View source for Allen County, Indiana

{{short description|County in Indiana, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Allen County
 | state                = Indiana
 | flag                 = Flag of Allen County, Indiana.svg
 | seal                 = File:Seal of Allen County, Indiana.svg
 | founded              = April 1, 1824
 | seat wl              = Fort Wayne
 | largest city wl      = Fort Wayne
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 660.02
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 657.31
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.71
 | area percentage      = 0.41%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 385410
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 399295 {{increase}}
 | pop_est_footnotes    = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lucascountyiowa/PST045224|title=Lucas County, Iowa|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref>
 | density_km2          = auto
 | density_sq_mi        = 607
 | web                  = https://www.allencounty.in.gov/
 | district             = 3rd
 | ex image             = Cortes del Condado de Allen, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 03.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Allen County Courthouse (Indiana)|Allen County Courthouse]] in Fort Wayne
 | footnotes            = {{plainlist|
* Indiana county number 2
* Largest county in Indiana by area
* Third largest county in Indiana by population
}}
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[John Allen (soldier)|John Allen]]
}}

'''Allen County''' is a county in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Indiana]]. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 385,410,<ref name="census-quickfacts">{{cite web|url=https://datausa.io/profile/geo/allen-county-in |title=Allen County QuickFacts |access-date=September 17, 2011 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607074648/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18003.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref> making it the [[List of counties in Indiana|third-most populous county]] in Indiana. The [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]], the second largest city in Indiana.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

Allen County is included in the [[Fort Wayne Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and the [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]]–[[Huntington, Indiana|Huntington]]–[[Auburn, Indiana|Auburn]] [[Combined Statistical Area]]. Allen County is the cultural and economic center of [[Northern Indiana|northeastern Indiana]]. The county is within a {{convert|200|mi|km|adj=on}} radius of major population centers, including [[Chicago]], [[Cincinnati]], [[Cleveland]], [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], [[Detroit]], [[Indianapolis]], [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Milwaukee]], and within a one-day drive of one-third of the U.S. population and one-fifth of Canadians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theallianceonline.com/why-here/accessibility|title=Fort Wayne–Allen County Economic Development Alliance - Accessibility|access-date=September 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927125805/http://www.theallianceonline.com/why-here/accessibility|archive-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref>

Occupied for thousands of years by cultures of [[indigenous peoples]], Allen County was organized by European Americans on December 17, 1823, from Delaware and Randolph counties, and formed on April 1, 1824, at the [[Alexander Ewing (soldier)|Ewing Tavern]]. The county is named for [[John Allen (soldier)|Colonel John Allen]], an attorney and [[Kentucky]] state senator who was killed in the [[War of 1812]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Indiana Place Names|last1=Baker|first1=Ronald L.|last2=Carmony|first2=Marvin|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1975|location=Bloomington, Indiana|page=3}}</ref> Fort Wayne, founded at the confluences of the [[Maumee River|Maumee]], [[St. Joseph River (Maumee River)|St. Joseph]], and [[St. Marys River (Indiana)|St. Marys]] rivers was chosen as the county seat in May 1824.

==Geography==
[[Image:US-IN-Allen County Townships.png|thumb|300px|Allen County townships.]]
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|660.02|sqmi}}, the largest county in Indiana, of which {{convert|657.31|sqmi}} (or 99.59%) is land and {{convert|2.71|sqmi}} (or 0.41%) is water.<ref name="census-density"/>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Noble County, Indiana|Noble County]] (northwest)
* [[DeKalb County, Indiana|DeKalb County]] (north)
* [[Defiance County, Ohio]] (northeast)
* [[Paulding County, Ohio]] (east)
* [[Van Wert County, Ohio]] (southeast)
* [[Adams County, Indiana|Adams County]] (south)
* [[Wells County, Indiana|Wells County]] (south)
* [[Huntington County, Indiana|Huntington County]] (southwest)
* [[Whitley County, Indiana|Whitley County]] (west)

==Municipalities==

===Cities===
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]]
* [[New Haven, Indiana|New Haven]]
* [[Woodburn, Indiana|Woodburn]]
}}

