Formed February 2, 1832 (67th county)
Lagrange County (40,444), Lagrange (2,708)
The classic Renaissance Revival red brick and stone courthouse was built in 1878. It is located on a square at Detroit, Spring, High, and Michigan streets. Indiana State Highway 9 is Detroit Street. The courthouse was designed by T. J. Tolan and Son. The building features a tower. The grounds have a canon, a large gazebo/stage, veteran memorials, and a bison. The county was created on February 2, 1832 as the 67th county with Lima as the county seat. Lagrange assumed the county seat in 1844. The county was taken from Native American Territory. Lima is now named Howe. The county and county seat are named after the estate of Revolutionary War hero Marquis de la Fayette.
Lagrange County government consists of a sheriff, an auditor, a clerk, a coroner, a treasurer, and an assessor (executive). It has 7 Council Members (legislative.) A Circuit Court Judge, a Superior Court Judge, and a prosecutor serve Lagrange County (judicial.) The county is in the northeast part of the state on the border with Michigan. Fort Wayne, Indiana is southeast and South Bend, Indiana is west of the county. The county center is in Lagrange .8 miles Northwest of the city center. The county is surrounded clockwise by Michigan and Steuben, Noble, and Elkhart counties.
The area of the county is 380 square miles. It is 59 out of 92 in the state. It ranks 37 out of 92 in population in the state. It has a density of 106.4 persons per square mile making it 36 out of 92 in the state. Lagrange County has 12.8% of its population in its incorporated areas. Interstate Highways 80/90 skim the top of the county east to west from Steuben County to Elkhart County. United States Highway 20 parallels Interstate Highways 80/90 from Steuben to Elkhart counties. The county is a rectangle with the City of Lagrange located near the county’s center. Lagrange is the county seat and the largest city. It is 6.7% of the county population.
Lagrange
Shipshewana
Topeka
Wolcottville
