Porter, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Porter is a town in Westchester Township
, Porter County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 4,972 at the 2000 census.
Porter is noted for its proximity to the Indiana Dunes State Park
and for its railroad heritage. Porter was the southern terminus for the Chicago and West Michigan Railway
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²), of which, 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (4.54%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,972 people, 1,844 households, and 1,300 families residing in the town. The population density
was 788.8 people per square mile (304.7/km²). There were 1,966 housing units at an average density of 311.9 per square mile (120.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.14% White, 0.82% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.62% from other races
, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.69% of the population.
There were 1,844 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,625, and the median income for a family was $60,254. Males had a median income of $50,799 versus $26,055 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,615. About 4.9% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
is located in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
on Howe Road, just north of U.S. 20. It is the residence of three generations of the Bailly family. Joseph and Marie Bailly
arrived here in 1822 from the St. Joseph River in Michigan. He had been a fur trader on Lake Michigan for nearly 30 years when he set up his family home along the Little Calumet River
.
The Chellberg Farm
is also a three generation home, but of the family of Anders Kjellburg (Chellberg). He brought his family to this Swedish community in 1869, purchaisng 80 acres (32.4 ha) from the Bailly descendents. The farm is located on Mineral Springs Road, north of U.S. 20.
The Augsburg Swedish Lutheran Church and Cemetery are located on Beam Street, west of town. The Cemetery was begun in 1878.
Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana
Westchester Township is one of twelve townships in Porter County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 18,133.-Cities and Towns:Westchester Townsip includes the communities of Chesterton, Porter, Dune Acres, and Burns Harbor.-Education:...
, Porter County
Porter County, Indiana
Porter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 164,343. Much of the population growth has to do with the expansion of the Chicago Metropolitan Area eastward into Indiana. The county seat is Valparaiso...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,972 at the 2000 census.
Porter is noted for its proximity to the Indiana Dunes State Park
Indiana Dunes State Park
Indiana DunesDesignationState Park; National Natural LandmarkLocationPorter County, Indiana, USAAddress1600 N 25 EChesterton, IN 46304Nearest CityPorter, IndianaCoordinatesAreaDate of Establishment1925...
and for its railroad heritage. Porter was the southern terminus for the Chicago and West Michigan Railway
Chicago and West Michigan Railway
The Chicago and West Michigan Railway is a defunct railroad which operated in the state of Michigan between 1881 and 1899. It was one of the three companies which merged to become the Pere Marquette Railway....
.
Geography
Porter is located at 41°37′34"N 87°4′18"W (41.626005, -87.071798).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²), of which, 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (4.54%) is water.
Census of 2010
In 2010 Porter had a population of 4,858. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 89.9% non-Hispanic white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanic of some other race, 1.7% two or more races and 6.6% Hispanic or Latino.Census of 2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,972 people, 1,844 households, and 1,300 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 788.8 people per square mile (304.7/km²). There were 1,966 housing units at an average density of 311.9 per square mile (120.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.14% White, 0.82% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.62% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.69% of the population.
There were 1,844 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,625, and the median income for a family was $60,254. Males had a median income of $50,799 versus $26,055 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $24,615. About 4.9% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
Historic Sites
The Joseph Bailly HomesteadJoseph Bailly Homestead
The Joseph Bailly Homestead, also known as Joseph Bailly Homestead and Cemetery, in Porter, Indiana, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark....
is located in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is a U.S. National Lakeshore located in northwest Indiana and managed by the National Park Service. It was authorized by Congress in 1966. The national lakeshore runs for nearly along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, from Gary, Indiana, on the west to Michigan...
on Howe Road, just north of U.S. 20. It is the residence of three generations of the Bailly family. Joseph and Marie Bailly
Joseph Bailly
Joseph Bailly was a fur trader and a member of an important French Canadian family that included his uncle, Charles-François Bailly de Messein....
arrived here in 1822 from the St. Joseph River in Michigan. He had been a fur trader on Lake Michigan for nearly 30 years when he set up his family home along the Little Calumet River
Calumet River
The Calumet River refers to a system of heavily industrialized rivers and canals in the region between the neighborhood of South Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, and the city of Gary, Indiana.-Background:...
.
The Chellberg Farm
Chellberg Farm
Chellberg Farm is an historic farmstead which in 1972 became part of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Chellberg Farm is significant as it represents the ethnic heritage of a nearly forgotten Swedish-American settlement. The farm includes a family home, water house with windmill, chicken...
is also a three generation home, but of the family of Anders Kjellburg (Chellberg). He brought his family to this Swedish community in 1869, purchaisng 80 acres (32.4 ha) from the Bailly descendents. The farm is located on Mineral Springs Road, north of U.S. 20.