LaPorte County is a county in Indiana, United States, about 60 miles east of Chicago. It had a
population of 112,417 at the 2020 census, an estimated 111,294 by 2025, and covers 613.26 square
miles (1,588.3 km2) centred near 41°36′N 86°43′W.
La Porte is the county seat; its postal code is 46350. The county holds 2 cities, 9
incorporated towns and 4 census-designated places, plus 26 unincorporated communities, across 21
townships, and it runs on Central Time. Its FIPS code is 18091.
Towns & Villages in LaPorte County
LaPorte County has 41 named places on record: 2 cities, 9 incorporated towns, 4
census-designated places and 26 unincorporated communities with no local government of their own.
CDP stands for census designated place; Unincorp. covers crossroads and rural communities with no
formal boundary.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Porte | City · seat | Center | 22,471 | 46350 |
| Michigan City | City | Michigan | 32,075 | 46360 |
| Westville | Town | New Durham | 5,257 | 46391 |
| Trail Creek | Town | Coolspring | 2,060 | 46360 |
| Wanatah | Town | Clinton | 1,009 | 46390 |
| Kingsford Heights | Town | Union | 1,335 | 46346 |
| Long Beach | Town | Michigan | 1,189 | 46360 |
| La Crosse | Town | — | 555 | 46348 |
| Michiana Shores | Town | Springfield | 306 | 46360 |
| Pottawattamie Park | Town | Michigan | 242 | 46360 |
| Kingsbury | Town | Washington | 190 | 46345 |
| Fish Lake | CDP | Lincoln | 1,052 | 46574 |
| Hudson Lake | CDP | Hudson | 1,226 | 46552 |
| Rolling Prairie | CDP | Kankakee | 562 | 46371 |
| Hanna | CDP | Hanna | 450 | 46340 |
| Alida | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Byron | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Door Village | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Duneland Beach | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hesston | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Holmesville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lake Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mill Creek | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Otis | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pinhook | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pinola | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Plainfield | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Riverside | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Salem Heights | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Smith | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| South Center | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| South Wanatah | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Springfield | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Springville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Stillwell | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Thomaston | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Tracy | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Union Mills | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Waterford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wellsboro | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wilders | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
The county’s name and its seat’s name are spelled differently: LaPorte County is one word, but
La Porte, the county seat, is two — both come from the French for “the door,”
after a natural break in the region’s forest that early French travellers used as a gateway to
the prairie beyond. Trail Creek, the town, and Trail Creek, the stream it is named for, both flow
through the county’s north end into Lake Michigan — do not confuse the two on a map.
Townships
LaPorte County has 21 civil townships. Populations below are the 2010 census figures, the most
recent published at township level.
| Township | Pop. (2010) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 27,522 | Michigan City, Long Beach, Pottawattamie Park |
| Center | 25,075 | La Porte (seat) |
| Coolspring | 14,718 | Trail Creek (part) |
| New Durham | 8,664 | Westville |
| Kankakee | 4,830 | Rolling Prairie |
| Scipio | 4,570 | — |
| Springfield | 4,045 | Michiana Shores (part) |
| Pleasant | 3,380 | — |
| Union | 2,348 | Kingsford Heights |
| Wills | 2,110 | — |
| Galena | 1,899 | — |
| Hudson | 1,883 | Hudson Lake |
| Cass | 1,833 | Wanatah (part) |
| Lincoln | 1,794 | Fish Lake |
| Noble | 1,625 | — |
| Clinton | 1,507 | Wanatah (part) |
| Washington | 1,357 | Kingsbury |
| Hanna | 965 | Hanna |
| Dewey | 935 | — |
| Prairie | 209 | — |
| Johnson | 198 | — |
ZIP Codes
- 46350 — La Porte
- 46360 — Michigan City (also serves Trail Creek, Long Beach, Michiana Shores and
Pottawattamie Park) - 46391 — Westville
- 46390 — Wanatah
- 46346 — Kingsford Heights
- 46348 — La Crosse
- 46345 — Kingsbury
- 46574 — Fish Lake
- 46552 — Hudson Lake
- 46371 — Rolling Prairie
- 46340 — Hanna
The county’s 26 unincorporated communities have no ZIP code of their own; mail there is
delivered under the nearest incorporated town’s code.
