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LaGrange County, Indiana

LaGrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 40,446. The county seat is LaGrange, Indiana. The county is located in the Northern Indiana region known as Michiana and is about 55 miles (89 km) east of South Bend, 105 miles (169 km) west of Toledo, Ohio, and 175 miles (282 km) northeast of Indianapolis. The area is well known for its large Amish population. For that reason, the county teams up with neighboring Elkhart County to promote tourism by referring to the area as Northern Indiana Amish Country. About half of LaGrange County is Amish, and it is home to the third-largest Amish community in the United States, which belongs to the Elkhart-LaGrange Amish affiliation.

History
The first settlement of LaGrange County was founded about a half mile west of Lima in 1828. Over the next four years, settlers flocked to parts of Lima, Springfield, and Van Buren Townships. Finally in 1832, LaGrange County was carved out of neighboring Elkhart County and established with Lima as the county seat. The town of LaGrange was platted in 1836 and settled in 1842 as the new county seat, closer to the center of the county. Lima's name was changed to Howe in 1909. LaGrange County's initial settlers were Yankee immigrants, that is to say, they were from New England. They were descended from the English Puritans who settled that region in the colonial era. They were part of a wave of New England settlers moving west into what was then the Northwest Territory after the completion of the Erie Canal. The original settlers in LaGrange County specifically hailed from the Massachusetts counties of Worcester County, Suffolk County and Berkshire County; the Connecticut counties of Hartford County and Windham County as well as the Connecticut towns of Sherman, Lebanon and Fairfield; and from the Vermont towns of Burlington, Brookfield, Huntington and Grand Isle. They were mainly members of the Congregational Church, but as a result of the Second Great Awakening, many became Baptists and many also converted to Pentecostalism and Methodism. When they arrived in LaGrange County, there was nothing but a virgin forest and wild prairie. The New England settlers cleared roads, built farms, constructed churches, erected government buildings, and established post routes. As a result of this migration, LaGrange County was culturally continuous with early New England culture for many years. In 1837, the government removed Chief Shipshewana and the Potawatomi Tribe from the county's northwest corner. Several years later, the Chief was allowed to return and died in Newbury Township in 1841. ==Geography==
Geography
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of , of which (or 98.17%) is land and (or 1.83%) is water. The county is mostly made up of rural farmland but also some rolling hills and several lakes. Adjacent countiesSt. Joseph County, Michigan (northwest) • Branch County, Michigan (northeast) • Steuben County (east) • Noble County (south) • Elkhart County (west) Transportation Major highways • ==Climate and weather==
Climate and weather
}} In recent years, average temperatures in LaGrange have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in December 2000 and a record high of was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June. ==Demographics==
Demographics
}} Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. 2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 40,446. The median age was 30.8 years. 33.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.8 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 94.6% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.3% of the population. There were 12,676 households in the county, of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 65.7% were married-couple households, 13.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 14,094 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.7% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population. Of the 11,598 households, 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 21.5% were non-families, and 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.17, and the average family size was 3.66. The median age was 30.4 years. Amish community rides are offered in tourist-oriented Shipshewana, Indiana Approximately 43% of the population of LaGrange County is Amish, as the county is home to the third-largest Amish community in the United States and belongs to the Elkhart-LaGrange Amish affiliation. This is reflected in the linguistic situation in the county: 28.45% of the population report speaking German, Pennsylvania German, or Dutch at home. 68.5% of the total population and 61.29% of the children in 5-17 age group used English as their home language, according to 2000 Census. The Amish languages (German, Pennsylfaansch, and Dutch) were used by 28.47% of the total population and 35.77% of them. As of 2020 census, Terry Martin, president of the LaGrange County Commissioners, said that "the Amish-English ratio is about 50-50", also adding that the nearly 9% growth, or 3,318 people [between 2010 and 2020 censuses], was mainly due to the increasing Amish population. ==Religion==
Religion
*"Nones" is an unclear category. Researchers argue that most of the "Nones" should be considered "unchurched", rather than objectively nonreligious; especially since most "Nones" do hold some religious-spiritual beliefs and a notable amount participate in religious behaviors. For example, 72% of American "Nones" believe in God or a Higher Power. ==Communities==
Communities
TownsLaGrangeShipshewanaTopekaWolcottville (partially in Noble County) TownshipsBloomfieldClayClearspringEdenGreenfieldJohnsonLimaMilfordNewburySpringfieldVan Buren Census-designated placeHowe Other unincorporated communitiesBrightonBrushy PrairieElmiraEmmaGravel BeachGreenwoodHartzelHoneyvilleIndianola • Lakeside Park • LakeviewMongoNorthwoodOak LodgeOntarioPashanPlatoRamblewoodRiver OaksScottSha-Get AcresShady NookSouth MilfordStar MillStrohTall TimbersTimberhurstTwin LakesValentineWebers LandingWitmer ManorWoodland HillsWoodland ParkWoodruff ==Economy==
Economy
The economy is based mainly on agriculture and small shops, but tourism also plays a big role, especially in Shipshewana. ==Government==
Government
The county is led by a board of three elected commissioners that serve as the county government's executive branch. The county council comprises 7 elected members – four from each council district and 3 at large. Also, one assessor serves the entire county as opposed to one for every township. The current county commissioners are: • North District: Terry Martin • Middle District: Kevin Myers • South District: Peter Cook The current county council members are: • Charles F. Ashcraft D - District 1 • Ryan Riegsecker R- District 2 • Harold Gingerich R - District 3 • Jim Young R - District 4 • Jeff Brill R - At Large • Steve McKowen R - At Large • Mike Strawser R - At Large LaGrange County is part of Indiana's 3rd congressional district; Indiana Senate district 13; and Indiana House of Representatives districts 18 and 52. LaGrange County has consistently been a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections. In only three elections since 1888 has a Republican candidate failed to win the county, most recently in 1964. ==Education==
Education
near the Steuben County line. The county has three public school districts. Public schools The Lakeland School Corporation serve the central part of the county. The system includes Lakeland Primary: Grades (K–2), Lakeland Intermediate: grades (3–6), and Lakeland Jr/Sr High: grades (7–12). The Prairie Heights School Corporation serves the east side of the county and parts of Steuben County. The mascot of Prairie Heights School is a black panther. The Westview School Corporation serves the west portion of the county. This system consists of Meadowview Elementary, Shipshewana-Scott Elementary, Topeka Elementary (all K–4); Westview Elementary (5–6); and Westview Jr-Sr High School (7–12). Private schools Several Amish schools are located across the county. Public library LaGrange County is served by the LaGrange County Public Library, with branches in LaGrange, Shipshewana, and Topeka. ==See also==
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