Howard County, Indiana | |
|---|---|
 Howard County Courthouse in Kokomo, Indiana | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIndiana | |
 Indiana's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:40°29′N86°07′W / 40.48°N 86.12°W /40.48; -86.12 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| Founded | 1844 |
| Named after | Tilghman Howard |
| Seat | Kokomo |
| Largest city | Kokomo |
| Area | |
• Total | 293.92 sq mi (761.2 km2) |
| • Land | 293.06 sq mi (759.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.86 sq mi (2.2 km2) 0.29% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 83,658 |
| • Density | 285.46/sq mi (110.22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 4th,5th |
| Website | www |
| Indiana county number 34 | |
Howard County is one of 92counties in theU.S. state ofIndiana. As of the2020 census, the population was 83,658.[1] Thecounty seat isKokomo.[2] Originally named Richardville County, it was renamed in 1846 to commemorate GeneralTilghman Ashurst Howard.
Howard County comprises theKokomo, Indiana,Metropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 293.92 square miles (761.2 km2), of which 293.06 square miles (759.0 km2) (or 99.71%) is land and 0.86 square miles (2.2 km2) (or 0.29%) is water.[3]
This county was organized in 1844. It was first known as Richardville County. Its first name honoredJean Baptiste Richardville, a chief of theMiami.[4] Richardville's name wasPe-che-wa, which translates to “Wildcat”, henceWildcat Creek.
In 1846, the name was changed to Howard County, in honor of Gen.Tilghman Howard,U.S. Representative from Indiana, who died in 1844.[5][6]
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In recent years, average temperatures in Kokomo have ranged from a low of 15 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 110 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.29 inches (58 mm) in February to 4.37 inches (111 mm) in July.[7]
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by theConstitution of Indiana, and by theIndiana Code.
County Council: The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also 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.[8][9]
Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.[8][9]
Court: The county maintains five courts. Circuit Court, Superior Court I, Superior Court II Superior Court III and Superior Court IV. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be admitted to practice law in the State of Indiana. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals.
County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, includingsheriff,coroner,auditor,treasurer,recorder,surveyor, and circuitcourt clerk Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declareparty affiliations and to be residents of the county.[9]
Howard County is part ofIndiana's 2nd congressional district andIndiana's 5th congressional district;Indiana Senate districts 7 and 21;[10] andIndiana House of Representatives districts 30, 32 and 38.[11]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 3,604 | 58.87% | 2,202 | 35.97% | 316 | 5.16% |
| 1892 | 3,576 | 51.09% | 2,331 | 33.30% | 1,092 | 15.60% |
| 1896 | 4,195 | 55.59% | 3,191 | 42.29% | 160 | 2.12% |
| 1900 | 4,308 | 56.65% | 2,823 | 37.12% | 474 | 6.23% |
| 1904 | 5,014 | 61.18% | 2,098 | 25.60% | 1,084 | 13.23% |
| 1908 | 4,423 | 50.60% | 3,497 | 40.01% | 821 | 9.39% |
| 1912 | 2,152 | 24.35% | 2,824 | 31.95% | 3,863 | 43.70% |
| 1916 | 4,777 | 47.38% | 3,934 | 39.02% | 1,371 | 13.60% |
| 1920 | 10,379 | 58.54% | 5,767 | 32.53% | 1,584 | 8.93% |
