Whitley County, Indiana
Named for Colonel William Whitley, fallen hero of the War of 1812
County Seat: Columbia City
Largest City: Columbia City (2024 population: 10,185)
Population per Square Mile: 103.95
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 (2024) | 34,885 | 46 | 0.5% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 35,333 | 45 | 0.5% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 2.0% | 21 | | 2.0% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2023-2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 43 | 54 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 9 | 74 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 50 | 20 | 0.5% | 9,159 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 1,925 | 46 | 5.5% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 5,959 | 44 | 17.1% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 2,634 | 51 | 7.6% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 8,330 | 45 | 23.9% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 8,816 | 44 | 25.3% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 7,221 | 42 | 20.7% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 41.5 | | | Median Age = 38.3 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 168 | 46 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 189 | 50 | 0.5% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 251 | 63 | 0.7% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 15 | 54 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 33,683 | 44 | 96.6% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 579 | 44 | 1.7% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 33,807 | 45 | 96.9% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 1,078 | 55 | 3.1% | 9.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2023 (Includes detail not shown below) | 13,929 | 43 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 2,532 | 43 | 18.2% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 5,127 | 41 | 36.8% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 1,071 | 45 | 7.7% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 3,507 | 51 | 25.2% | 29.6% |
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 2024 (estimate) | 15,197 | 46 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 14,940 | 45 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 11,172 | 41 | 74.8% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $205,200 | 25 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 2,757 | 49 | 18.5% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $659 | 42 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 5,620 | 44 | 0.5% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 5,582 | 42 | 0.5% | 1,033,552 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 23,929 | 44 | 0.5% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 92.1% | 19 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 22.8% | 28 | | 28.8% |
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 2023 | $57,565 | 24 | 94.0% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2023 | 76,326 | 15 | 109.9% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 8.5% | 83 | 69.7% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 10.3% | 81 | 68.2% | 15.1% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 6 | 85 | 0.1% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 1,311 | 76 | 0.2% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 1,821 | 61 | 0.4% | 488,145 |
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, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 18,080 | 42 | 0.5% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 17,405 | 41 | 0.5% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 675 | 47 | 0.5% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 3.7 | 70 | 88.1% | 4.2 |
| May 2025 Unemployment Rate | 3.0 | 68 | 88.2% | 3.4 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 18,717 | 100.0% | $1,177,495 | 100.0% | $62,910 |
| Wage and Salary | 14,352 | 76.7% | $856,277 | 72.7% | $59,663 |
| Farm Proprietors | 572 | 3.1% | $31,945 | 2.7% | $55,848 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 3,793 | 20.3% | $88,092 | 7.5% | $23,225 |
| Farm | 659 | 3.5% | $35,975 | 3.1% | $54,590 |
| Nonfarm | 18,058 | 96.5% | $1,141,520 | 96.9% | $63,214 |
| Private | 16,504 | 88.2% | $1,045,994 | 88.8% | $63,378 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 958 | 5.1% | $21,666 | 1.8% | $22,616 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 230 | 1.2% | $3,777 | 0.3% | $16,422 |
| Construction | 942 | 5.0% | $70,915 | 6.0% | $75,281 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Information | 112 | 0.6% | $6,119 | 0.5% | $54,634 |
| Manufacturing | 6,082 | 32.5% | $564,397 | 47.9% | $92,798 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Retail Trade | 1,672 | 8.9% | $64,622 | 5.5% | $38,650 |
| Trans., Warehousing | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Wholesale Trade | 630 | 3.4% | $58,636 | 5.0% | $93,073 |
| Other Private (not above) | 3,204* | 17.1%* | $131,624* | 11.2%* | $41,081* |
| Government | 1,554 | 8.3% | $95,526 | 8.1% | $61,471 |
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, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 100 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $29,608 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 72 | 72.0% | 75.4% | $24,507 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 6 | 6.0% | 1.9% | 1,102 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | $0 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 22 | 22.0% | 21.9% | $4,000 | $1,035,231 |
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 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Churubusco | 1,857 | 5.3% |
| Columbia City | 10,185 | 29.2% |
| Larwill | 276 | 0.8% |
| South Whitley | 1,849 | 5.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers