Howard County, Indiana#References

{{Infobox U.S. county|

|county = Howard County

|state = Indiana

|seal = Howard County, Indiana seal.png

|founded = 1844

|seat wl= Kokomo

| largest city wl =Kokomo

|area_total_sq_mi = 293.92

|area_land_sq_mi = 293.06

|area_water_sq_mi = 0.86

|area percentage = 0.29%

|census yr = 2020

|pop = 83658

|density_km2 =auto

|web = https://www.in.gov/counties/howard/

| ex image = Kokomo-indiana-courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Howard County courthouse in Kokomo, Indiana

| district = 4th

| district2 = 5th

| footnotes = Indiana county number 34

| time zone = Eastern

| named for = Tilghman Howard

}}

Howard County is one of 92 counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 83,658. The county seat is Kokomo.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} Originally named Richardville County, it was renamed in 1846 to commemorate General Tilghman Ashurst Howard.

Howard County comprises the Kokomo, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|293.92|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|293.06|sqmi}} (or 99.71%) is land and {{convert|0.86|sqmi}} (or 0.29%) is water.

=Adjacent counties=

History

This county was organized in 1844. It was first known as Richardville County. Its first name honored Jean Baptiste Richardville, a chief of the Miami.{{cite news|title=A Look Back as We Move Forward |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/867261/history_of_howard_county_indiana/|newspaper=The Kokomo Tribune|date=March 28, 1999|page=58|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = August 16, 2014 }} {{Open access}} Richardville's name was Pe-che-wa, which translates to “Wildcat”, hence Wildcat Creek.

In 1846, the name was changed to Howard County, in honor of Gen. Tilghman Howard, U.S. Representative from Indiana, who died in 1844.{{cite book|author=De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle|publisher=R. S. Peale & Co.|year=1875|location=Indiana|title=An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana|url=https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog| pages=[https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog/page/n589 577]}}{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n161 162]}}

Notable locations

Kokomo Reservoir (Wildcat Creek Reservoir)
Western Days Festival: First week of June, in Russiaville, Indiana
Howard County 4-H Fair, in Greentown, Indiana
Koh-Koh-Mah & Foster Living History Encampment, mid-September
Kokomo-Howard County Public Library

Communities

=City=

Kokomo

=Towns=

=Former census-designated place=

Indian Heights

=Townships=

=Other places=

Climate and weather

{{climate chart

|Kokomo, Indiana

|15|30|2.51

|19|36|2.29

|28|47|3.30

|38|60|3.74

|49|71|4.13

|58|81|3.98

|62|84|4.37

|60|82|4.22

|52|76|3.14

|41|64|3.04

|32|49|3.63

|21|36|3.19

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web

|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0331

|title=Monthly Averages for Kokomo, Indiana

|access-date=January 27, 2011

|publisher=The Weather Channel

}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in Kokomo have ranged from a low of {{convert|15|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|84|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-26|°F}} was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of {{convert|110|°F}} was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.29|in}} in February to {{convert|4.37|in}} in July.

Transportation

=Airports=

Kokomo Municipal Airport

=Highways=

{{Jct|state=IN|US|31}}
{{Jct|state=IN|US|35}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|19}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|22}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|26}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|213}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|931}}

=Bus services=

City-Line Trolley Serves the city of Kokomo. It is a fixed transportation route that is free to ride and has free wifi.
Trailways A service running from Indianapolis through Kokomo, and then to South Bend.
Greyhound Lines A nationwide service, the Kokomo stop is at the Marathon gas station on North Reed Road, and Gano Street.

=Walking trails=

Walk Of Excellence – serves the city of Kokomo.
Industrial Heritage Trail – serves the city of Kokomo.
Nickel Plate Trail – ends in northern Howard County in unincorporated community, Cassville. Connects directly to Industrial Heritage Trail in Kokomo.
Cloverleaf Trail - Serves the West side to downtown of the city of Kokomo.
Comet Trail – serves the town of Greentown, and is exactly one mile in length.
Historic Downtown Trail – serves the city of Greentown, marked with information about Greentown's history.

Education

=Colleges and universities=

Indiana University Kokomo (IUK)
Indiana Wesleyan University – Kokomo Campus
Ivy Tech Community College
Purdue College of Technology

==Public school districts==

Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corporation (K–12, Kokomo, Indiana) Kokomo High School (NCC)
Eastern Howard School Corporation (K–12, Greentown, Indiana) (MIC)
Northwestern School Corporation (K–12) (MIC)
Taylor Community School Corporation (K–12, Indian Heights, Indiana) (MIC)
Western School Corporation (K–12, Russiaville, Indiana) (MIC)

==Private schools==

Redeemer Lutheran School (K–8)
Sts. Joan of Arc and St. Patrick Catholic School (K–8)
Temple Christian School (K–12)
Victory Christian Academy (K–12)
Acacia Academy (K–8)

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.{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|author-link=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html |title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}{{cite web|author= Indiana Code|author-link= Indiana Code|url= http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |format=PDF|title= Title 2, Article 10, Section 2 |access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}

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.

Court: The county maintains five courts. Circuit Court, Superior Court I, Superior Court II Superior Court III and Superior Court IV. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be admitted to practice law in the State of Indiana. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals.

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.

Howard County is part of Indiana's 2nd congressional district and Indiana's 5th congressional district; Indiana Senate districts 7 and 21;{{cite web

|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm

|title=Indiana Senate Districts

|publisher=State of Indiana

|access-date=July 14, 2011

}} and Indiana House of Representatives districts 30, 32 and 38.{{cite web

|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm

|title=Indiana House Districts

|publisher=State of Indiana

|access-date=July 14, 2011

}}

{{PresHead|place=Howard County, Indiana|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 17, 2018}}|source2=The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 2,184 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 1,107 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 453 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 119 votes.}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1850= 6657

|1860= 12524

|1870= 15847

|1880= 19584

|1890= 26186

|1900= 28575

|1910= 33177

|1920= 43965

|1930= 46696

|1940= 47752

|1950= 54498

|1960= 69509

|1970= 83198

|1980= 86896

|1990= 80827

|2000= 84964

|2010= 82752

|2020= 83658

|estyear=2023

|estimate=83831

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 10, 2014}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}} 2010-2013{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18067.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607082542/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18067.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}} 2020[https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Indiana]

}}

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 82,752 people, 34,301 households, and 22,604 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18067

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020408/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18067

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|282.4|PD/sqmi}}. There were 38,679 housing units at an average density of {{convert|132.0|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18067

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212203935/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18067

|archive-date=February 12, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 88.6% white, 6.9% black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.4% were German, 15.3% were American, 10.8% were English, and 10.2% were Irish.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18067

|title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214003255/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18067

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 34,301 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.1% were non-families, and 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 40.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $55,479. Males had a median income of $50,838 versus $33,196 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,759. About 13.1% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18067

|title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214003030/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18067

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}