Indiana

Porter

173,215
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Porter

Porter, Indiana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,162. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 173,215.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 42 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020173,215
2010164,343
2000146,798
1990128,932
1980119,816
197087,114
196060,279
195040,076
194027,836
193022,821
192020,256
191020,540
190019,175
189018,052
188017,227
187013,942
186010,313
18505,234
18402,162
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Porter

National Register of Historic Places listings in Porter, Indiana.

Gilson, Clinton D., Barn
Hebron
Valparaiso Downtown Commercial District
Valparaiso
Meyer, Dr. John and Gerda, House
Beverly Shores
Loring, Dr. David J., Residence and Clinic
Valparaiso
Horner, Imre and Maria, House
Beverly Shores
Beverly Shores South Shore Railroad Station
Beverly Shores
New York Central Railroad Passenger Depot
Chesterton
Skinner, DeForest, House
Valparaiso
Brown, George, Mansion
Chesterton
Haste-Crumpacker House
Valparaiso
Chesterton Commercial Historic District
Chesterton
Porter County Jail and Sheriff's House
Valparaiso
Nike Missile Site C47
Portage
Heritage Hall
Valparaiso
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Valparaiso
Chesterton Residential Historic District
Chesterton
Rose, David Garland, House
Valparaiso
Wolf, Josephus, House
Valparaiso
Young, Martin, House
Chesterton
Bartlett Real Estate Office
Beverly Shores
McCallum, William, House
Valparaiso
Collier Lodge Site
Kouts
Valparaiso Downtown Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Valparaiso
Bloch, Conrad and Catherine, House
Valparaiso
Browse all Indianahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Indiana

Explore census history and historic records for more Indiana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Porter County, Indiana

This page charts the census history of Porter County, Indiana. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Porter

When does Porter first appear in the US census?
Porter, Indiana first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,162.
What is the population of Porter?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Porter had a recorded population of 173,215.
How many historic places are in Porter?
42 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Porter, Indiana.
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