Wells County
County
Wells County Courthouse in Bluffton
Wells County Courthouse in Bluffton
Map of Indiana highlighting Wells County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°44′N 85°13′W / 40.73°N 85.22°W / 40.73; -85.22
Country United States
State Indiana
Founded1837
Named forWilliam A. Wells
SeatBluffton
Largest cityBluffton
Area
 • Total370.25 sq mi (958.9 km2)
 • Land368.09 sq mi (953.3 km2)
 • Water2.16 sq mi (5.6 km2)  0.58%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total28,180
 • Density76/sq mi (29/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.wellscounty.org
Indiana county number 90

Wells County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 28,180.[1] The county seat is Bluffton.[2]

Wells County is included in the Fort Wayne Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Fort Wayne—Huntington—Auburn Combined Statistical Area.

History

The Territory of Indiana was established in 1800 and legitimized by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The governing structure established through this act began creating counties in the territory as it became increasingly settled. In December 1816, the State of Indiana was admitted to the Union. Wells was named after famous frontiersmen William A. Wells who played a central role in the Northwest Indian Wars and the activity surrounding Fort Miami and Kekionga.[3] It was initially assigned to Allen County for legislative and administrative affairs.

In the winter of 1835, Col. John Vowter of Jennings County, Chairman of the Committee on New Counties, introduced a bill proposing that the assembly "lay out all the unorganized territory to which the Indian title had been extinguished in the state into a suitable number of counties". This bill would be approved later that year on February 7, effectively creating thirteen Northern Indiana counties, one of which was Wells.[4]

On 2 February 1837, an act was passed by the state, authorizing Wells County to be organized independent of Allen County, and specifying 1 May for the date of the first meeting. However, that meeting did not take place, and so an act dated 20 January 1838 authorized the meeting of appointed commissioners to decide on a county seat. That vote was completed on 5 March 1838, selecting Bluffton.[5]

Geography

The low rolling hills of Wells County have been deforested and are now completely devoted to agriculture and urban development. The Wabash River flows to the northwest, draining the central and upper part of the county, while the lower part is drained by the Salamonie River, also flowing to the northwest.[6] The highest point on the terrain (935 feet/285 meters ASL) is an isolated rise on the county's south borderline with Jay County, one-half mile (0.8 km) east of the NE corner of Blackford County.[7]

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 370.25 square miles (958.9 km2), of which 368.09 square miles (953.3 km2) (or 99.42%) is land and 2.16 square miles (5.6 km2) (or 0.58%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

City and towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Major highways

Climate and weather

Bluffton, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel[9]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Bluffton have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °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 1985 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1980. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.83 inches (46 mm) in February to 4.11 inches (104 mm) in May.[9]

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.[10][11]

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.[10][11]

Court: The county maintains a small claims court that handles civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[11]

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. The officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.[11]

United States presidential election results for Wells County, Indiana[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,855 77.10% 2,928 20.80% 297 2.11%
2016 10,005 75.30% 2,586 19.46% 695 5.23%
2012 9,256 71.46% 3,436 26.53% 260 2.01%
2008 8,504 64.98% 4,403 33.64% 181 1.38%
2004 9,168 74.21% 3,112 25.19% 74 0.60%
2000 7,755 68.74% 3,319 29.42% 207 1.83%
1996 6,322 55.98% 3,752 33.22% 1,220 10.80%
1992 5,799 48.17% 3,282 27.26% 2,958 24.57%
1988 7,712 68.93% 3,437 30.72% 39 0.35%
1984 7,579 69.40% 3,274 29.98% 67 0.61%
1980 5,864 56.14% 3,760 36.00% 821 7.86%
1976 5,596 56.33% 4,250 42.78% 88 0.89%
1972 6,425 65.77% 3,244 33.21% 100 1.02%
1968 5,361 53.07% 3,827 37.89% 913 9.04%
1964 4,018 39.96% 5,945 59.12% 92 0.91%
1960 6,034 58.91% 4,128 40.30% 80 0.78%
1956 5,703 58.32% 3,984 40.74% 91 0.93%
1952 5,380 55.85% 3,963 41.14% 290 3.01%
1948 4,288 47.15% 4,726 51.97% 80 0.88%
1944 4,708 50.03% 4,475 47.56% 227 2.41%
1940 4,898 47.75% 5,236 51.05% 123 1.20%
1936 3,606 36.59% 6,189 62.81% 59 0.60%
1932 3,073 32.25% 6,236 65.45% 219 2.30%
1928 4,142 48.93% 4,246 50.16% 77 0.91%
1924 3,932 44.92% 4,537 51.83% 285 3.26%
1920 4,430 47.61% 4,653 50.01% 222 2.39%
1916 1,947 37.26% 2,928 56.03% 351 6.72%
1912 812 15.95% 2,760 54.20% 1,520 29.85%
1908 2,185 35.92% 3,345 54.99% 553 9.09%
1904 2,565 40.74% 3,127 49.67% 604 9.59%
1900 2,290 37.50% 3,599 58.94% 217 3.55%
1896 2,212 36.63% 3,728 61.74% 98 1.62%
1892 1,668 33.90% 2,725 55.37% 528 10.73%
1888 1,926 37.17% 2,942 56.77% 314 6.06%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,822—
18506,152237.7%
186010,84476.3%
187013,58525.3%
188018,44235.8%
189021,51416.7%
190023,4499.0%
191022,418−4.4%
192020,509−8.5%
193018,411−10.2%
194019,0993.7%
195019,5642.4%
196021,2208.5%
197023,82112.3%
198025,4016.6%
199025,9482.2%
200027,6006.4%
201027,6360.1%
202028,1802.0%
US Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2013[17] 2018[18][17] 2020[1]

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,636 people, 10,780 households, and 7,684 families in the county.[19] The population density was 75.1 inhabitants per square mile (29.0/km2). There were 11,659 housing units at an average density of 31.7 per square mile (12.2/km2).[8] The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 38.4% were German, 12.3% were English, 10.8% were Irish, and 10.3% were American.[20] Of the 10,780 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.7% were non-families, and 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 40.2 years.[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $56,885. Males had a median income of $41,871 versus $30,031 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,169. About 6.2% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.[21]

Education

School districts include: Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District, Northern Wells Community Schools, and Southern Wells Community Schools.[22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Indiana
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Captain William A. Wells was captured by Native Americans as a young boy and adopted by the Miami chief Little Turtle. He eventually became a scout for Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Capt. Wells was killed by Potawatomi allied with the British at the Battle of Fort Dearborn at the outbreak of the War of 1812.
  4. ↑ Tyndall, John W. (John Wilson); Lesh, O. E. (Orlo Ervin) (1918). Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
  5. ↑ Tyndall, John W; Lesh, O E (1918). Standard History of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co. pp. 304–6.
  6. ↑ Wells County IN (Google Maps, accessed 6 August 2020)
  7. ↑ Wells County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 6 August 2020)
  8. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Bluffton IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  10. 1 2 Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 27, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  12. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  17. 1 2 "Wells County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  18. ↑ "QuickFacts. Wells County IN". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  19. 1 2 3 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  21. ↑ "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  22. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wells County, IN" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022. - Text list

40°44′N 85°13′W / 40.73°N 85.22°W / 40.73; -85.22

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