| County: | Wells County |
| State: | Indiana |
| Founded: | 1837 |
| Seat Wl: | Bluffton |
| Largest City: | Bluffton |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 370.25 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 368.09 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 2.16 |
| Area Percentage: | 0.58% |
| Census Yr: | 2020 |
| Pop: | 28180 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Est: | 28555 |
| Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Time Zone: | Eastern |
| Footnotes: | Indiana county number 90 |
| Web: | www.wellscounty.org |
| District: | 3rd |
| Ex Image: | Wells County Courthouse P4020318.jpg |
| Ex Image Cap: | Wells County Courthouse in Bluffton |
Wells County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 28,180. Its seat of government is Bluffton.[1] Wells County is included in the Fort Wayne Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Fort Wayne—Huntington—Auburn Combined Statistical Area.
The Territory of Indiana was established in 1800 as legitimized by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The governing structure established through this act began creating counties in the territory as it became increasingly populated. In December 1816, the State of Indiana was admitted to the Union. Wells was named after famous frontiersmen William A. Wells who played a central role in the Northwest Indian Wars and the activity surrounding Fort Miami and Kekionga.[2] It was initially assigned to Allen County for legislative and administrative affairs.
In the winter of 1835, Col. John Vowter of Jennings County, Chairman of the Committee on New Counties, introduced a bill proposing that the assembly "lay out all the unorganized territory to which the Indian title had been extinguished in the state into a suitable number of counties". This bill would be approved later that year on February 7, effectively creating thirteen Northern Indiana counties, one of which was Wells.[3]
On February 2, 1837, an act was passed by the state, authorizing Wells County to be organized independent of Allen County, and specifying May 1 for the date of the first meeting. However, that meeting did not take place, and so an act dated January 20, 1838, authorized the meeting of appointed commissioners to decide on a county seat. That vote was completed on March 5, 1838, selecting Bluffton.[4]
The low rolling hills of Wells County have been deforested and are now completely devoted to agriculture and urban development. The Wabash River flows to the northwest, draining the central and upper part of the county, while the lower part is drained by the Salamonie River, also flowing to the northwest.[5] The highest point on the terrain (935feet ASL) is an isolated rise on the county's south borderline with Jay County, one-half mile (0.8 km) east of the NE corner of Blackford County.[6]
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of, of which (or 99.42%) is land and (or 0.58%) is water.
In recent years, average temperatures in Bluffton have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of was recorded in July 1980. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in May.
See also: Government of Indiana. The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by the Indiana Code.
County Council: The legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They set salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.[7] [8]
Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.[7] [8]
Court: The county maintains a small claims court that handles civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[8]
County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. The officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.[8]
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,636 people, 10,780 households, and 7,684 families in the county.[9] The population density was . There were 11,659 housing units at an average density of .[10] The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.[9] In terms of ancestry, 38.4% were German, 12.3% were English, 10.8% were Irish, and 10.3% were American.[11] Of the 10,780 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.7% were non-families, and 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 40.2 years.[9]
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $56,885. Males had a median income of $41,871 versus $30,031 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,169. About 6.2% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.[12]
School districts include: Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District, Northern Wells Community Schools, and Southern Wells Community Schools.[13]