===Towns===
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* [[Grabill, Indiana|Grabill]]
* [[Huntertown, Indiana|Huntertown]]
* [[Leo-Cedarville, Indiana|Leo-Cedarville]]
* [[Monroeville, Indiana|Monroeville]]
* [[Zanesville, Indiana|Zanesville]] (partial)
}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Arcola, Indiana|Arcola]]
* [[Harlan, Indiana|Harlan]]
* [[Hessen Cassel, Indiana|Hessen Cassel]]
* [[Hoagland, Indiana|Hoagland]]
* [[Lake Everett, Indiana|Lake Everett]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* [[Aboite, Indiana|Aboite]]
* [[Academie, Indiana|Academie]]
* [[Ari, Indiana|Ari]] (partial)
* Bluecast
* [[Boston Corner, Indiana|Boston Corner]]
* Cedar Canyons
* [[Cuba, Indiana|Cuba]]
* [[Dixon, Indiana and Ohio|Dixon]] (partial)
* [[Dunfee, Indiana|Dunfee]] (partial)
* [[East Liberty, Indiana|East Liberty]]
* Eastland Gardens
* [[Edgerton, Indiana|Edgerton]]
* Ellison
* [[Ellisville, Indiana|Ellisville]]
* [[Five Points, Allen County, Indiana|Five Points]]
* [[Halls Corners, Indiana|Halls Corners]]
* [[Hursh, Indiana|Hursh]]
* [[Maples, Indiana|Maples]]
* [[Milan Center, Indiana|Milan Center]]
* [[Nine Mile, Indiana|Nine Mile]]
* [[Poe, Indiana|Poe]]
* River Haven
* [[Royville, Indiana|Royville]]
* Sunnymede Woods
* Tanglewood
* [[Tillman, Indiana|Tillman]]
* Timbercrest
* [[Townley, Indiana|Townley]]
* [[Yoder, Indiana|Yoder]]
* [[Zulu, Indiana|Zulu]]
}}

===Extinct===
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* Centreville
* Fairport
* Lewisburg
* Massillon
* Wallen
* Waynedale
}}

===Townships===
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* [[Aboite Township, Allen County, Indiana|Aboite Township]]
* [[Adams Township, Allen County, Indiana|Adams Township]]
* [[Cedar Creek Township, Allen County, Indiana|Cedar Creek Township]]
* [[Eel River Township, Allen County, Indiana|Eel River Township]]
* [[Jackson Township, Allen County, Indiana|Jackson Township]]
* [[Jefferson Township, Allen County, Indiana|Jefferson Township]]
* [[Lafayette Township, Allen County, Indiana|Lafayette Township]]
* [[Lake Township, Allen County, Indiana|Lake Township]]
* [[Madison Township, Allen County, Indiana|Madison Township]]
* [[Marion Township, Allen County, Indiana|Marion Township]]
* [[Maumee Township, Allen County, Indiana|Maumee Township]]
* [[Milan Township, Allen County, Indiana|Milan Township]]
* [[Monroe Township, Allen County, Indiana|Monroe Township]]
* [[Perry Township, Allen County, Indiana|Perry Township]]
* [[Pleasant Township, Allen County, Indiana|Pleasant Township]]
* [[Scipio Township, Allen County, Indiana|Scipio Township]]
* [[Springfield Township, Allen County, Indiana|Springfield Township]]
* [[St. Joseph Township, Allen County, Indiana|St. Joseph Township]]
* [[Washington Township, Allen County, Indiana|Washington Township]]
* [[Wayne Township, Allen County, Indiana|Wayne Township]]
}}

