Whitley County, Indiana
Named for Colonel William Whitley, fallen hero of the War of 1812
County Seat: Columbia City
Largest City: Columbia City (2022 population: 10,086)
Population per Square Mile: 103.52
Square Miles: 335.60
Go to county's in.gov site
Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
Yesterday (2020) | 34,191 | 47 | 0.5% | 6,484,050 |
Today (2023) | 34,742 | 47 | 0.5% | 6,862,199 |
Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 34,513 | 48 | 0.5% | 7,014,880 |
Percent Change 2020 to Today | 1.6% | 21 | | 1.1% |
*Projection based on 2015 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
Components of Population Change, 2022-2023 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
Net Domestic Migration | 146 | 33 | | 4,599 |
Net International Migration | 6 | 71 | | 17,869 |
Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 14 | 26 | 0.2% | 7,508 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Population Estimates by Age, 2022 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist. in County | Pct Dist. in State |
---|
Preschool (0 to 4) | 1,935 | 47 | 5.6% | 5.9% |
School Age (5 to 17) | 5,937 | 44 | 17.1% | 17.0% |
College Age (18 to 24) | 2,640 | 52 | 7.6% | 9.9% |
Young Adult (25 to 44) | 8,219 | 45 | 23.7% | 25.7% |
Older Adult (45 to 64) | 9,169 | 44 | 26.5% | 24.5% |
Seniors (65 and older) | 6,727 | 44 | 19.4% | 16.9% |
Median Age | 41.5 | | | Median Age = 38.2 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2022 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist. in County | Pct Dist. in State |
---|
American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 140 | 46 | 0.4% | 0.4% |
Asian Alone | 186 | 50 | 0.5% | 2.8% |
Black Alone | 243 | 61 | 0.7% | 10.3% |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 13 | 57 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
White | 33,492 | 45 | 96.7% | 84.0% |
Two or More Race Groups | 553 | 43 | 1.6% | 2.4% |
Non-Hispanic | 33,728 | 45 | 97.4% | 92.1% |
Hispanic | 899 | 55 | 2.6% | 7.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist. in County | Pct Dist. in State |
---|
Households in 2022 (Includes detail not shown below) | 13,826 | 42 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Married With Children | 2,601 | 43 | 18.8% | 18.1% |
Married Without Children | 5,137 | 40 | 37.2% | 29.6% |
Single Parents | 1,100 | 47 | 8.0% | 9.0% |
Living Alone | 3,286 | 51 | 23.8% | 29.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Housing | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist. in County | Pct Dist. in State |
---|
Total Housing Units in 2022 (estimate) | 15,039 | 45 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Total Housing Units in 2022 (includes vacant units) | 14,868 | 46 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied (Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 11,232 | 40 | 75.5% | 63.5% |
Median Value (2022) | $189,800 | 22 | | |
Renter Occupied (Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 2,594 | 52 | 17.4% | 27.1% |
Median Rent (2022) | $680 | 27 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
---|
School Enrollment (2022/2023 Total Reported) | 5,612 | 45 | 0.5% | 1,124,094 |
Public | 5,579 | 42 | 0.5% | 1,035,718 |
Adults (25+ in 2022 ACS) | 23,775 | 44 | 0.5% | 4,532,091 |
with High School diploma or higher | 91.8% | 21 | | 90% |
with B.A. or higher degree | 22.8% | 27 | | 28.2% |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Income and Poverty | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
---|
Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2022 | $55,193 | 24 | 94.6% | 58,323 |
Median Household Income in 2022 | 72,448 | 19 | 108.5% | $66,768 |
Poverty Rate in 2022 | 9.0% | 82 | 72.0% | 12.5% |
Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 10.8% | 81 | 70.1% | 15.4% |
Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2022 | 6 | 85 | 0.2% | 3,933 |
Food Stamp Recipients in 2022 | 1,213 | 80 | 0.2% | 611,203 |
Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2022/2023 | 1,771 | 66 | 0.3% | 511,735 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of | Percent of State | Indiana |
---|
Births, 2021 | 359 | 48 | 0.4% | 79,946 |
Births to Teens, 2021 | 7 | 78 | 0.2% | 3,845 |
Deaths, 2019 | 344 | 47 | 0.5% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
Labor Force, 2023 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
---|
Total Resident Labor Force | 17,928 | 44 | 0.5% | 3,401,387 |
Employed | 17,436 | 43 | 0.5% | 3,288,017 |
Unemployed | 492 | 48 | 0.4% | 113,370 |
Annual Unemployment Rate | 2.7 | 76 | 81.8% | 3.3 |
March 2024 Unemployment Rate | 3.5 | 67 | 85.4% | 4.1 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2022 | Employment | Pct Dist. in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist. In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
---|
Total by place of work | 18,717 | 100.0% | $1,129,543 | 100.0% | $60,349 |
Wage and Salary | 14,352 | 76.7% | $824,574 | 73.0% | $57,454 |
Farm Proprietors | 572 | 3.1% | $34,534 | 3.1% | $60,374 |
Nonfarm Proprietors | 3,793 | 20.3% | $86,267 | 7.6% | $22,744 |
Farm | 659 | 3.5% | $37,377 | 3.3% | $56,718 |
Nonfarm | 18,058 | 96.5% | $1,092,166 | 96.7% | $60,481 |
Private | 16,504 | 88.2% | $1,001,705 | 88.7% | $60,695 |
Accommodation, Food Serv. | 958 | 5.1% | $19,050 | 1.7% | $19,885 |
Arts, Ent., Recreation | 230 | 1.2% | $3,027 | 0.3% | $13,161 |
Construction | 942 | 5.0% | $61,126 | 5.4% | $64,890 |
Health Care, Social Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
Information | 112 | 0.6% | $6,201 | 0.5% | $55,366 |
Manufacturing | 6,082 | 32.5% | $544,685 | 48.2% | $89,557 |
Professional, Tech. Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
Retail Trade | 1,672 | 8.9% | $65,170 | 5.8% | $38,977 |
Trans., Warehousing | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
Wholesale Trade | 630 | 3.4% | $57,246 | 5.1% | $90,867 |
Other Private (not above) | 3,204* | 17.1%* | $119,131* | 10.5%* | $37,182* |
Government | 1,554 | 8.3% | $90,461 | 8.0% | $58,212 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
Residential Building Permits, 2022 | Units | Pct Dist. in County | Pct Dist. in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
---|
Total Permits Filed | 92 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $31,180 | $6,635,992 |
Single-Family | 88 | 95.7% | 65.0% | $30,151 | $5,513,030 |
2-Family | 4 | 4.3% | 1.9% | 1,029 | $76,873 |
3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.5% | $0 | $14,702 |
5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 32.6% | $0 | $1,031,387 |
Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Cities and Towns in Whitley County
Name | Population in 2022 | Percent of County |
---|
Churubusco | 1,869 | 5.4% |
Columbia City | 10,086 | 29.0% |
Larwill | 273 | 0.8% |
South Whitley | 1,818 | 5.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates