La Porte, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of La Porte, Indiana
settlement_type = City
nickname = The Maple City


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of La Porte in Indiana


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = LaPorte
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Kathleen A. Chroback (D)
area_note =
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E7
area_total_km2 = 31.5
area_land_km2 = 29.7
area_water_km2 = 1.8
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 21621
population_density_km2 = 728.4
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
area_total_sq_mi = 12.2
area_land_sq_mi = 11.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.7
elevation_m = 248
elevation_ft = 814
latd = 41 |latm = 36 |lats = 33 |latNS = N
longd = 86 |longm = 43 |longs = 3 |longEW = W
website = [http://www.ci.la-porte.in.us] , [http://gov.cityoflaporte.in] , and [http://www.cityoflaporte.com]
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 46350, 46352
area_code = 219
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-42246GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0450449GR|3
footnotes =

La Porte (French for "The Door") is a city in La Porte County, Indiana, United States, of which it is the county seat.GR|6 Its population was 21,621 at the 2000 census. It is one of the two principal cities of the Michigan City-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin Combined Statistical Area. La Porte is located in northwest Indiana, east of Gary, and west of South Bend and was first settled in 1830. The current mayor is Kathy Chroback, a Democrat serving her second term in 12 years. She was La Porte's first female mayor, and recently replaced Republican Leigh Morris.

Geography

La Porte is located at coor dms|41|36|33|N|86|43|3|W|city (41.609057, -86.717567)GR|1.

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

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 21,621 people, 8,916 households, and 5,545 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,886.8 people per square mile (728.4/km²). There were 9,667 housing units at an average density of 843.6/sq mi (325.7/km²). 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.

, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

Features

The La Porte Community School Corporation has one high school (La Porte 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.

La Porte High School has won the most state titles in Indiana Baseball, 8.

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

The famous Advance-Rumely tractor company had a factory in La Porte from which itmade steam engines and eponymous green kerosene tractors.

Notable natives or residents

* Jeffrey Ake: kidnapped while in Iraq in April 2005; he has not yet been found.
* Abram Andrew: United States Representative from Massachusetts
* Chuck Baldwin: Baptist minister and 2008 Presidential nominee of the Constitution Party
* Chris Bootcheck: Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
* David J. Cook: western lawman and famous City Marshall
* Art Cross: former race car driver; first Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500
* Daniel Edwards: Famous artist and sculptor
* Charlie O. Finley: former owner of the Oakland Athletics, lived in La Porte for most of his life.
* Michael Fout: 2007 Cross Country National Champion
* James (JB) Glossinger: Motivational speaker, author, founder of [http://www.morningcoach.com/landing1.php MorningCoach.com]
* Belle Gunness: serial killer
* Rear Admiral Royal R. Ingersoll: famous American military veteran; the USS Ingersoll is named after him.
* Nathaniel Lange: Writer of "A Journal from Thamel", "Memoirs from a Bombay Journey", and "To Fly is Human"
* Ashley Hinshaw: New York based fashion model
* Karl Paul Link: an American biochemist best known for his discovery of the anticoagulant warfarin
* Eric McCann: Local radio personality
* Andrew McKenna: chairman of the Illinois Republican Party; graduated from La Lumiere School, a Catholic boarding school in La Porte.
* Isamu Noguchi: Japanese-American artist and landscape architect.
* Tom Nowatzke: former National Football League running back
* Tony Raines: NASCAR driver
* Ron Reed: former MLB pitcher
* John G. Roberts: Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; was captain of the football team at La Lumiere School, a Catholic boarding school in La Porte.
* Slug Signorino: Commercial artist; illustrator for The Straight Dope
* Scott Skiles: Milwaukee Bucks head coach
* David Willis: a webcomic writer and artist, most recently the creator of Shortpacked!

References

External links

* [http://www.cityoflaporte.com/ La Porte City web site]
* [http://www.lpchamber.com/ Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.heraldargus.com/ The "LaPorte County Herald-Argus" website]
* [http://www.lapcat.org/ The La Porte County Public Library]
* [http://lphs88.ning.com/ LaPorte High School Class Of 1988]