LaGrange County is a county in Indiana, United States, in the Michiana region of the state’s far north. It had a population of 40,446 at the 2020 census and covers 386.70 square miles (1,001.5 km2) centred near 41°38′30″N 85°25′00″W.
LaGrange is the county seat, and its postal code is 46761. The county has 4 incorporated towns, several unincorporated communities, 11 civil townships, and runs on Eastern time. LaGrange County is home to Indiana’s largest Amish settlement, with Amish residents making up roughly half the population.
Towns & Villages in LaGrange County
LaGrange County has just 4 incorporated towns — LaGrange, Shipshewana, Topeka, and Wolcottville — plus a long list of unincorporated communities and rural crossroads scattered through its 11 townships. Type key: Town = incorporated; Unincorp. = unincorporated community or crossroads.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaGrange | Town · seat | Greenfield | 2,858 | 46761 |
| Shipshewana | Town | Newbury | 721 | 46565 |
| Topeka | Town | Springfield | 1,180 | 46571 |
| Wolcottville | Town | Lima | 913 | 46795 |
| Howe | Unincorp. | Johnson | — | 46746 |
| Mongo | Unincorp. | Springfield | — | 46771 |
| South Milford | Unincorp. | Greenfield | — | 46786 |
| Stroh | Unincorp. | Greenfield | — | 46789 |
| Emma | Unincorp. | Newbury | — | — |
| Honeyville | Unincorp. | Van Buren | — | — |
| Ontario | Unincorp. | Clay | — | — |
| Brighton | Unincorp. | Bloomfield | — | — |
| Greenfield Mills | Unincorp. | Greenfield | — | — |
| Scott | Unincorp. | Eden | — | — |
| Indianola | Unincorp. | Clearspring | — | — |
| Woodruff | Unincorp. | Milford | — | — |
A handful of names on older lists are lake-cottage subdivisions rather than settlements in their own right — Beatys Beach, Gravel Beach, Lakeside Park, Lakeview, Oak Lodge, Ramblewood, River Oaks, Sha-Get Acres, Shady Nook, Tall Timbers, Timberhurst, Twin Lakes, Webers Landing, Witmer Manor, Woodland Hills, and Woodland Park, mostly grouped around Adams, Oliver, and Big Turkey lakes. They are genuine local place-names still used on mail and maps, just not census-tracked population centers.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Greenfield | — | LaGrange, South Milford, Stroh, Greenfield Mills |
| Newbury | — | Shipshewana, Emma |
| Springfield | — | Topeka, Mongo |
| Lima | — | Wolcottville |
| Johnson | — | Howe |
| Van Buren | — | Honeyville |
| Clay | — | Ontario |
| Bloomfield | — | Brighton |
| Eden | — | Scott |
| Clearspring | — | Indianola |
| Milford | — | Woodruff |
The Census Bureau does not publish separate 2020 population counts for LaGrange County’s 11 townships.
ZIP Codes
- 46761 — LaGrange (also serves the county seat area)
- 46565 — Shipshewana
- 46571 — Topeka
- 46795 — Wolcottville
- 46746 — Howe
- 46771 — Mongo (PO Box only)
- 46786 — South Milford (PO Box only)
- 46789 — Stroh (PO Box only)
Smaller unincorporated communities and lake subdivisions share the ZIP code of their nearest post office town rather than having their own.
Geography
LaGrange County sits in the Michiana region of far northern Indiana, a landscape of farmland, moraine hills, and dozens of glacial lakes, including Adams Lake, Oliver Lake, and Big Turkey Lake. The county borders four other Indiana counties and two Michigan counties: Steuben County to the east, Noble County to the south, Elkhart County to the west, St. Joseph County, Michigan, to the northwest, and Branch County, Michigan, to the northeast.
Demographics
LaGrange County had 40,446 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 105 people per square mile. LaGrange, the seat, and Topeka are the county’s two largest incorporated towns. Roughly 43 to 50 percent of the population is Old Order Amish, giving the county the third-largest Amish community in the United States and the largest in Indiana. Median household income runs below the Indiana median of $69,477, reflecting the county’s largely agricultural and small-manufacturing economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — dairy, poultry, and grain farming — remains the backbone of the county economy, alongside manufactured-housing and recreational-vehicle component plants that supply the Elkhart-based RV industry next door. Shipshewana anchors the county’s tourism economy: its flea market and livestock auction, run since the 1920s, draw visitors from across the Midwest, and the town markets itself as the heart of “Northern Indiana Amish Country” alongside Elkhart County.
History
LaGrange County was organized in 1832 and named for the Château de la Grange-Bléneau, the French country home of Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette. Amish and Mennonite families began settling the county in the mid-19th century, drawn by its farmland, and their descendants remain the defining feature of local life and the local economy today.
Getting There
U.S. Route 20 and Indiana State Roads 3 and 5 are the county’s main highways, with the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) crossing its northern edge.
- South Bend — 55 miles west
- Fort Wayne — 45 miles southeast
- Elkhart — 25 miles west
- Toledo, Ohio — 105 miles east
South Bend International Airport is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is LaGrange County?
It is in far northern Indiana, in the Michiana region near the Michigan state line, about 55 miles east of South Bend.
What is the population of LaGrange County?
40,446 people at the 2020 census.
How big is LaGrange County?
386.70 square miles (1,001.5 km2), including 7.08 square miles of water.
What is the LaGrange County seat?
LaGrange is the county seat.
How many towns are in LaGrange County?
Four incorporated towns — LaGrange, Shipshewana, Topeka, and Wolcottville — plus numerous unincorporated communities across its 11 townships.
What ZIP codes are in LaGrange County?
46761, 46565, 46571, 46795, 46746, 46771, 46786, and 46789.
Why is Shipshewana known outside the county?
Its flea market and livestock auction, running since the 1920s, make it one of the Midwest’s best-known Amish-country tourist destinations.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.