Porter, Indiana

Town in Indiana, United States

Porter, Indiana

Town

Lincoln Street in Porter

Logo

Location of Porter in Porter County, Indiana.

Coordinates: 41°37′34″N 87°04′57″W﻿ / ﻿41.62611°N 87.08250°W﻿ / 41.62611; -87.08250
Country| United States
State| Indiana
County| Porter
Township| Westchester
Area

[1]

• Total

| 6.44 sq mi (16.69 km2)
• Land| 6.16 sq mi (15.96 km2)
• Water| 0.28 sq mi (0.74 km2)
Elevation

[2]

| 659 ft (201 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 5,210
• Density| 845.64/sq mi (326.50/km2)
Time zone| UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code|

46304, 46369

Area code| 219
FIPS code| 18-61164[3]
GNIS feature ID| 2396863[2]
Website| www.townofporter.com

Porter is a town in Westchester Township, Porter County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.[2] The population was 5,210 as of the 2020 census. Porter is in the Indiana Dunes ecosystem, which played a role in the creation of The Nature Conservancy,[4][5] and inspired conservation efforts.[6][7][8][9] It is home to Porter Beach, also known as Johnson's Beach, on Lake Michigan.

Porter is located near Indiana Dunes State Park and on the southern railroad terminus of the Chicago and West Michigan Railway.[10][11]

## History

[edit]

Porter had its start in the 1850s when the railroad was extended to that point.[12]

### Historic sites

[edit]

The Joseph Bailly Homestead is located in Indiana Dunes National Park 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.[13]

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, purchasing 80 acres (32 ha) from the Bailly descendants.[13] The farm is located on Mineral Springs Road, north of U.S. 20.

Augsburg Lutheran Church

The Augsburg Swedish Lutheran Church and Cemetery are located on Beam Street, west of town. The cemetery was founded in 1878.[14]

In addition to the Joseph Bailly Homestead, the Good Fellow Club Youth Camp and Porter Town Hall are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[15][16]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the 2010 census, Porter has a total area of 6.48 square miles (16.78 km2), of which 6.2 square miles (16.06 km2) (or 95.68%) is land and 0.28 square miles (0.73 km2) (or 4.32%) is water.[17]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 224| | —
1910| 524| | —
1920| 699| | 33.4%
1930| 805| | 15.2%
1940| 1,190| | 47.8%
1950| 1,458| | 22.5%
1960| 2,189| | 50.1%
1970| 3,058| | 39.7%
1980| 2,988| | −2.3%
1990| 3,118| | 4.4%
2000| 4,972| | 59.5%
2010| 4,858| | −2.3%
2020| 5,210| | 7.2%
Source: US Census Bureau

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[18] of 2010, there were 4,858 people, 1,832 households, and 1,310 families living in the town. The population density was 783.5 inhabitants per square mile (302.5/km2). There were 1,978 housing units at an average density of 319.0 per square mile (123.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.3% White, 1.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.6% of the population.

There were 1,832 households, of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.5% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the town was 39.1 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 10.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,972 people, 1,844 households, and 1,300 families living in the town. The population density was 788.8 inhabitants per square mile (304.6/km2). There were 1,966 housing units at an average density of 311.9 per square mile (120.4/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.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Porter, Indiana
3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. ^ Smith, S.H. & Mark, S. (2010). The historical roots of The Nature Conservancy in the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland Region: From science to preservation. The South Shore Journal, 3, 1-10.
5. ^ "South Shore Journal - the Historical Roots of the Nature Conservancy in the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland Region: From Science to Preservation". Archived from the original on January 1, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
6. ^ Smith, S. & Mark, S. (2007). The cultural impact of a museum in a small community: The Hour Glass of Ogden Dunes. The South Shore Journal, 2, pp. 16-28.
7. ^ "South Shore Journal - the Cultural Impact of a Museum in a Small Community: The Hour Glass in Ogden Dunes". Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
8. ^ Smith, S. & Mark, S. (2006). Alice Gray, Dorothy Buell, and Naomi Svihla:Preservationists of Ogden Dunes. The South Shore Journal, 1, 15-21
9. ^ . "South Shore Journal - Alice Gray, Dorothy Buell, and Naomi Svihla: Preservationists of Ogden Dunes". Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
10. ^ "Porter". 2024 Prairie Rail Invitational. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
11. ^ "Porter Beach". Indiana Dunes National Park (U.S. National Park Service). June 18, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
12. ^ History of Porter County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests. Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. p. 188.
13. ^ a b Cultural Sites of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, National Park Service, 2006
14. ^ Porter County, Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures; Historic Landmarks of Indiana, July 1991 Inventory
15. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
16. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings" (PDF). Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 8/05/13 through 8/09/13. National Park Service. August 16, 2013.
17. ^ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2012.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Porter, Indiana.

* Town of Porter, Indiana website

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Porter County, Indiana, United States

County seat: Valparaiso

Cities|

* Portage
* Valparaiso

Map of Indiana highlighting Porter County

Towns|

* Beverly Shores
* Burns Harbor
* Chesterton
* Dune Acres
* Hebron
* Kouts
* Ogden Dunes
* Porter
* Town of Pines

Townships|

* Boone
* Center
* Jackson
* Liberty
* Morgan
* Pine
* Pleasant
* Portage
* Porter
* Union
* Washington
* Westchester

CDPs|

* Aberdeen
* Boone Grove
* Lake Eliza
* Lakes of the Four Seasons‡
* Malden
* Salt Creek Commons
* Shorewood Forest
* South Haven
* Wheeler

Other
communities|

* Beatrice
* Burdick
* Clanricarde
* Coburg
* Crocker
* Furnessville
* Hurlburt
* Porter Crossroads
* Sedley
* Suman
* Tassinong
* Woodville

Ghost towns|

* Baillytown
* City West
* New City West/Tremont

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Indiana portal
* United States portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* NARA
* Yale LUX

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*[%±]: Percent change
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