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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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DeKalb County, Indiana
DeKalb County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 43,265. The county seat is Auburn.

History

On February 7, 1835, the Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus bill that authorized the creation of thirteen counties in northeast Indiana on previously unorganized land (including the recent Wabash New Purchase). The organization of the county's government commenced in 1837. It was named for General Johann de Kalb, a Continental Army officer from Bavaria, who was killed at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina. The first settlers in the future DeKalb County were from New England, settling what was then known as the Northwest Territory. These people were "Yankee" migrants, descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era. In the 1870s immigrants from Ireland and Germany began arriving in DeKalb County, in large numbers.

Geography

DeKalb County lies on the east side of Indiana; its east border abuts the western border of Ohio. Its low, rolling terrain is entirely devoted to agriculture or urban development. Its highest point (1,060 feet/320 meters ASL) is a small rise in the NW portion of the county, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Fairfield Center. The Saint Joseph River flows southwestward through the SE portion of the county, while the western part of the county is drained by Cedar Creek.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 363.85 square miles (942.4 km), of which 362.82 square miles (939.7 km) (or 99.72%) is land and 1.03 square miles (2.7 km) (or 0.28%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Cities and towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Major highways

Climate and weather

Auburn, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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Source: The Weather Channel
Metric conversion
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In recent years, average temperatures in Auburn have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.42 inches (36 mm) in February to 4.17 inches (106 mm) in June.

Government

See also: Government of Indiana

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

County Council: The fiscal branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. 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.

Board of Commissioners: A three-member board of commissioners combines executive and non-fiscal legislative powers. Commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners also function as the county drainage board, exercising control over the construction and maintenance of legal drains.

Courts: DeKalb County has a Circuit Court (75th Judicial Circuit) and two Superior Courts. By local rule, approved by the Indiana Supreme Court, the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court is currently limited to juvenile and domestic cases. Criminal, civil and domestic cases are heard in the two superior courts. Judges of each court are elected for six-year terms on partisan tickets.

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. Each officer is elected to a four-year term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare a party affiliation and to be residents of the county.

DeKalb County is part of Indiana's 3rd congressional district and in 2008 was represented by Mark Souder in the United States Congress. It is in Indiana Senate districts 13 and 14, and Indiana House of Representatives districts 51, 52 and 85.

United States presidential election results for DeKalb County, Indiana
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 14,237 72.43% 4,966 25.26% 453 2.30%
2016 12,054 70.92% 3,942 23.19% 1,000 5.88%
2012 10,587 64.71% 5,419 33.12% 354 2.16%
2008 9,780 56.95% 7,175 41.78% 219 1.28%
2004 10,468 67.96% 4,810 31.23% 125 0.81%
2000 8,701 63.12% 4,776 34.65% 308 2.23%
1996 6,851 51.36% 4,840 36.28% 1,648 12.35%
1992 6,682 44.48% 4,652 30.97% 3,688 24.55%
1988 9,018 65.75% 4,657 33.95% 41 0.30%
1984 8,769 64.82% 4,617 34.13% 142 1.05%
1980 7,886 56.53% 4,911 35.20% 1,153 8.27%
1976 7,860 55.17% 6,151 43.18% 235 1.65%
1972 8,834 66.44% 4,354 32.74% 109 0.82%
1968 7,650 56.93% 4,790 35.65% 998 7.43%
1964 6,210 44.71% 7,559 54.42% 120 0.86%
1960 8,957 62.66% 5,277 36.92% 61 0.43%
1956 9,061 66.75% 4,435 32.67% 79 0.58%
1952 8,713 64.66% 4,347 32.26% 416 3.09%
1948 6,941 54.86% 5,439 42.99% 272 2.15%
1944 7,479 60.38% 4,810 38.83% 98 0.79%
1940 7,676 57.17% 5,690 42.38% 60 0.45%
1936 5,848 44.89% 6,970 53.50% 209 1.60%
1932 5,590 43.06% 7,235 55.74% 156 1.20%
1928 7,373 64.04% 4,077 35.41% 64 0.56%
1924 6,093 54.63% 4,133 37.05% 928 8.32%
1920 6,514 56.35% 4,750 41.09% 296 2.56%
1916 2,898 43.53% 3,372 50.65% 387 5.81%
1912 1,125 18.11% 2,766 44.53% 2,320 37.35%
1908 2,991 42.41% 3,684 52.24% 377 5.35%
1904 3,416 49.97% 2,827 41.35% 593 8.67%
1900 3,218 46.11% 3,488 49.98% 273 3.91%
1896 3,137 45.56% 3,678 53.41% 71 1.03%
1892 2,499 40.02% 2,801 44.86% 944 15.12%
1888 2,879 46.28% 3,160 50.80% 182 2.93%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,968—
18508,251319.3%
186013,88068.2%
187017,16723.7%
188020,22517.8%
189024,30720.2%
190025,7115.8%
191025,054−2.6%
192025,6002.2%
193024,911−2.7%
194024,756−0.6%
195026,0235.1%
196028,2718.6%
197030,8379.1%
198033,6069.0%
199035,3245.1%
200040,28514.0%
201042,2234.8%
202043,2652.5%
2023 (est.)44,1982.2%
US Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2014

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 42,223 people, 15,951 households, and 11,328 families in the county. The population density was 116.4 inhabitants per square mile (44.9/km). There were 17,558 housing units at an average density of 48.4 per square mile (18.7/km). The racial makeup of the county was 96.9% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 36.3% were German, 10.9% were American, 10.8% were Irish, and 9.1% were English.

Of the 15,951 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age was 38.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $55,280. Males had a median income of $44,880 versus $30,663 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,779. About 6.7% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

DeKalb County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 40,232 93%
Black or African American (NH) 183 0.4%
Native American (NH) 67 0.15%
Asian (NH) 225 0.5%
Pacific Islander (NH) 39 0.1%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,334 3.1%
Hispanic or Latino 1,185 2.7%

Education

School districts

Private schools

See also