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Allen County, Indiana age pyramid.svg|thumb|left]]
{{US Census population
|1830= 996
|1840= 5942
|1850= 16919
|1860= 29328
|1870= 43494
|1880= 54763
|1890= 66689
|1900= 77270
|1910= 93386
|1920= 114303
|1930= 146743
|1940= 155084
|1950= 183722
|1960= 232196
|1970= 280455
|1980= 294335
|1990= 300836
|2000= 331849
|2010= 355329
|2020= 385410
|estyear=2024
|estimate=399295
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 10, 2014  }}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|archive-date=August 11, 2012}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004214054/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|archive-date=October 4, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|archive-date=December 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="census-quickfacts"/> 2024<ref name=qf/>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 355,329&nbsp;people, 137,851&nbsp;households, and 90,892&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18003
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=July 10, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033421/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18003
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|540.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 152,184 housing units at an average density of {{convert|231.5|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18003
  |access-date=July 10, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213193035/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18003
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% white, 11.7% black or African American, 2.7% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.9% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.5% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 33.4% were [[Germans|German]], 11.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 10.7% were [[Americans|American]], and 8.1% were [[English people|English]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18003
  |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 10, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002725/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18003
  |archive-date=February 14, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 137,851&nbsp;households, 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.1% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age was 35.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $60,184. Males had a median income of $45,294 versus $33,685 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,532. About 9.1% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18003
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 10, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002805/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18003
  |archive-date=February 14, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Fort Wayne is cited as having the highest [[Bamar|Burmese]] [[refugee]] population in the United States, with between 3,000 and 3,500.<ref>Linsenmayer, Steve, ''[http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/NEWS/707120314 A foot in the door: 300 refugees from Burma will move to Fort Wayne this year; getting them settled is a huge and challenging task ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228193123/http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070712%2FNEWS%2F707120314 |date=February 28, 2008 }}'', ''[[Fort Wayne News-Sentinel]]'', July 12, 2007. Accessed January 27, 2008.</ref>

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+Allen County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Allen County, Indiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Allen%20County,%20Indiana&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|270,149
|70.1%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|43,629
|11.32%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|883
|0.23%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|18,191
|4.72%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|138
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race (United States census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|19,497
|5.1%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|32,923
|8.54%
|}

===Amish community===
Since 1852, Allen County has been home to an [[Amish|Old Order Amish]] community that speaks an [[Alsatian dialect]], which is quite rare among Amish. There are about 3,190 Amish living around [[Grabill, Indiana|Grabill]] and [[New Haven, Indiana|New Haven]] as of 2017.<ref name=update>[http://amishamerica.com/12-largest-amish-communities-2017/ The 12 Largest Amish Communities (2017).] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101125752/http://amishamerica.com/12-largest-amish-communities-2017/ |date=January 1, 2018 }} at Amish America</ref>

==Government==
{{see also|Government of Indiana}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname        = Allen County Sheriff's Department
| patch             = 
| subdivtype        = County (United States)
| subdivname        = Allen County, Indiana
| divtype           = State
| divname           = Indiana
| country           = United States
| legaljuris        = opsjuris
| police            = yes
| local             = yes
| stations          = 
| lockuptype        = Jail
| lockups           = 
| boats1            = 
| chief1name        = Troy R. Hershberger
| chief1position    = Sheriff
| chief2name        = 
| chief2position    = 
}}

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

'''County Council:''' The seven member county council has the ultimate decision-making power regarding fiscal affairs of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Four representatives are elected from county districts, and three members are elected at large. The council members serve four-year terms. 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.<ref name = inc3623>{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|author-link=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html |title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081005194234/http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html| archive-date= October 5, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name = inc2102>{{cite web|author= Indiana Code|author-link= Indiana Code|url= http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |title= Title 2, Article 10, Section 2 |access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081029030838/http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf| archive-date= October 29, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

'''Board of Commissioners:''' The executive and administrative body of the county is made of a three-member board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners serves as president of the board. The commissioners are charged with enacting and executing legislation, the collection of revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.<ref name = inc3623/><ref name = inc2102/>

'''Court:''' The county maintains a Circuit Court and a Superior Court.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.in.gov/judiciary/allen |title=Allen County Courts - Indiana |access-date=October 15, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019023931/http://www.in.gov/judiciary/allen/ |archive-date=October 19, 2008  }}</ref> These are the trial courts of [[general jurisdiction]]. Allen Superior Court hears the vast majority of cases, and has several divisions with multiple courtrooms. There are 9 judges hearing cases on the Allen Superior Court; the Chief Judge of the Allen Superior Court is the Honorable Frances "Fran" C. Gull, first elected as a judge in 1996.

'''County Officials:''' The county has several other elected offices, including [[sheriff]], [[coroner]], [[auditor]], treasurer, [[recorder of deeds|recorder]], [[surveying|surveyor]], and circuit [[court clerk]]. Each of these elected officers serves a 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.<ref name = inc2102/>

The county government operates the [[County jail|jail]], maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains [[vital records]], administers [[public health]] regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services.

