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Starke County

Starke County, a flat, once-swampy area in northwest Indiana, was organized in 1850, the next-to-the last county in the state. Its shape is due to the fact that the mighty Kankakee River is the western boundary of the county, and building a bridge across the river to what might have been the rest of the county posed a serious financial burden. So the area northwest of the river was included in LaPorte County, leaving only nine townships in Starke County. Before the early 1900s, much of Starke County was a giant swamp. Due to the impassable swamps and marshes, the surveyors who were trying to map out the section lines in the 1830s endured extreme hardships. Families living on higher ground would take a boat to town for supplies several months of the year because the paths were under water. Drainage has allowed most of the area to be productive farmland now, with open ditches and underground tile lines. Some areas are still within the flood plain and are not suitable for housing development. Located at the edge of "the region" where Chicago families look to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and suburbs, Starke County remains rural in nature. Some of the best quality peppermint grows in the muck and other soils of the county, filling the air with a wonderful fragrance during mint harvest. In addition, corn, soybeans, hay, Christmas trees, strawberries, blueberries, vegetables, and other crops provide a source of income for farmers.

Please visit the Starke County communities page for more information about the communities, cities, towns and villages of Starke County.