St. Joseph County, Indiana

Saint Joseph County, Indiana
St. Joseph County courthouse in South Bend, Indiana

Seal

Location in the state of Indiana

Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded 1830
Seat South Bend
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

461.38 sq mi (1,195 km²)
457.85 sq mi (1,186 km²)
3.54 sq mi (9 km²), 0.77%
Population
 - (2010)
 - Density

266,931
580/sq mi (224/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.stjosephcountyindiana.com
Footnotes:  
  • Indiana county number 71
  • Fourth most populous county in Indiana as of 2005

St. Joseph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 put the population at 266,931.[1] Formed in 1830, it was named for the St. Joseph River which flows through it toward Lake Michigan. The county seat is South Bend.[2]

St. Joseph County is part of the South BendMishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 461.38 square miles (1,195.0 km2), of which 457.85 square miles (1,185.8 km2) (or 99.23%) is land and 3.54 square miles (9.2 km2) (or 0.77%) is water.[3]

Cities and towns

Townships

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Climate and weather

South Bend, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
2.3
 
31
16
 
 
2
 
36
19
 
 
2.9
 
47
28
 
 
3.6
 
59
38
 
 
3.5
 
71
48
 
 
4.2
 
80
58
 
 
3.7
 
83
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4
 
81
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3.8
 
74
53
 
 
3.3
 
62
42
 
 
3.4
 
48
33
 
 
3.1
 
36
22
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[4]

In recent years, average temperatures in South Bend have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 83 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1943 and a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1934. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.98 inches (50 mm) in February to 4.19 inches (106 mm) in June.[4]

Government

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by the Indiana Code.

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.[5][6]

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.[5][6]

Court: 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 also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[6]

County Officials: 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 to be residents of the county.[6]

St. Joseph County is part of Indiana's 2nd congressional district and in 2008 was represented by Joe Donnelly in the United States Congress.[7]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 287
1840 6,425 2,138.7%
1850 10,954 70.5%
1860 18,455 68.5%
1870 25,322 37.2%
1880 33,178 31.0%
1890 42,457 28.0%
1900 58,881 38.7%
1910 84,312 43.2%
1920 103,304 22.5%
1930 160,033 54.9%
1940 161,823 1.1%
1950 205,058 26.7%
1960 238,614 16.4%
1970 245,045 2.7%
1980 241,617 −1.4%
1990 247,052 2.2%
2000 265,559 7.5%
2010 266,931 0.5%
Sources: United States Department of Commerce,
Bureau of the Census, Population Division[8]
Census Quickfacts[1]

As of the census[9] 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 (224/km²). There were 107,013 housing units at an average density of 234 per square mile (90/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.36% White, 11.46% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.48% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. 4.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.1% were of German, 11.5% Polish, 10.5% Irish, 6.5% American and 5.7% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 100,743 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 11.80% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,420, and the median income for a family was $49,653. Males had a median income of $37,076 versus $25,310 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,756. About 7.60% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

School districts

John Glenn School Corporation

New Prairie School Corporation

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

School City of Mishawaka

South Bend Community School Corporation

High schools
Intermediate Centers
Primary centers

Union-North United School Corporation

Private Schools

Colleges & universities

See also

External links

References