Allen County is part of [[Indiana's 3rd congressional district]] and is represented by [[Marlin Stutzman]] in the [[United States Congress]]. It is part of [[Indiana Senate]] districts 14, 15, 16, 17 and 19;<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm
|title=Indiana Senate Districts
|publisher=State of Indiana
|access-date=January 23, 2011
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110115070750/http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm| archive-date= January 15, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> and [[Indiana House of Representatives]] districts 50, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm
|title=Indiana House Districts
|publisher=State of Indiana
|access-date=January 23, 2011
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110115070752/http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm| archive-date= January 15, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Over the last 100 years, Allen County has been a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. The Democratic national landslides of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1932 and 1936 as well as [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1964 constitute the only occasions since then that a Republican presidential candidate failed to carry the county, and even in 1964, Johnson only won the county by 1.4% and less than 1,500 votes. As of 2020, [[Joe Biden]] was the highest vote earner for a Democratic candidate in the history of the county with 73,189 votes. [[Donald Trump]] achieved the same feat for his party, with 92,083 votes.

Although Allen County is rather conservative for an urban county, the presence of Fort Wayne makes the county one of the Democrats' strongest counties in Indiana. In 2008, [[Barack Obama]] became the first Democratic president after Johnson to receive 40% of the county's vote. While he lost the county by 4 points, the closest that a Democrat has come to carrying the county, he won the city of Fort Wayne itself by six points.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2008 Presidential General Election Results - Indiana|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2008&off=0&elect=0&fips=18&f=0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104121709/http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2008&fips=18&f=0&off=0&elect=0 |archive-date=November 4, 2008 }}</ref> However, in 2016, [[Donald Trump]] won the county by 19 points and city by 6, but in 2020, while [[Joe Biden]] lost the county by 11 points, he recaptured Fort Wayne.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bloch|first1=Matthew|last2=Buchanan|first2=Larry|last3=Katz|first3=Josh|last4=Quealy|first4=Kevin|date=July 25, 2018|title=An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2016 Presidential Election|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/upshot/election-2016-voting-precinct-maps.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/upshot/election-2016-voting-precinct-maps.html|access-date=April 11, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Park|first1=Alice|last2=Smart|first2=Charlie|last3=Taylor|first3=Rumsey|last4=Watkins|first4=Miles|date=February 2, 2021|title=An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html|access-date=April 11, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The last Democratic Governor to win the county was [[Frank O'Bannon]] in [[2000 Indiana gubernatorial election|2000]] and the last Senator was [[Evan Bayh]] during his [[2004 United States Senate election in Indiana|2004 landslide]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=2000 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Indiana|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2000&fips=18&off=5&elect=0&f=0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060603002840/http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2000&fips=18&off=5&elect=0&f=0 |archive-date=June 3, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=2004 Senatorial General Election Results - Indiana|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2004&off=3&class=3&elect=0&fips=18&f=0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920235245/http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2004&fips=18&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=3 |archive-date=September 20, 2012 }}</ref>

Following the 1930 Census, Fort Wayne was drawn into [[Indiana's 4th congressional district]], which essentially became the 3rd district following 2000 Census. Fort Wayne has been represented in House by Republicans for all but 20 years since 1932. The streak was only broken by four Democrats: [[James Indus Farley]] from 1933 to 1939, [[Edward H. Kruse]] for a single term in 1949–1951, [[J. Edward Roush]] from 1971 to 1977 and [[Jill Long Thompson]] from 1989 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Voteview {{!}} District View|url=https://voteview.com/district/Fort%20Wayne,%20IN|access-date=April 22, 2021|website=voteview.com}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Allen County, Indiana|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|5,455|9,692|257|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|5,486|10,010|625|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|8,467|9,909|256|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|8,250|10,764|295|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|10,261|9,250|856|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|9,468|12,145|900|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|3,423|8,659|6,487|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|10,169|9,470|2,451|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|24,208|13,804|4,165|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|25,207|17,244|4,122|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|34,234|26,292|194|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|27,065|38,447|1,050|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|24,765|39,151|2,230|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|40,430|29,967|312|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|41,907|30,445|357|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|37,494|31,239|703|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|54,877|27,506|558|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|58,210|25,444|190|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|60,103|39,235|280|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|49,284|50,706|363|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|59,211|40,411|9,332|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|76,924|38,621|654|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|71,321|44,744|1,704|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|68,524|37,765|12,609|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|75,505|38,462|1,008|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|74,638|39,238|1,059|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|55,003|39,629|26,945|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|59,255|41,450|9,940|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|70,426|41,636|2,258|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|82,013|46,710|886|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|77,793|71,263|1,491|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|84,613|60,036|2,597|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|83,930|55,382|9,320|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|92,083|73,189|4,288|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|90,283|69,960|3,407|Indiana}}
{{PresFoot}}

