Howard County, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howard County
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Howard County courthouse in Kokomo, Indiana
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Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
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 Indiana's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Indiana |
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| Founded | 1844 | |
| Named for | 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)
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| • Total | 83,658 | |
| • Density | 284.628/sq mi (109.8957/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional districts | 4th, 5th | |
| Indiana county number 34 | ||
Howard County is one of 92 counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. In 2020, about 83,658 people lived here. The main city, or "county seat," is Kokomo.
Howard County was first called Richardville County. It was renamed in 1846 to honor General Tilghman Ashurst Howard. Howard County is also part of the larger Kokomo area.
Contents
Howard County's Location and Size
Howard County is located in Indiana. It covers a total area of about 293.92 square miles (761.2 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 293.06 square miles, is land. A small part, about 0.86 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Counties
Howard County shares borders with several other counties:
- Miami County, Indiana (to the North)
- Grant County, Indiana (to the East)
- Tipton County, Indiana (to the South)
- Clinton County, Indiana (to the Southwest)
- Carroll County, Indiana (to the West)
- Cass County, Indiana (to the Northwest)
A Look Back at Howard County's History
Howard County was officially created in 1844. Its first name was Richardville County. This name honored Jean Baptiste Richardville, who was a chief of the Miami Native American tribe. Chief Richardville's name in his language was Pe-che-wa, which means "Wildcat." This is why a local stream is called Wildcat Creek.
In 1846, the county's name was changed to Howard County. This new name honored General Tilghman Howard. He was a U.S. Representative from Indiana and passed away in 1844.
Fun Places and Events in Howard County
Howard County has several interesting places and events:
- Kokomo Reservoir (also known as Wildcat Creek Reservoir)
- Western Days Festival: This fun festival happens in the first week of June in Russiaville.
- Howard County 4-H Fair: This fair takes place in Greentown. It's a great event for young people involved in 4-H clubs.
- Koh-Koh-Mah & Foster Living History Encampment: This event in mid-September lets you experience history.
- Kokomo-Howard County Public Library: A great place to find books and learn.
Communities in Howard County
Howard County has several towns and cities where people live.
City
Towns
Former Community
- Indian Heights (This was once a recognized community.)
Townships
Howard County is divided into smaller areas called townships:
- Center
- Clay
- Ervin
- Harrison
- Honey Creek
- Howard
- Jackson
- Liberty
- Monroe
- Taylor
- Union
Other Small Places
You can also find these smaller communities in the county:
Weather in Howard County
| Weather chart for Kokomo, Indiana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2.5
30
15
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2.3
36
19
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3.3
47
28
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3.7
60
38
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4.1
71
49
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4
81
58
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4.4
84
62
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4.2
82
60
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3.1
76
52
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3
64
41
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3.6
49
32
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3.2
36
21
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| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches source: The Weather Channel |
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Metric conversion
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The weather in Kokomo changes throughout the year. In January, the average low temperature is about 15°F (-9°C). In July, the average high temperature is about 84°F (29°C).
The coldest temperature ever recorded was -26°F (-32°C) in January 1985. The hottest was 110°F (43°C) in July 1936. The amount of rain and snow also changes. February usually has the least precipitation, about 2.29 inches (5.8 cm). July typically has the most, about 4.37 inches (11.1 cm).
Getting Around Howard County: Transportation
Airports
- Kokomo Municipal Airport: This airport serves the local area.
Main Roads
Several important highways pass through Howard County:
US 31
US 35
SR 19
SR 22
SR 26
SR 213
SR 931
Bus Services
You can use bus services to travel in and out of Kokomo:
- City-Line Trolley: This bus service runs within Kokomo. It's free to ride and even has free Wi-Fi!
- Trailways: This service connects Indianapolis, Kokomo, and South Bend.
- Greyhound Lines: A nationwide bus service with a stop in Kokomo.
Walking and Biking Trails
Howard County has several trails for walking and biking:
- Walk Of Excellence: This trail is in Kokomo.
- Industrial Heritage Trail: Also in Kokomo.
- Nickel Plate Trail: This trail ends in the northern part of Howard County, near Cassville. It connects to the Industrial Heritage Trail in Kokomo.
- Cloverleaf Trail: This trail serves the west side of Kokomo and goes downtown.
- Comet Trail: Found in Greentown, this trail is exactly one mile long.
- Historic Downtown Trail: Also in Greentown, this trail has information about the town's history.
Learning in Howard County: Education
Colleges and Universities
Howard County has several places for higher education:
- Indiana University Kokomo (IUK)
- Indiana Wesleyan University – Kokomo Campus
- Ivy Tech Community College
- Purdue College of Technology
Public School Districts
These school districts serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade:
- Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corporation (in Kokomo, Indiana)
- Eastern Howard School Corporation (in Greentown, Indiana)
- Northwestern School Corporation
- Taylor Community School Corporation (in Indian Heights, Indiana)
- Western School Corporation (in Russiaville, Indiana)
Private Schools
There are also several private schools in the county:
- Redeemer Lutheran School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
- Sts. Joan of Arc and St. Patrick Catholic School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
- Temple Christian School (Kindergarten to 12th grade)
- Victory Christian Academy (Kindergarten to 12th grade)
- Acacia Academy (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
Who Lives in Howard County: Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 2020 |
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In 2010, about 82,752 people lived in Howard County. There were 34,301 households and 22,604 families. The population density was about 282 people per square mile.
Most people in the county were white (88.6%). Other groups included black or African American (6.9%), Asian (0.9%), and American Indian (0.3%). About 2.7% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino origin. Many people had ancestors from Germany (22.4%), America (15.3%), England (10.8%), and Ireland (10.2%).
About 30.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in the county was 40.7 years.
The median income for a household was $47,697. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less. About 16.4% of all people in the county lived below the poverty line. This included 26.9% of those under 18 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Howard (Indiana) para niños
