Starke County is a county in Indiana, United States, in the north-central part of the state along the Kankakee River. It had a population of 23,371 at the 2020 census and covers 309 square miles (800.6 km2) centred near 41°16′N 86°39′W.
Knox is the county seat, and its postal code is 46534. The county has 3 incorporated cities and towns, 3 census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities, spread across 9 civil townships. Starke County observes Central Time and carries FIPS county code 75.
Towns & Villages in Starke County
Starke County’s settlement pattern is small: one modest county seat, two smaller incorporated towns, three census-designated places around its lakes, and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities. CDPs (Bass Lake, Koontz Lake, San Pierre) have no independent municipal government; “Unincorp.” communities have no census population of their own.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox | City · seat | Center | 3,662 | 46534 |
| North Judson | Town | Wayne | 1,857 | 46366 |
| Hamlet | Town | Wayne | 773 | 46532 |
| Koontz Lake | CDP | North Bend | 1,667 | 46574 |
| Bass Lake | CDP | Washington | 1,384 | 46349 |
| San Pierre | CDP | Railroad | 153 | 46374 |
| Grovertown | Unincorp. | Davis | — | 46531 |
| English Lake | Unincorp. | Jackson | — | — |
| Ober | Unincorp. | Oregon | — | — |
| Toto | Unincorp. | California | — | — |
| Winona | Unincorp. | Center | — | — |
| Aldine | Unincorp. | California | — | — |
| Brems | Unincorp. | North Bend | — | — |
| Lomax | Unincorp. | Railroad | — | — |
| Ora | Unincorp. | Wayne | — | — |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | Center | — | — |
Bass Station, Indian Hill, and Lena Park from older listings are informal names for parts of the Bass Lake shoreline rather than separately platted places, and are folded into the Bass Lake CDP entry above.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Center | 6,131 | Knox, Winona, Oak Grove |
| Wayne | 4,609 | North Judson, Hamlet, Ora |
| Oregon | 3,220 | Ober |
| Washington | 2,944 | Bass Lake |
| California | 2,165 | Toto, Aldine |
| North Bend | 1,504 | Koontz Lake, Brems |
| Railroad | 1,211 | San Pierre, Lomax |
| Davis | 1,002 | Grovertown |
| Jackson | 585 | English Lake |
ZIP Codes
- 46534 — Knox (also serves Winona and Oak Grove)
- 46366 — North Judson
- 46532 — Hamlet
- 46574 — Koontz Lake
- 46349 — Bass Lake
- 46374 — San Pierre
- 46531 — Grovertown
Smaller unincorporated places such as English Lake, Ober, Toto, Aldine, Brems, Lomax, and Ora use the ZIP code of their nearest post office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Starke County sits in the Kankakee River basin of north-central Indiana, a flat, sandy landscape shaped by glacial outwash and marked by scattered natural lakes. The Kankakee River forms the county’s northern boundary, and the Yellow River, a tributary of the Kankakee, crosses the county’s central half south of Knox. Bass Lake, one of Indiana’s larger natural lakes, sits in the county’s southwest corner and gives its name to the resort communities around its shore. Water covers roughly 3 square miles (8 km2) of the county’s total area.
Starke County borders LaPorte County to the north, St. Joseph County to the northeast (no linked page), Marshall County to the east, Fulton County to the southeast, Pulaski County to the south, Jasper County to the west, and Porter County to the northwest.
Demographics
Starke County had 23,371 residents at the 2020 census. Knox, the county seat, is the largest community at 3,662, followed by North Judson at 1,857. Recent county-level income figures were not verified for this update; Indiana’s statewide median household income is the Indiana median of $69,477, and Starke County has historically run below the state figure. Population density works out to roughly 76 people per square mile across the county’s 309 square miles of land.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, particularly corn, soybeans, and mint, remains central to Starke County’s economy, alongside light manufacturing and warehousing tied to the U.S. Route 30 and 421 corridors. Knox serves as the county’s retail and government hub, with Starke County government offices, the county courthouse, and Starke Hospital based there. The Bass Lake and Koontz Lake areas support a seasonal tourism and lake-cottage economy each summer.
History
Starke County was established on February 7, 1835, and formally organized in 1850, later than many neighboring Indiana counties because of its sparsely settled, marshy terrain before drainage projects opened the land to farming. It is named for General John Stark, a Revolutionary War officer who commanded troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill and led the American victory at the Battle of Bennington. Large-scale drainage of the Kankakee marsh in the late 19th and early 20th centuries converted much of the county’s wetland into farmland, reshaping its economy and population pattern.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 30, 35, and 421 cross Starke County, along with Indiana State Roads 8, 10, 23, and 39.
- South Bend — 35 miles northeast
- Valparaiso — 25 miles northwest
- Plymouth — 20 miles east
- Rensselaer — 30 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is South Bend International Airport, about 40 miles northeast of Knox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Starke County, Indiana?
It is in north-central Indiana, along the Kankakee River, between South Bend and the Kankakee Valley.
What is the population of Starke County?
23,371 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Starke County?
It covers 309 square miles (800.6 km2) of land, plus about 3 square miles (8 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Starke County?
Knox is the county seat.
How many towns are in Starke County?
Three incorporated cities and towns (Knox, North Judson, Hamlet), three census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities across nine townships.
What ZIP codes are in Starke County?
Main ZIPs include 46534 (Knox), 46366 (North Judson), 46532 (Hamlet), 46574 (Koontz Lake), 46349 (Bass Lake), and 46374 (San Pierre).
Why is Starke County named that?
It honors General John Stark, a Revolutionary War officer known for his role at the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Bennington.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.