Kosciusko County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. At the 2020 United States census, its population was 80,240. The county was organized in 1836. It was named after the Polish general Tadeusz Kościuszko who served in the American Revolutionary War and then returned to Poland. The county seat is named after Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

History

The Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus county bill on February 7, 1835, that authorized the creation of thirteen counties in northeast Indiana, including Kosciusko. The county government was organized beginning in 1836. The county's boundary lines have remained unchanged since 1835.

Geographical features

Kosciusko County terrain consists of low rolling hills dotted with bodies of water and drainages, with all available area devoted to agriculture or urban development. Its highest point (1025'/312 meters ASL) is a hill NE of Dewart Lake. The Tippecanoe River flows westward through the central part of the county, while the Eel River flows southwestward through the county's SE corner.

In recent years, average temperatures in Warsaw have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of was recorded in July 1976. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 80,240. The median age was 39.0 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.7% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.7% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.3% of the population.

There were 31,196 households in the county, of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.0% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 37,038 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.3% white, 0.8% Asian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.4% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.3% of the population.

Of the 29,197 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, and 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 37.7 years.

Community

thumb|300px|Southern Kosciusko County is dotted with small lakes like Beaver Dam Lake (foreground) near [[Silver Lake, Indiana|Silver Lake.]]

Newspapers

  • Times-Union
  • The Mail-Journal
  • The PAPER
  • Ink Free News

Radio Stations

  • WRSW-AM 1480/99.7 FM (News Now Warsaw)
  • WRSW-FM (Classic Hits 107.3 WRSW
  • WAWC-FM (Willie 103.5)

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 legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives, elected to four-year terms from county districts, are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council 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: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected countywide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute the acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government. and Indiana House of Representatives districts 18, 22 and 23.

Elected officials:

  • Jim Smith - Sheriff
  • Brad Voelz - Prosecutor
  • Gail Chapman - Assessor
  • Alyssa Schmucker - Auditor
  • Melissa Boggs - Clerk
  • Deb Wright - County Recorder
  • Michelle Puckett - Treasurer
  • Cary P. Groninger - Middle District Commissioner
  • Robert M. Conley, President - Southern District Commissioner
  • Sue Ann Mitchell - Northern District Commissioner
  • Tyler Huffer, Coroner
  • Jim Moyer, Surveyor

Kosciusko County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 are the only two Democratic Party candidates to win the county from 1888 to the present day. Roosevelt is the only Democrat since 1888 to win the county with a majority. The county is very Republican even by the standards of traditionally Republican Indiana. For example, Roosevelt actually lost the county by eight percentage points in 1936 even as he went on to carry 46 states. Further underlining the county's Republican bent, it rejected Lyndon Johnson in 1964 even in the midst of Johnson's 44-state national landslide. Johnson is the last Democrat to manage even 40 percent of the county's vote.

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Airports

  • KASW - Warsaw Municipal Airport
  • KC03 - Nappanee Municipal Airport

Education

School districts

  • Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation
  • Triton School Corporation
  • Warsaw Community Schools
  • Wawasee Community School Corporation
  • Whitko Community School Corporation
  • Wa-Nee Community Schools

Notable residents

  • Ambrose Bierce, Civil War veteran, author, newspaper columnist
  • Chris Schenkel, former Sportscaster for ABC Sports. Resided in Leesburg, Indiana.
  • Rick Fox, retired NBA player. Resided in Warsaw, Indiana.
  • Harrison Mevis, current NFL kicker for the Los Angeles Rams. Grew up in Warsaw, Indiana.

See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Kosciusko County, Indiana

References

  • Kosciusko County
  • Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce
  • Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Sources