LaPorte, Indiana

Encyclopedia : L : LA : LAP : LaPorte, Indiana

LaPorte (French for "The Door") is a city in LaPorte County, Indiana, and is also the county seat. The population was 21,621 at the 2000 census. LaPorte is located in northwest Indiana, east of Gary, and was first settled in 1830.

Contents

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Features
4 Noteworthy residents
5 External links

Geography

LaPorte is located at [41°36′33″N, 86°43′3″W] (41.609057, -86.717567)^{[Geographic references#1GR1]}.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.5 km² (12.2 mi²). 29.7 km² (11.5 mi²) of it is land and 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (5.83%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^{[Geographic references#2GR2]} of 2000, there were 21,621 people, 8,916 households, and 5,545 families residing in the city. The population density was 728.4/km² (1,886.8/mi²). There were 9,667 housing units at an average density of 325.7/km² (843.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.60% White, 1.92% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 3.39% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.52% of the population.

There were 8,916 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,376, and the median income for a family was $45,784. Males had a median income of $32,319 versus $22,756 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,900. About 7.7% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

Features

The LaPorte Community School Corporation has one high school (LaPorte High School), two middle schools (Boston Middle School and Kesling Middle School), and eight elementary schools (Crichfield, Hailmann, Riley, Handley, Indian Trail, Kingsbury, Kingsford Heights and Lincoln). The LPCSC contains approximately 6,500 students.

LaPorte has one daily newspaper, the Herald-Argus.

Radio stations in LaPorte include WCOE, 96.7 FM, and WLOI, 1540 AM. LaPorte receives its television broadcasts and other radio broadcasts from nearby Chicago, Illinois and South Bend, Indiana.

Noteworthy residents

In addition, LaPorte is also the home of Jeffrey Ake, who was kidnapped while in Iraq in April 2005; at the present, he has not been found.

Charlie O. Finley, best known as the owner of the Oakland Athletics, lived in LaPorte for most of his life.

LaPorte is the hometown of Emerson Spartz, the founder of Mugglenet.

NASCAR driver Tony Raines is also from LaPorte.

Former Major League pitcher Ron Reed is from LaPorte.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Chris Bootcheck graduated from LaPorte High School in 1997.

Purdue baseball coach Doug Schreiber is a LaPorte native. He is the son of longtime LaPorte High School baseball coach Ken Schreiber, who won 1,010 games in a 39-year coaching career, making him the fifth-winningest high school coach.

Former USA Today sportswriter Dave Krider, who developed the Super 25 high school ratings, lives in LaPorte.

Also from LaPorte is the first known Female serial killer, Belle Gunness

External links

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