===Elected officials===
* '''[[county commission|Board of Commissioners]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.co.allen.in.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=278&Itemid=357|title= Allen County Government – Commissioners|access-date= May 22, 2008|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080722213329/http://www.co.allen.in.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=278&Itemid=357|archive-date= July 22, 2008|df= mdy-all}}</ref>
** Richard E. Beck Jr.
** Therese M. Brown
** F. Nelson Peters
* [[Prosecuting Attorney]], Michael McAlexander
* [[Sheriff]], Troy R. Hershberger
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]], William Royce

<small>(information as of January 2024)</small>

==Court house==
[[Image:Cortes del Condado de Allen, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 01.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Allen County Courthouse, looking west in 2012.]]
The [[Allen County Courthouse (Indiana)|Allen County Courthouse]] was designed by [[Brentwood S. Tolan]] of Fort Wayne, and was built by James Stewart and Company of [[Saint Louis, Missouri]]. When the cornerstone was laid in 1897, the oldest man in the county, Louis Peltier, was present; he remembered Fort Wayne when it was a fort. The courthouse was completed in 1902 at a total cost of $817,553. At its dedication, Mayor [[Henry C. Berghoff]] and Governor [[Winfield T. Durbin]] were present. President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] was scheduled to attend as well, although he ultimately did not. Built in the [[Beaux-Arts architecture]] style, it was one of the most expensive courthouses in the state. It also was filled with artwork that cost more than other entire courthouses of the time. The courthouse has been protected as a [[National Historic Landmark]] since 2003. The building is now used primarily as a government annex, as most of the offices were moved across Main Street to the Edwin J. Rousseau Centre in 1971.<ref>{{cite book| last = Counts| first = Will|author2=Jon Dilts| title = The 92 Magnificent Indiana Courthouses|publisher=Indiana University Press| year = 1991| location = Bloomington, Indiana| isbn = 978-0-253-33638-5| pages = 10–11}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{climate chart
|[[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]
|16|31|2.05
|19|36|1.94
|29|47|2.86
|38|60|3.54
|49|72|3.75
|59|81|4.04
|63|84|3.58
|60|82|3.60
|53|75|2.81
|42|63|2.63
|33|49|2.98
|22|36|2.77
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web
|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0211
|title=Monthly Averages for Fort Wayne, Indiana
|access-date=January 27, 2011
|publisher=The Weather Channel
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604212653/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0211| archive-date=June 4, 2011| url-status= live}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in Fort Wayne have ranged from a low of {{convert|16|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|84|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-24|°F}} was recorded in January 1918 and a record high of {{convert|106|°F}} was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.94|in}} in February to {{convert|4.04|in}} in June.<ref name="weather"/>

==Economy==
In the latter half of the 20th century, shifts in manufacturing patterns led to the reduction of the number of manufacturing plants and jobs in Allen County. However, Allen County's economy has diversified with time to include defense and security, healthcare, and insurance.<ref name="city-data.com">{{cite web|url= http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Fort-Wayne-Economy.html|title= Fort Wayne: Economy – City-Data|access-date= April 29, 2008|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080517012233/http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Fort-Wayne-Economy.html|archive-date= May 17, 2008|df= mdy-all}}</ref> Agriculture is also a vital part of the county's economy. In 2009, ''[[Forbes]]'' ranked the Fort Wayne metropolitan area 67th on its list of 200 metropolitan areas in the "Best Places For Business And Careers" report. Individually, Fort Wayne was ranked 5th in cost of living and 12th in cost of doing business.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news|url= https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/1/bizplaces09_Fort-Wayne-IN_2548.html|title= Forbes Best Places For Business And Careers Fort Wayne Profile|access-date= March 28, 2009|date= March 25, 2009|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090401215751/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/1/bizplaces09_Fort-Wayne-IN_2548.html|archive-date= April 1, 2009|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