| 1924 | 10,438 | 60.05% | 5,451 | 31.36% | 1,494 | 8.59% |
| 1928 | 12,632 | 66.89% | 5,930 | 31.40% | 323 | 1.71% |
| 1932 | 9,257 | 44.62% | 10,541 | 50.81% | 946 | 4.56% |
| 1936 | 9,534 | 42.67% | 12,288 | 54.99% | 524 | 2.34% |
| 1940 | 11,855 | 47.82% | 12,655 | 51.04% | 283 | 1.14% |
| 1944 | 11,515 | 49.49% | 11,224 | 48.24% | 526 | 2.26% |
| 1948 | 10,874 | 44.64% | 12,937 | 53.10% | 551 | 2.26% |
| 1952 | 15,212 | 53.34% | 12,938 | 45.37% | 367 | 1.29% |
| 1956 | 17,234 | 58.26% | 12,159 | 41.10% | 188 | 0.64% |
| 1960 | 17,938 | 56.94% | 13,415 | 42.58% | 149 | 0.47% |
| 1964 | 12,897 | 41.68% | 17,809 | 57.56% | 235 | 0.76% |
| 1968 | 15,905 | 50.39% | 11,026 | 34.93% | 4,635 | 14.68% |
| 1972 | 23,089 | 73.67% | 8,083 | 25.79% | 169 | 0.54% |
| 1976 | 19,571 | 56.48% | 14,815 | 42.75% | 267 | 0.77% |
| 1980 | 21,272 | 59.24% | 12,916 | 35.97% | 1,722 | 4.80% |
| 1984 | 22,386 | 67.74% | 10,458 | 31.65% | 202 | 0.61% |
| 1988 | 19,971 | 63.16% | 11,518 | 36.43% | 131 | 0.41% |
| 1992 | 15,306 | 44.57% | 10,288 | 29.96% | 8,746 | 25.47% |
| 1996 | 16,771 | 50.51% | 11,999 | 36.14% | 4,436 | 13.36% |
| 2000 | 20,331 | 59.63% | 12,899 | 37.83% | 865 | 2.54% |
| 2004 | 23,714 | 64.06% | 12,998 | 35.11% | 309 | 0.83% |
| 2008 | 20,248 | 52.14% | 17,871 | 46.02% | 714 | 1.84% |
| 2012 | 20,327 | 56.01% | 15,135 | 41.70% | 829 | 2.28% |
| 2016 | 23,675 | 63.40% | 11,215 | 30.03% | 2,452 | 6.57% |
| 2020 | 26,449 | 65.10% | 13,303 | 32.74% | 878 | 2.16% |
| 2024 | 25,871 | 66.51% | 12,197 | 31.36% | 829 | 2.13% |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 6,657 | — | |
| 1860 | 12,524 | 88.1% | |
| 1870 | 15,847 | 26.5% | |
| 1880 | 19,584 | 23.6% | |
| 1890 | 26,186 | 33.7% | |
| 1900 | 28,575 | 9.1% | |
| 1910 | 33,177 | 16.1% | |
| 1920 | 43,965 | 32.5% | |
| 1930 | 46,696 | 6.2% | |
| 1940 | 47,752 | 2.3% | |
| 1950 | 54,498 | 14.1% | |
| 1960 | 69,509 | 27.5% | |
| 1970 | 83,198 | 19.7% | |
| 1980 | 86,896 | 4.4% | |
| 1990 | 80,827 | −7.0% | |
| 2000 | 84,964 | 5.1% | |
| 2010 | 82,752 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 83,658 | 1.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 83,831 | [14] | 0.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 1790-1960[16] 1900-1990[17] 1990-2000[18] 2010-2013[19] 2020[1] | |||
As of the2010 United States census, there were 82,752 people, 34,301 households, and 22,604 families residing in the county.[20] The population density was 282.4 inhabitants per square mile (109.0/km2). There were 38,679 housing units at an average density of 132.0 per square mile (51.0/km2).[3] The racial makeup of the county was 88.6% white, 6.9% black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.7% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 22.4% wereGerman, 15.3% wereAmerican, 10.8% wereEnglish, and 10.2% wereIrish.[21]
Of the 34,301 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.1% were non-families, and 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 40.7 years.[20]
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $55,479. Males had a median income of $50,838 versus $33,196 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,759. About 13.1% of families and 16.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[22]
Places adjacent to Howard County, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofHoward County, Indiana,United States | ||
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40°29′N86°07′W / 40.48°N 86.12°W /40.48; -86.12
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