Allen

Formed December 12, 1823 (48^th county)

Allen County (385,411), Fort Wayne (263,914)

The capitol style Beaux Arts courthouse was built in 1902.  It replaced an 1862 facility also in Fort Wayne, the only county seat.  It is located at Main, Calhoun, Berry, and Clinton streets.  United States Highway 27 is Calhoun Street.  Brentwood S. Tolan is the masonry courthouse architect.  The grounds feature a park setting in the front with veteran memorials.  The structure has a dome with a working clock.  The county administration building is across the street.  Allen County was established on December 12, 1823 from Native American Territory as the 48^th county.  It is named for War of 1812 hero Colonel John Allen.  Revolutionary War hero General Anthony Wayne inspired the county seat name.  He is also the inspiration for Wayne County. 

Allen County government consists of a sheriff, 3 Commissioners, and 7 Council Members.  A Circuit Court Judge and Eight Superior Court Judges serve Allen County.  The county is in northeast Indiana on the border with Ohio.  Toledo, Ohio is northeast and Indianapolis, Indiana is southwest of the county.  The county center is in Fort Wayne 7.2 miles East of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by De Kalb County and Ohio and Adams, Wells, Huntington, Whitley, and Noble counties. 

The area of the county is 657 square miles.  It is 1 out of 92 in the state.  It ranks 3 out of 92 in population in the state.  It has a density of 586.6 persons per square mile making it 6 out of 92 in the state.  Allen County has 76.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 69 goes north to south through the county from De Kalb County to Wells County.  United States Highway 24 travels east to west from Ohio to Whitley County.  United States Highway 27 enters from the north joined with Interstate Highway 69, splits and exits south into Adams County.  United States Highway 30 goes southeast to northwest from Ohio to Whitley County.  United States Highway 33 is joined with United States Highway 27 from Adams County, south, splits and goes to Whitley County, northwest.  The county is a rectangle with the northwest corner notched away.  Fort Wayne is located in the western half of the county.  Fort Wayne is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 68.5% of the county population.  This county is in the Fort Wayne Metropolitan Statistical Area.