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Profile of the Community
Porter County is located in the northwest corner of Indiana, bordering the southern tip of Lake Michigan and only 90 minutes from downtown Chicago. It has been historically rural, but the county’s population is growing and new businesses are opening every day. In many ways it is becoming a distant suburb of Chicago. New housing developments and shopping centers are being built, and supporting infrastructure (such as local bus service) is being strengthened. The county’s population is more than 150,000; the cities of Portage and Valparaiso are the main population centers. The population is overwhelmingly Caucasian, but the Hispanic/Latino population is growing.
The median household income is about $53,000. Children under the age of 18 comprise 26% of the county’s population while the elderly (age 65+) comprise 11% of the population. In Valparaiso, the county seat, the city government is actively supporting an “elderstyle” initiative designed to encourage residents to remain in the area upon retirement.
Unemployment hovers around five percent, and about six percent of the population lives below the federal poverty level. While the average household income is higher than in neighboring counties, there are people living in poverty, but the region’s active religious and non-profit network helps assure that those less fortunate are cared for. In Valparaiso, the community’s churches cooperate together on charitable projects such as the Day of Caring. The United Way is thriving and active, and Project Neighbors and the Hilltop Neighborhood House are representative of a strong community spirit and a willingness to lend a helping hand.
The county has award-winning K-12 schools and easy access to several outstanding universities, including Valparaiso University, Purdue North Central, Indiana University Northwest, and Purdue Calumet. The area prides itself on “being a good place to raise a family” with active park districts, YMCAs, after-school programs, the Boys and Girls Club of Porter County, and other family-friendly activities. Annual festivals include the Popcorn and Oz festivals, and the region hosts several art fairs, county fairs, and other special events.
For further community information, please visit the following websites:
City of Valparaiso - http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/
Porter County - http://www.northwestindiana.com/counties/portercounty.htm
United Way - http://www.unitedwaypc.org/