Whitley County, Indiana
Named for Colonel William Whitley, fallen hero of the War of 1812
County Seat: Columbia City
Largest City: Columbia City (2023 population: 10,126)
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, 2023 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 1,904 | 46 | 5.5% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 5,973 | 44 | 17.2% | 17.2% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 2,645 | 51 | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 8,314 | 45 | 23.9% | 25.8% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 8,986 | 44 | 25.9% | 24.2% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 6,920 | 42 | 19.9% | 17.2% |
| Median Age | 41.4 | | | Median Age = 38.2 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2023 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 157 | 46 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 190 | 49 | 0.5% | 2.9% |
| Black Alone | 247 | 61 | 0.7% | 10.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 14 | 54 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 33,557 | 46 | 96.6% | 83.7% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 577 | 42 | 1.7% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 33,717 | 45 | 97.0% | 91.2% |
| Hispanic | 1,025 | 52 | 3.0% | 8.8% |
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 2023 (estimate) | 15,116 | 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 |
| May 2024 Unemployment Rate | 3.5 | 61 | 89.7% | 3.9 |
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, 2023 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 91 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $25,609 | $7,695,489 |
| Single-Family | 87 | 95.6% | 63.0% | $25,059 | $5,961,199 |
| 2-Family | 4 | 4.4% | 2.0% | 550 | $99,053 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.9% | $0 | $40,460 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 34.2% | $0 | $1,594,777 |
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 2023 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Churubusco | 1,866 | 5.4% |
| Columbia City | 10,126 | 29.1% |
| Larwill | 272 | 0.8% |
| South Whitley | 1,818 | 5.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers