Valparaiso ( ), colloquially Valpo, is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 34,151 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
History The site of present-day Valparaiso was included in the purchase of land from the Potawatomi people by the U.S. Government in October 1832. Chiqua's town or ChipuawOne of the earliest Authentic histories of Porter County, Indiana, From 1832 to 1876; Deborah H. Shults-Gay; ca 1917 was located a mile east of the current Courthouse along the Sauk Trail. Chiqua's town existed from or before 1830 until after 1832.Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History; Helen Hornbeck Tanner; University of Oklahoma Press; Norman, Oklahoma, 1987; map 25 The location is just north of the railroad crossing on State Route 2 and County Road 400 North.
Located on the ancient Native American trail from Rock Island to Detroit, the town had its first log cabin in 1834. Established in 1836 as Portersville, county seat of Porter County, it was renamed to Valparaiso (meaning "Vale of Paradise" in Old Spanish) in 1837 after Valparaíso, Chile, near which the county's namesake David Porter battled in the Battle of Valparaiso during the War of 1812. The city was once called the "City of Churches" due to the large number of churches located there at the end of the 19th century. Valparaiso Male and Female College, one of the earliest higher education institutions admitting both men and women in the country, was founded in Valparaiso in 1859, but closed its doors in 1871 before reopening in 1873 as the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute. In the early 20th century, it became Valparaiso College, then Valparaiso University. It was initially affiliated with the Methodist Church but after 1925 with the Lutheran University Association (which has relationships both with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and expanded significantly after World War II.
From the 1890s until 1969, there were no African-American residents in Valparaiso. This has been attributed to Valparaiso being a sundown town. There was also substantial activity by the Ku Klux Klan, which negotiated to purchase Valparaiso University in 1923. The first African-American family to move to Valparaiso faced intimidation and eventually left the city when a visiting relative was murdered. In recent years, the city's racial composition has diversified.
Valparaiso also has a long history of being a transportation hub for the region. In 1858, the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad reached Valparaiso, connecting the city directly to Chicago. By 1910, an interurban railway connected the city to Gary, Indiana. Today, while the city no longer has a passenger train station, it is still very much a part of the "Crossroads of America" due to its proximity to I-65, I-80, I-90, and I-94. Additionally, the Canadian National railroad still runs freight on the tracks, including through the downtown area.
Until 1991, Valparaiso was the terminal of Amtrak's Calumet commuter service.
Geography
The city is situated at the junctions of U.S. Route 30, State Road 2, and State Road 49.
According to the 2010 census, Valparaiso has a total area of , of which (or 99.69%) is land and (or 0.31%) is water.
Topography The city is situated on the Valparaiso Moraine, a prominent glacial feature formed by receding glaciers and creating a distinct hilly landscape in the region.
Glaciation has left numerous features on the landscape here. Kettle lakes and knobs make up much of this particular area of Northwest Indiana. The Pines Ski Area is the only remaining kame in the city; the other one is under the university's Chapel of the Resurrection, however, grading of land in that area makes that particular kame almost nonexistent. Many glacial erratics can be found throughout the city. The moraine has left the city with mostly clay soil.
Climate
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Valparaiso had a population of 34,151. The median age was 36.8 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.2 males age 18 and over.
99.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.6% lived in rural areas.
There were 14,032 households in Valparaiso, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.6% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 14,987 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 28,117 82.3% Black or African American 1,391 4.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 115 0.3% Asian 784 2.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 16 0.0% Some other race 1,147 3.4% Two or more races 2,581 7.6% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 3,259 9.5%
2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 31,730 people, 12,610 households, and 7,117 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 13,506 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.9% White, 3.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.1% of the population.
There were 12,610 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.6% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.99.
The median age in the city was 33.4 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 15.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 13.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 27,428 people, 10,867 households, and 6,368 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 11,559 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.35% White, 1.60% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.34% of the population.
There were 10,867 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 17.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,799, and the median income for a family was $60,637. Males had a median income of $46,452 versus $26,544 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,509. About 4.8% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over. Arts and culture The Valparaiso Downtown Commercial District, Washington Street Historic District, and the Banta Neighborhood feature many historic homes; architectural designs include, Italianate, Arts & Crafts, and English/Cotswold.
Live theater Chicago Street Theatre, run by the local Community Theater Guild The Memorial Opera House, a musical theater venue Valparaiso Theatrical Company, a non-profit community theatre group focused on providing fund-raising opportunities for other non-profit organizations through theatrical performance
Museums Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University Museum of Fire Fighting Porter County Museum, also known as the Old Jail Museum
City fairs
The city holds two major festivals every year: the Popcorn Festival and the Porter County Fair. The Popcorn Festival is held on the first Saturday after Labor Day. It honors Orville Redenbacher, a former resident who built a popcorn factory there. Redenbacher participated in most of the festival's parades until his death in 1995. The festival also features foot racing events and multiple concerts in addition to typical fair activities. The Porter County Fair consists of carnival attractions and hosts a variety of shows such as a demolition derby, motocross races, and live musical performances.
Public library Valparaiso has a public library, a branch of the Porter County Public Library System.
Historic buildings and districts Porter County Courthouse replaced an earlier brick building in 1883. The current building is 128 feet by 98 feet. It was built with a square tower rising out of the center. The tower was 168 feet tall with a clock on each side. A fire in 1934 damaged the interior, requiring the removal of the tower.Neeley, George E.; City of Valparaiso, A Pictorial History; G. Bradley Publishing, Inc.; St. Louis, Missouri; 1989
National Register of Historic Places
A number of buildings and districts in the city are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Charles S. and Mary McGill House Conrad and Catherine Bloch House David Garland Rose House DeForest Skinner House Dr. David J. Loring Residence and Clinic Haste-Crumpacker House Heritage Hall Immanuel Lutheran Church Porter County Jail and Sheriff's House Porter County Memorial Opera Hall Valparaiso Downtown Commercial District Washington Street Historic District William McCallum House
Parks and recreation Valparaiso has an extensive city park district. In 2005 there were 13 parks, with another in the planning stages.Your Guide to Summer Fun! Indiana Dunes, The Casual Coast; Porter County Convention and Recreation and Visitors Commission, 2005
Parks
200 East (East McCord Rd) – a community park with a playground; where many of the city's legendary athletes played football as youngsters. Football at 200 East Park is a staple for young kids growing up in the neighborhood. Bicentennial Park (Burlington Beach Road & Campbell St) – Provides a full range of activities, including a playground, basketball courts, ball diamond and picnic shelters. A prairie restoration is under way in the north half of the park. Central Park Plaza (Lincolnway and Lafayette St) – is the centerpiece of the Downtown Valparaiso revitalization and opened the summer of 2011. It has an outdoor amphitheater for concerts and other special events as well as a splash pad in the center of the park for kids to play. Fairgrounds Park (Calumet & Evans Avenues) – Has the largest complex of ball diamonds and soccer fields in the city. A playground and basketball court are available. Numerous city sports leagues use Fairgrounds Park for their games and tournaments. The park is surrounded by a paved walking circuit that is well occupied on nice days. Foundation Meadows (Campbell Street & Bullseye Lake Rd) – One of the city's newer parks