Garrett, Indiana

Garrett is a city in Keyser Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Garrett had a population of 6,542.

History

Garrett was platted in 1875 when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was extended to that point. It was named for John W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 1858 to 1884. Garrett was incorporated as a city in 1875.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Garrett has a total area of , all land.

Garrett sits just west of Auburn, a larger town and county seat of DeKalb County. Both cities are about 15 miles north of Fort Wayne.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Garrett had a population of 6,542. The median age was 35.6 years. 27.1% 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 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.

97.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,490 households in Garrett, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.4% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The city grew 8.32% since the 2000 United States census.

The city was 47.95% male (3,014) and 52.05% female (3,272).

Buildings

The Garrett Community Mausoleum, Garrett Historic District, J.H. Haag House, Keyser Township School 8, Mountz House, Henry Peters House, and John Wilderson House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Joseph Catholic church, built in 1929 is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, is an Italian-style church, more than a century old. It operates St. Joseph Catholic School in Garrett and previously managed Sacred Heart Hospital.

Sacred Heart Hospital, standing at 220 South Ijams St, was built in 1902. It was run by nuns from the Order of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. It became the Garrett Community Hospital when the sisters stopped managing the hospital. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

For years, the building remained largely unused until renovated in 2003. It had forty-two apartments for senior citizens. In 2010, the residency requirement were changed allowing the population at large to have access to the Sacred Heart Apartments. The facility is currently managed by New Generation Management based in Fort Wayne.

In 2005 the DeKalb County YMCA Community Center was opened at 1200 East Houston St. Which is now called the Judy A. Morrill center or The JAM. This facility was designed and built with the community in mind. There is a zero entry pool, allowing handicapped individuals to use a ramp to enter the pool. This pool also offers a water slide and splash pads for children. The fitness room provides free weights, aerobic machines, and weight machines. There is also a large gymnasium and playground at the facility. Daycare and after school services are available for families.

In January 2011 control of the facility changed to become the Judy A. Morrill Recreation Center, or J.A.M. Rec Center. Many classes and activities are offered, including scrap-booking, Yoga, swimming and fitness classes, bingo, and more.

Another important landmark in the city is its Garrett Fire Department, which originally had its headquarters in the City Hall. Until joining with the Police Department to make a new station in 1996. The GFD has been saving life and property in Garrett and the surrounding communities since 1879.

The Creek Chub Bait Company was founded in Garrett in 1916 after the founders, Henry Dills, Carl Heinzerling, and George Schulthess had originally conceived the company a decade prior in 1906. Creek Chub baits and lures remain popular among collectors and a historical marker was set up in 2017 where the factory had been before it was taken down.

High school and athletics

Garrett High School has been around since 1922. In 2001 a new middle school section of the school was completed and added to the existing school. In 2011, the school began construction on yet another new section of the building. This new section greatly increased the size of the high school. The section was finished in early 2013. Garrett has been one of the highest ranked schools in Northern Indiana. Garrett's motto is to "Be The One". The high-school teams all play 3A in the Northeast Corner Conference, while the middle school plays in the Tri-County Athletic Conference and the Jr.- NECC. Their team mascot is a Locomotive and the high school are called the Railroaders. The middle school goes by the Locomotives.

Newspaper

The Garrett Clipper, serving the Garrett and area community in southern DeKalb County, Indiana, was purchased by KPC Media Group Inc. on October 1, 1999. The Clipper of Garrett was formed in 1885 by A.J. Little and H. E. Little and is the oldest operating business in the city.

Notable people

John Bowers - silent film star, was born and raised in Garrett.
George E. Mountz - lawyer and naval intelligence officer from Garrett who investigated Japanese war crimes in the Second World War; partial namesake of the historic Mountz House in Garrett.
Wayne Schurr - former pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.
Thomas Taggart - mayor of Indianapolis, 1895–1901, lived in Garrett, 1874–1877
Rollie Zeider - major league baseball player, 1910–1918

File:John Bowers (Bowersox).jpg|John Bowers

File:Senator Thomas Taggart.jpg|Thomas Taggart

File:Rollie Zeider baseball card.jpg|Rollie Zeider

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