Steuben County, Indiana

Steuben County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the county's population was 34,435. The county seat (and only incorporated city) is Angola. Steuben County comprises the Angola, IN micropolitan statistical area.

History

After the American Revolutionary War established US sovereignty over the territory of the upper Midwest, the new federal government defined the Northwest Territory in 1787, which included the area that is present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separated Ohio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as the Indiana Territory. President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the governor of the territory, and Vincennes was established as the capital. After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography. By December 1816, the Indiana Territory was admitted to the Union as a state.

This area was historically occupied by the Potawatomi people, one of the tribes in the Council of Three Fires. Typically, they lived in highly decentralized bands. Treaties signed by some leaders with United States representatives ceded large areas of their territory to the US. Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty. The United States acquired land from the Native Americans in the 1809 treaty of Fort Wayne, by the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818, and in 1826 by the Treaty of Mississinewas, which included the future Steuben County.

The Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus county bill on February 7, 1835, that authorized the creation of thirteen counties in northeast Indiana, including Steuben. In 1837, the county was organized and named for Baron Frederick von Steuben, an officer of the American Revolutionary War. In 1840 the Potawatomi were forcibly removed from this area and neighboring territory in Michigan and Ohio to Indian Territory in Kansas.

A Potawatomi chief, Baw Beese, led a band that was based at what later became known as Baw Beese Lake nearby in Michigan. His daughter Winona married Negnaska and lived in what is now Indiana. She was executed in the 1830s by her husband's people after she killed Negnaska for selling her pony. Winona's husband had pledged his rifle to Aaron B. Goodwin of Fremont for the use of a five-gallon keg. The Indians had the keg filled with whiskey at Nichols' store in Jamestown, and he took all the money they had. Negnaska sold his wife Winona's pony to pawn his rifle. Winona owned the pony outright, either as a gift from her father or having bought it with her own money. She killed Negnaska in anger for selling what was hers. Winona was held by the tribe for a few hours until her husband's nearest relative arrived to execute her. As was their custom, he stabbed her to the heart as she had her husband.

Geography

thumb|alt=map with highways and lakes|Steuben County and its lakes

The county's low, rolling hills have been largely cleared and leveled for agricultural use, although the drainage areas are still wooded. The highest point ( ASL) is a hillock east of Glen Eden.

The county contains a state park and 105 lakes of various sizes. Some of the larger lakes are Lake James, Lake George, Clear Lake, Jimmerson Lake, Lake Gage, and Crooked Lake.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of , of which (or 4.20%) are covered by water.

In recent years, average temperatures in Angola have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1981 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in August.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 34,435. The median age was 42.8 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.1% of the population.

There were 13,766 households in the county, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.1% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 19,377 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.9% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.9% of the population.

Of the 13,310 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 40.2 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 county government.|source2=

Education

Colleges and universities

Trine University

School districts

Fremont Community Schools
Hamilton Community Schools
M S D of Steuben County
Prairie Heights Community School Corporation

Communities

City and towns

Angola (city/county seat)
Ashley
Clear Lake
Fremont
Hamilton
Hudson
Orland

Unincorporated communities

Alvarado
Berlien
Clarks Landing
Cold Springs
|Courtney Corner
Crooked Lake
Ellis
Flint
Forest Park
Fountain Park
Helmer
Inverness
Island Park
Jamestown
Lake James
Lakeside Park
Meadow Shores Park
Metz
Moonlight
Nevada Mills
Oakwood
Otsego Center
Panama
Penn Park
Pleasant Lake
Ravinia Oaks
Ray
Russels Point
Salem Center
Steubenville
Turkey Creek
Westview
Wildwood
York

Townships

Clear Lake
Fremont
Jackson
Jamestown
Millgrove
Otsego
Pleasant
Richland
Salem
Scott
Steuben
York