Northern Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Northern Indiana
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Meadow Lake Wind Farm in White County
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football game
Kankakee Sands in Newton County
Amish buggy in Shipshewana
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Map of counties in Indiana. Those highlighted in red are part of Northern Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| Largest city | Fort Wayne |
| Population
(2020)
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2,317,804 |
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Northern Indiana is a special part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It covers the top third of the state. This area shares borders with Illinois to the west, Michigan to the north, and Ohio to the east.
Northern Indiana includes 26 counties in the northern part of the state. Its biggest cities are Hammond and Gary in the northwest. You'll also find South Bend, Mishawaka, and Elkhart in the north-central area. The city of Fort Wayne is the main hub in the northeast.
The land here was shaped by ancient glaciers, making it mostly flat or gently rolling. The weather is generally humid, which means it has warm, wet summers and cold winters. This climate supports forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Besides Lake Michigan, there are over 300 smaller lakes. The largest natural lake in Indiana, Wawasee, and the deepest, Tippecanoe, are both found here.
Northern Indiana is part of the larger "Rust Belt" and "Corn Belt" regions. This means it has a mix of industrial cities and farming towns. Manufacturing is very important to the economy. They make things like recreational vehicles (RVs), medical devices, and steel. You can also visit Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park. The region has about 25 colleges and universities. Northern Indiana is split between two time zones: Eastern Time and Central Time.
Contents
Exploring Northern Indiana's Geography
Northern Indiana has many important rivers and lakes. Some major rivers include the Grand Calumet River, the Kankakee River, and the Maumee River. The Wabash River also flows through the area.
Besides Lake Michigan, other well-known lakes are Lake Freeman, Lake James, Lake Manitou, and Lake Maxinkuckee.
Different Areas of Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana is divided into a few smaller regions, each with its own character.
Michiana: Where Michigan Meets Indiana
Michiana is a name made by combining "Michigan" and "Indiana". This area includes parts of southwestern Michigan and the north-central counties of Northern Indiana. It's centered around the cities of South Bend, Elkhart, and Mishawaka.
Counties often considered part of Michiana are:
Northeast Indiana: The Fort Wayne Area
Northeast Indiana covers the northeastern part of Northern Indiana. Its main city is Fort Wayne.
Counties usually part of Northeast Indiana include:
Northwest Indiana: "The Region"
Northwest Indiana is often called "The Region." It's in the northwestern part of Northern Indiana and is close to the big city of Chicago.
Counties typically found in Northwest Indiana are:
Time Zones: What Time Is It?
Most of Northern Indiana (20 counties) uses Eastern Time. However, six counties in Northwest Indiana use Central Time. These counties are Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, and Starke.
Major Cities in Northern Indiana
The biggest cities in Northern Indiana are Fort Wayne in the northeast, South Bend in the north-central area, and Hammond and Gary in the far northwest along Lake Michigan.
| 2020 rank | City | County | 2020 Census | 2010 Census | Change | Highest Population (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne | Allen | 263,852 | 253,691 | +4.01% | 263,852 (2020) |
| 2 | South Bend | St. Joseph | 103,675 | 101,168 | +2.48% | 132,445 (1960) |
| 3 | Hammond | Lake | 77,754 | 80,830 | −3.81% | 111,698 (1960) |
| 4 | Gary | Lake | 68,982 | 80,294 | −14.09% | 178,320 (1960) |
| 5 | Elkhart | Elkhart | 54,044 | 50,949 | +6.07% | 54,044 (2020) |
| 6 | Mishawaka | St. Joseph | 51,201 | 48,252 | +6.11% | 51,201 (2020) |
| 7 | Portage | Porter | 37,934 | 36,828 | +3.00% | 37,934 (2020) |
| 8 | Merrillville | Lake | 36,603 | 35,246 | +3.85% | 36,603 (2020) |
| 9 | Goshen | Elkhart | 34,849 | 31,719 | +9.87% | 34,849 (2020) |
| 10 | Valparaiso | Porter | 34,154 | 31,730 | +7.64% | 34,154 (2020) |
People of Northern Indiana
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 524,581 | — | |
| 1900 | 597,433 | 13.9% | |
| 1910 | 687,867 | 15.1% | |
| 1920 | 809,770 | 17.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,015,942 | 25.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,085,251 | 6.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,297,939 | 19.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,621,357 | 24.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,802,562 | 11.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,891,741 | 4.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,901,209 | 0.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,062,933 | 8.5% | |
| 2010 | 2,147,765 | 4.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,317,804 | 7.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Northern Indiana's population has grown steadily over the last 100 years. Even when some areas saw a drop in people, other parts of the region continued to grow.
Most people in Northern Indiana are of European heritage. However, some counties, like Lake County (where Gary is), have a more diverse population.
Northern Indiana is also known for having the third-largest Amish population in the U.S. You'll find many Amish communities in counties like Allen, Adams, Elkhart, and LaGrange.
How People Talk in Northern Indiana
In Northwest Indiana and the Michiana area, people often speak with a specific accent called the Inland North dialect. This dialect has a unique way of pronouncing certain vowel sounds. However, in the rest of Northern Indiana, people tend to speak with a more common "North Midland" dialect, which sounds pretty neutral.
