DeKalb County
County
The DeKalb County courthouse in Auburn, Indiana.
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°22′01″N 85°03′32″W / 41.36694°N 85.05889°W / 41.36694; -85.05889
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	February 7, 1835 (authorized) 1837 (organized)
Named for	Johann, Baron de Kalb
Seat	Auburn
Largest city	Auburn
Area
• Total	363.85 sq mi (942.4 km2)
• Land	362.82 sq mi (939.7 km2)
• Water	1.03 sq mi (2.7 km2)  0.28%
Population  (2020)
• Total	43,265
• Estimate  (2023)	44,198
• Density	120/sq mi (46/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	DeKalb County Government
Indiana county number 17

DeKalb County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 43,265.^[1] The county seat is Auburn.^[2]

History

On February 7, 1835, the Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus bill^[3] that authorized the creation of thirteen counties in northeast Indiana on previously unorganized land (including the recent Wabash New Purchase).^[4] The organization of the county's government commenced in 1837.^[5] It was named for General Johann de Kalb, a Continental Army officer from Bavaria, who was killed at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina.^[6][7] The first settlers in the future DeKalb County were from New England, settling what was then known as the Northwest Territory.^{[where?][citation needed]} These people were "Yankee" migrants, descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era.^[8] In the 1870s immigrants from Ireland and Germany began arriving in DeKalb County, in large numbers.^[9][10][11]

Geography

DeKalb County lies on the east side of Indiana; its east border abuts the western border of Ohio. Its low, rolling terrain is entirely devoted to agriculture or urban development.^[12] Its highest point (1,060 feet/320 meters ASL) is a small rise in the NW portion of the county, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Fairfield Center.^[13] The Saint Joseph River flows southwestward through the SE portion of the county, while the western part of the county is drained by Cedar Creek.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 363.85 square miles (942.4 km²), of which 362.82 square miles (939.7 km²) (or 99.72%) is land and 1.03 square miles (2.7 km²) (or 0.28%) is water.^[14]

Adjacent counties

Cities and towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Major highways

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Auburn have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.42 inches (36 mm) in February to 4.17 inches (106 mm) in June.^[15]

Government

The county government is a constitutional body, granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana and the Indiana Code.

County Council: The fiscal branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.^[16][17]

Board of Commissioners: A three-member board of commissioners combines executive and non-fiscal legislative powers. Commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners also function as the county drainage board, exercising control over the construction and maintenance of legal drains.^[16][17]

Courts: DeKalb County has a Circuit Court (75th Judicial Circuit) and two Superior Courts. By local rule, approved by the Indiana Supreme Court,^[18] the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court is currently limited to juvenile and domestic cases. Criminal, civil and domestic cases are heard in the two superior courts. Judges of each court are elected for six-year terms on partisan tickets.

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. Each officer is elected to a four-year term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare a party affiliation and to be residents of the county.^[17]

DeKalb County is part of Indiana's 3rd congressional district and in 2008 was represented by Mark Souder in the United States Congress.^[19] It is in Indiana Senate districts 13 and 14,^[20] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 51, 52 and 85.^[21]