseball titles, La Porte High School holds the distinction of winning the greatest number in Indiana.[11]
Radio stations in La Porte include WCOE, 96.7FM, and WLOI, 1540AM. LaPorte receives television broadcasts and other radio broadcasts from Chicago and South Bend.
The famous Advance-Rumely tractor company was established in La Porte where it developed steam engines and eponymous green kerosene tractors.
La Porte has been featured in an occasional movie, including Prancer (film) (1989), A Piece of Eden (2000), Treadmill (2006), Providence (2009) and Woman's Prison (2009).
La Porte was once the home of the world famous Parsons Horological Institute, founded in the 1890s and still extant as part of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
La Porte was the eastern terminus of the Chicago – New York Electric Air Line Railroad, an ambitious early high speed rail project.
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