Northern Indiana's Economy
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Northern Indiana's economy relies heavily on manufacturing, shipping, and medical devices. Outside the big cities, farming is also a huge part of the economy because the land is very fertile. This region is also part of the "Rust Belt," an area that has seen some changes in its industries over time.
The Calumet region in Northwest Indiana is famous for its heavy industry, especially steel mills. It's the second-largest steel-producing area in the country. The U.S. Steel Gary Works in Gary was once the biggest steel mill in the world! Northwest Indiana is also a key place for trade and shipping. The Port of Indiana—Burns Harbor handles more ocean cargo than any other Great Lakes port in the U.S.
In the north-central part of Northern Indiana, especially around Warsaw, many companies create and produce orthopedic medical devices. About one-third of the world's orthopedic industry is located right here!
Elkhart and nearby towns are known for making recreational vehicles (RVs) and mobile homes. Many big RV companies like Forest River and Jayco are located here. In fact, about 83% of all American RVs are made in Elkhart County. The car industry is also important. General Motors makes trucks near Roanoke, and AM General makes the military Humvee in Mishawaka.
Gambling is another important part of the economy. Northern Indiana has several casinos, including riverboat casinos and a tribal casino owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
Energy: Powering the Region
Most natural gas in Northern Indiana comes from the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO). Electricity is supplied by NIPSCO, Indiana Michigan Power, and Duke Energy Indiana.
Northern Indiana has four of Indiana's five hydroelectric power plants, which use water to make electricity. The region has also been using more clean energy sources like solar and wind power. You can see many wind farms in rural Benton and White counties. The Fowler Ridge Wind Farm is the largest in the Midwest.
The BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting is the biggest inland oil refinery in the U.S. It processes a huge amount of crude oil every day.
Companies: Big Businesses Here
Many well-known companies have their main offices in Northern Indiana. Some of these include:
- 1st Source
- Albanese Candy
- Do it Best
- Franklin Electric
- Jayco
- NiSource
- Parkview Health
- Steel Dynamics
- Sweetwater Sound
- Thor Industries
- Vera Bradley
- Zimmer Biomet
Protected Natural Areas
Northern Indiana has many beautiful places where nature is protected.
National Parks
- Indiana Dunes National Park is the most visited protected area in the region. It welcomes about 2.8 million visitors every year.
State Parks and Preserves
- Chain O'Lakes State Park
- Conrad Savanna Nature Preserve
- Frances Slocum State Forest
- Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve
- Indiana Dunes State Park
- Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area
- J.E. Roush Fish and Wildlife Area
- Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area
- Kingsbury Fish and Wildlife Area
- LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area
- Ouabache State Park
- Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area
- Pokagon State Park
- Potato Creek State Park
- Salamonie River State Forest
- Tippecanoe River State Park
- Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area
- Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area
- Winamac Fish and Wildlife Area
Colleges and Universities
Northern Indiana is home to about 25 colleges and universities. These include public universities like Indiana and Purdue, as well as many private colleges.
Public Universities
- Three Indiana University campuses:
- IU Fort Wayne
- IU Northwest
- IU South Bend
- Three Purdue University campuses:
- Purdue Fort Wayne
- Purdue Northwest (Hammond and Westville)
- Ivy Tech Community College (with 12 locations)
Private Universities and Colleges
- Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
- Bethel University
- Calumet College of Saint Joseph
- Concordia Theological Seminary
- Goshen College
- Grace College & Seminary
- Holy Cross College
- Huntington University
- Indiana Tech
- Indiana Wesleyan University (Fort Wayne and Merrillville)
- Manchester University
- Marian University's Ancilla College
- Mid-America Reformed Seminary
- Saint Mary's College
- Trine University
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Saint Francis
- Valparaiso University
Getting Around Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana has a good network of roads, including major interstates and U.S. highways. Two special scenic routes, the Historic Michigan Road Byway and the Lincoln Highway Scenic Byway, also pass through the area.
Major Roads
Interstate Highways
I-65
I-69
I-80
I-90 (Indiana Toll Road)
I-94
I-469
US Highways
US 6
US 12
US 20
US 24
US 27
US 30
US 31
US 33
US 35
US 41
US 52
US 131
US 224
US 231
US 421
Public Transportation
The South Shore Line is a commuter train that connects cities in Northwest Indiana to Chicago.
Airports
Northern Indiana has many airports. Most are for general aviation (smaller planes), but there are also two larger airports for commercial flights. Two U.S. Air Force bases are also located in the region.
Major Airports
- Fort Wayne International
- South Bend International
Other Airports
- Griffith-Merrillville
- Gary/Chicago International
- Grissom Aeroplex
Military Bases
- Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base
- Grissom Air Reserve Base
Waterways and Harbors
- Northern Indiana Maritime District
Famous People from Northern Indiana
Many notable people have come from Northern Indiana. Here are just a few:
- George Ade
- Johnny Appleseed
- Anne Baxter
- Frank Borman (astronaut)
- Pete Buttigieg (politician)
- Adam Driver (actor)
- Jim Gaffigan (comedian)
- Crystal Gayle (singer)
- Jackson family (musicians, including Michael Jackson)
- Carole Lombard (actress)
- Shelley Long (actress)
- Cole Porter (composer)
- Dan Quayle (former U.S. Vice President)
- Knute Rockne (football coach)
- Paul Samuelson (economist)
- Gene Stratton-Porter (author and naturalist)
- Harold Urey (scientist)
