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 Until
the last decade of the nineteenth century, Starke County was not considered
of great agricultural importance, situated as is was in the Kankakee marsh
region. The soil in the uplands was tilled and stock raising was carried
on, but the great lowland district was covered with water. A system of dredge
ditches was established and since that time the black lowland soil has become
some of the best land in the state. Approximately one-third of the entire
area is composed of this lowland muck, which is productive of a variety of
crops.
Starke County is one of the northwest counties. Typical of the region, the county's 305 square miles of area are dotted with lakes. One of these is Bass Lake, one of the largest lakes in Indiana. The best known waterway in the county is the Kankakee River, which forms the boundary separating Starke from LaPorte County to the north. The county has nine townships. The incorporated towns are Knox, 1,185; North Judson, 1,348, and Hamlet, 418. Starke County's population in 1890 was 7,339; 1900, 10,431; 1910, 10,567; 1920, 10,278; 1930, 10,620. Knox is located thirty miles southwest of South Bend and is served by two railroads. It is chiefly known as a summer resort. Knox is important as a center for the abundant county production of corn, wheat, onions, and small fruit, as well as poultry, poultry products, and livestock. North Judson is located forty-eight miles southwest of South Bend and is served by four railroads. Its industries include car shops, elevators, creameries, canneries, stone works, pickling works, and furniture padding and mattress factories. The county's best-known present-day citizen is Henry F. Schricker, Indiana's Lieutenant Governor. According to 1935 federal census figures, Starke County had six manufacturing establishments employing 166 wage earners. Starke County had 1,607 farms averaging 106.2 acres each and having a total value of $8,954,055. A total of 25,509 head of livestock was reported. The total county tax valuation for 1936 was $14,927,295. |
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