Geography
LaPorte County lies in Indiana’s Michiana and Northwest Indiana regions, along Lake Michigan’s
southeastern shore. Of its 613.26 square miles, 598.30 are land and 14.96 are water, about 2.44
percent, concentrated along the Lake Michigan shoreline in the county’s north and in inland lakes
including Fish Lake and Hudson Lake. The Kankakee River drains the county’s southern townships,
and Trail Creek runs through the county’s north into Lake Michigan at Michigan City’s harbor.
St. Joseph County lies to the east, Starke County to the south, Jasper County to the
southwest, and Porter County to the west. Berrien County, Michigan, borders the county to the
north across the state line, and Cook County, Illinois, meets LaPorte’s boundary in Lake Michigan
to the northwest. St. Joseph
County, Starke County, Porter County and Cook County, Illinois all have their
own pages on this site.
Demographics
LaPorte County had a population of 112,417 at the 2020 census, and the latest estimate puts
the county near 111,294 residents, a slight decline. Michigan City and La Porte are by far the
two largest communities, together home to more than 48 percent of the county’s population. Median
household income runs $71,055, above Indiana’s statewide figure of $69,477 (2023 ACS). Population
density works out to roughly 188 people per square mile of land, concentrated in the Michigan
City–La Porte urbanized area along US 20 and US 35.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing employs the most workers in the county, about 10,795 people, followed by health
care and social assistance at 6,610 and retail trade at 5,236. Utilities is the highest-paying
sector, averaging $103,173 a year. Franciscan Health Michigan City anchors health care employment,
and the Blue Chip Casino, Hotel and Spa is one of the county’s larger hospitality employers.
Indiana State Prison, on Michigan City’s north side, is a major state-government employer.
Purdue University Northwest’s Westville campus, formerly Purdue North Central, is the county’s
main higher-education institution. La Porte’s Cruise Night, a classic-car show held downtown each
summer, is one of the county’s regular annual draws.
History
Indiana’s General Assembly formed LaPorte County in 1832. The name comes from the French for
“the door” — early French travellers used it for a natural break in the
region’s dense forest that opened onto the prairie. La Porte was incorporated as a town in 1835
and as a city in 1852; Michigan City was founded in 1830 by land speculator Isaac C. Elston and
incorporated in 1836.
The county’s best-known historical episode is the Belle Gunness case. Gunness ran a farm
outside La Porte where investigators found the remains of multiple murder victims after a fire
destroyed her house in April 1908; she disappeared and was never conclusively identified among
the dead. The case remains one of the most notorious in Indiana history.
Getting There
Interstates 80, 90 and 94 cross the county’s northern half, largely along the Indiana Toll
Road corridor through Michigan City. US 6, US 12, US 20, US 30, US 35 and US 421 also run through
the county, along with State Roads 2, 4, 8, 39, 104 and 212.
- Chicago — about 60 miles west
- South Bend — about 30 miles east
- Valparaiso — about 20 miles southwest
- Plymouth — about 25 miles south
South Bend International Airport, about 30 miles east of La Porte, is the nearest major
commercial airport; La Porte Municipal Airport and Michigan City Municipal Airport handle general
aviation. The South Shore Line commuter railroad stops at three Michigan City stations and at
Hudson Lake, connecting to downtown Chicago. Michigan City’s own Amtrak service ended in 2022;
the nearest Amtrak station is now in New Buffalo, Michigan, about 10 miles northeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is LaPorte County located?
It sits in Indiana’s Michiana and Northwest Indiana regions along Lake Michigan, bordered by St.
Joseph, Starke, Jasper and Porter counties and the Michigan state line.
What is the population of LaPorte County?
112,417 at the 2020 census, with a 2025 estimate near 111,294.
How big is LaPorte County?
613.26 square miles (1,588.3 km2), of which 598.30 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of LaPorte County?
La Porte, incorporated as a city in 1852. Its name is spelled with a space, unlike the county’s.
How many towns and cities are in LaPorte County?
Two cities — Michigan City and La Porte — plus nine incorporated towns, four
census-designated places and 26 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes does LaPorte County use?
46350 for La Porte, 46360 for Michigan City and its lakeshore towns, and separate codes for
Westville, Wanatah, Kingsford Heights, La Crosse, Kingsbury, Fish Lake, Hudson Lake, Rolling
Prairie and Hanna.
What is LaPorte County known for?
The Blue Chip Casino on the Lake Michigan shore, Purdue University Northwest’s Westville campus,
and the 1908 Belle Gunness murder case near La Porte.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.