Marshall County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. The 2020 census recorded the population at 46,095. The county seat (and only city) is Plymouth.

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 Marshall. It was named for U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall, who died in 1835. The government of the county was organized in 1836, during the early years of settlement and before the forced removal of the Potawatomi people in 1838. The first settlers had arrived in the county in 1835; they arrived as a result of the end of the Black Hawk War as well as the completion of the Erie Canal. They consisted primarily of settlers from New England, "Yankees" descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era. They were mainly members of the Congregational Church, although due to the Second Great Awakening many of them had converted to Methodism and some had become Baptists before migrating to the new area. As a result of this heritage, some place names in Marshall County are named after places in New England, such as Plymouth, which is named after Plymouth, Massachusetts, the site where the Mayflower landed in 1620.

Geography

The low, rolling hills of Marshall County are completely devoted to agriculture where possible (significant drainages are wooded). The highest points on the terrain are three approximately equal swells ( ASL) along the south border line with Fulton County, NW of Richland Center.

Marshall County contains three significant bodies of water: Lake of the Woods (NE portion); Lake Maxinkuckee (SW portion); and part of Koontz Lake (NW portion).

According to the 2010 census, Marshall County has a total area of , of which (or 98.64%) is land and (or 1.36%) is water.

In recent years, average temperatures in Plymouth 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 1936. 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 46,095. The median age was 40.2 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.6 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 87.4% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.0% from some other race, and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.4% of the population.

There were 17,480 households in the county, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.9% were married-couple households, 17.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 19,845 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.4% of the population.

Of the 17,406&nbsp;households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.1% were non-families, and 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 38.4 years.

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 are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They set 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 county-wide, to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the functions of the county government. It is also part of Indiana Senate districts 5 and 9 and Indiana House of Representatives districts 17 and 23.

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See also

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

References

  • Official website