Notable companies headquartered in Allen County include [[Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company]], [[Do it Best]], [[Franklin Electric]], [[Global Van Lines]], [[Indiana Michigan Power]], [[K&K Insurance]], [[Lutheran Health Network]], [[MedPro Group]], [[North American Van Lines]], [[Parkview Health]], [[Rea Magnet Wire Company]], [[Steel Dynamics]], [[Sweetwater Sound]], and [[Vera Bradley]].

==Education==
[[Image:US-IN-Allen County School Districts.png|thumb|300px|Public school districts: [[East Allen County Schools]] (yellow), [[Fort Wayne Community Schools]] (pink), [[Northwest Allen County Schools]] (blue), and [[Southwest Allen County Schools]] (green).]]
Allen County is home of [[Purdue University Fort Wayne|Purdue Fort Wayne]] (PFW), with an enrollment of 14,192, it is the fifth-largest [[public university]] campus in Indiana. The county also holds the main campus of the Northeast Region of [[Ivy Tech Community College]], the second-largest public [[community college]] campus in Indiana. [[Indiana University]] maintains the third public higher educational facility in the city with the Fort Wayne Center for Medical Education, a branch of the IU School of Medicine.

Religious-affiliated schools in the county include the [[University of Saint Francis (Indiana)|University of Saint Francis]] (Roman Catholic), [[Concordia Theological Seminary]] ([[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod|Lutheran]]), and [[Indiana Wesleyan University]] ([[Wesleyan Church]]). Business and technical schools include [[Indiana Institute of Technology]] (IIT) as well as regional branches of [[Trine University]], [[Brown Mackie College - Fort Wayne|Brown Mackie College]], [[Harrison College (Indiana)|Harrison College]], [[ITT Technical Institute]], and [[International Business College Fort Wayne, IN|International Business College]].

===K-12 schools===
Public education is offered in the four districts: [[East Allen County Schools]], [[Fort Wayne Community Schools]], [[Northwest Allen County Schools]], and [[Southwest Allen County Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18003_allen/DC20SD_C18003.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Allen County, IN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18003_allen/DC20SD_C18003_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> By means of private education, the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend]] operate 13 schools within Allen County, while [[Indiana District (LCMS)|Lutheran Schools of Indiana]] operate 14 schools within the county. In addition, [[Blackhawk Christian School]] and [[Canterbury School (Fort Wayne, Indiana)|Canterbury School]] offer private K-12 education in Fort Wayne, while Amish Parochial Schools of Indiana has schools through eighth grade in rural eastern Allen County.<ref>''The Amish Schools of Indiana: Faith in Education'', by Stephen Bowers; p. 40 Harroff. Retrieved on July 25, 2009</ref>

===Libraries===
Fort Wayne and Allen County residents have been served by the [[Allen County Public Library]] (ACPL) and its thirteen branches since its founding in 1895 as the Fort Wayne Public Library. The entire library system began an $84.1&nbsp;million overhaul of its branches in 2002, finishing work by 2007.<ref>Perez, Pamela, (September 27, 2001). The debate over the library It could revitalize downtown, say supporters. It's too big, say opponents. ''The News-Sentinel''. Retrieved on February 6, 2009</ref> The centerpiece, the Main Library Branch, now covers {{convert|367000|sqft|m2}}, featuring an art gallery, underground parking garage, bookstore, café, and community auditorium.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/locations/index.html|title= Allen County Public Library – Main Library Branch|publisher= Allen County Public Library|access-date= May 17, 2008|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080517121045/http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/locations/index.html|archive-date= May 17, 2008|df= mdy-all}}</ref> According to data from 2005, 5.4&nbsp;million materials were borrowed by patrons, and 2.5&nbsp;million visits were made throughout the library system.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/renovation/progressmain.html|title= Allen County Public Library Expansion and Renovation Project|publisher= Allen County Public Library|access-date= May 27, 2008|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080604125957/http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/renovation/progressmain.html|archive-date= June 4, 2008|df= mdy-all}}</ref> The Fred J. Reynolds Historical Genealogy Department, located in the Main Library Branch, is the largest public [[genealogy]] department in the United States, home to more than 350,000 printed volumes and 513,000 items of [[microfilm]] and [[microfiche]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/index.html |title=Allen County Public Library – Genealogy |publisher=Allen County Public Library |access-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808214830/http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/index.html |archive-date=August 8, 2010 }}</ref>

==Parks==
In addition to the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation department (see [[List of parks in Fort Wayne, Indiana]]), Allen County Parks operates four parks:
* Fox Island (southwest Allen County near Aboite)
* Metea (northeast Allen County near Leo)
* Payton (northern Allen County near Huntertown)
* Cook's Landing (northern Allen County on Coldwater Rd.)

Allen County Parks are only partially tax supported. Operating expenses must be met through user and program fees. Admission is $2.00 per person age 7 and older. Passes are available on an annual basis (good for one year from purchase date) starting at $15.00. Activities at various parks include hiking, swimming, fishing, sledding, cross-country skiing (rentals available), playgrounds, picnic areas, play fields, and many nature-based programs for all ages. Wheeled vehicles (except wheelchairs) are not permitted on trails, and pets are not permitted in the state nature preserve areas (clearly marked).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://allencountyparks.org/parks/|title= Allen County Parks|publisher= Allen County Parks|access-date= June 5, 2009|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110725000153/http://allencountyparks.org/parks/|archive-date= July 25, 2011|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[Image:US-IN-Allen County Municipalities.png|thumb|right|300px|Map of Allen County, Indiana with municipalities and major roadways. Unincorporated towns represented by red dot.]]

===Highways===
{|
|----- valign="top"
|
* {{Jct|state=IN|I|69}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|I|469}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|US|24}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|US|27}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|US|30}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|US|33}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|SR|1}}
|
* {{Jct|state=IN|SR|3}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|SR|14}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|SR|37}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|SR|101}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|SR|205}}
* {{Jct|state=IN|SR|930}}
|}
* [[Airport Expressway (Fort Wayne)|Airport Expressway]]

===Airports===
* [[Fort Wayne International Airport]]
* [[Smith Field (Indiana)|Smith Field]]

===Railroads===
* [[Chicago Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad]]
* [[CSX Transportation]]
* [[Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railroad]]
* [[Norfolk Southern Railway]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Allen County, Indiana]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|title=History of Allen County, Indiana|author1-last=Helm|author1-first=Thomas B.|author2-last=Newton|author2-first=L. H.|location=Evansville, Indiana|publisher=Unigraphic|year=1972|oclc=3162754}}
* {{cite book|title=History of Allen County, Indiana|location=Chicago|publisher=Kingman Brothers|year=1880}} ({{Internet Archive|id=historicalatlasalle00unse|name=History of Allen County, Indiana}})
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.allencounty.us/ Allen County official website]
* [http://www.allencountyparks.org Allen County Parks Department]
* [http://www.archfw.org/ ARCH, Inc. (Allen County historic architecture preservation group)]
* [http://www.visitfortwayne.com/ Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.greaterfortwayneinc.com Greater Fort Wayne Inc. - Economic Development for Allen County]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Allen County, Indiana
|North = [[DeKalb County, Indiana|DeKalb County]]
|Northeast = [[Defiance County, Ohio]]
|East = [[Paulding County, Ohio]]
|Southeast = [[Van Wert County, Ohio]]
|South = [[Adams County, Indiana|Adams County]] and [[Wells County, Indiana|Wells County]]
|Southwest = [[Huntington County, Indiana|Huntington County]]
|West = [[Whitley County, Indiana|Whitley County]]
|Northwest = [[Noble County, Indiana|Noble County]]
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles relating to Allen County
|list =
{{Allen County High Schools}}
{{Allen County, Indiana}}
{{Fort Wayne Metro}}
{{Indiana}}
}}

{{Coord|41.09|-85.06|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Allen County, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Indiana counties]]
[[Category:Fort Wayne, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:1824 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1824]]