Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the northern third of the U.S. state of Indiana and borders the states of Illinois to the west, Michigan to the north, and Ohio to the east. Spanning the state's northernmost 26 counties, its main population centers include Northwest Indiana, Michiana, and the Fort Wayne metropolitan area.
Northern Indiana's physical geography was significantly shaped during Wisconsin glaciation, resulting in a till plain ranging from flat to gently rolling terrain, especially in the Wabash Valley. The region experiences a humid continental climate, supporting temperate deciduous forest, tallgrass prairie, and wetland ecosystems. In addition to Lake Michigan, more than 300 kettle lakes are located in the region, including the state's largest natural lake and deepest natural lake. Following the Valparaiso Moraine, the Laurentian Divide meanders through the region, separating the watersheds of the Great Lakes Basin to the north from those of the Mississippi River drainage basin to the south.
Northern Indiana is situated within the larger Rust Belt and Corn Belt regions, influencing the area's geographic, economic, cultural, and political landscape. Home to about 2.3 million people, the region is defined by both its industrial cities and agricultural towns. Manufacturing remains a vital part of the region's economy, particularly in the production of recreational vehicles, medical devices, and steel. Protected areas include Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana's most visited state park of the same name. Northern Indiana is home to about 25 public and private higher education institutions, including more than a dozen religiously affiliated colleges and universities. The region is split between the Eastern and Central time zones.
Geography
Major waterways include the Grand Calumet River, the Kankakee River, the Maumee River, the St. Joseph River, and the Wabash River. Besides Lake Michigan, other notable lakes and reservoirs include Lake Freeman, Lake George, Lake James, Lake Manitou, Lake Maxinkuckee, Lake Shafer, Lake Tippecanoe, Lake Wawasee, Webster Lake, and Wolf Lake.Sub-regions
Michiana
Michiana, a portmanteau of "Michigan" and "Indiana", is a loosely defined sub-region that spans southwestern Michigan and Northern Indiana's north-central counties. It is centered on the South Bend–Elkhart–Mishawaka Combined Statistical Area and generally corresponds with Area code 574. Counties typically considered part of the Michiana sub-region include:- Elkhart
- Fulton
- Kosciusko
- Marshall
- St. Joseph
Northeast Indiana
- Adams
- Allen
- DeKalb
- Huntington
- LaGrange
- Noble
- Steuben
- Wabash
- Wells
- Whitley
Northwest Indiana
- Jasper
- Lake
- LaPorte
- Newton
- Porter
- Pulaski
- Starke
Other counties
Time zones
Most of Northern Indiana observes Eastern Time. Six counties in the Northwest Indiana sub-region observe Central Time.Largest municipalities
The major cities of Northern Indiana are Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Hammond and Gary.| 2020 rank | City | County | 2020 Census | 2010 Census | Change | Highest Population |
| 1 | Fort Wayne | Allen | 263,852 | - | - | |
| 2 | South Bend | St. Joseph | 132,445 | - | - | |
| 3 | Hammond | Lake | 111,698 | - | - | |
| 4 | Gary | Lake | 178,320 | - | - | |
| 5 | Elkhart | Elkhart | 54,044 | - | - | |
| 6 | Mishawaka | St. Joseph | 51,201 | - | - | |
| 7 | Portage | Porter | 37,934 | - | - | |
| 8 | Merrillville | Lake | 36,603 | - | - | |
| 9 | Goshen | Elkhart | 34,849 | - | - | |
| 10 | Valparaiso | Porter | 34,154 | - | - |
Demographics
Northern Indiana has experienced steady population growth over the past century. Between 1980 and 1990, Lake County saw a population decline of 47,371 residents, and it was this drop in population that hid the population rise which continued to occur in the majority of the region's other counties. The 2015 Census Estimate has shown that the rural counties are seeing a gradual population decline when compared to the gradual increase population trend in the more urban counties. The trend of rural counties losing population has been observed in various counties in other regions, most notably the Great Plains.Roughly 10.7% of both Huntington and Wells County live in poverty, as compared to only 15.5% in Pulaski County. At the same time, Northern Indiana, as is the case for much of the Midwest, is predominately made up of people of European heritage. According to the 2010 Census, almost 98% of Whitley County is white, as compared to Lake County, which is only 64.4% white and 25.9% African American. Lastly, the average family size per household is relatively constant around 3.00 persons per household. In 2010, the average family size per household was 3.66 in LaGrange County, 3.23 in Elkhart County, 3.19 in Lake County, 3.16 in Noble County, 3.15 in Marshall County, and 3.12 in Allen County.
Northern Indiana is known for having the third-highest Amish population in the U.S., especially in Allen, Adams, Elkhart, and LaGrange counties.
Dialect
The Inland North dialect of American English is mostly found in the Calumet region of Northern Indiana. The Northern Cities Vowel Shift is recognizable in Northwest Indiana and the Michiana area. However, the rest of Northern Indiana tends to exhibit North Midland dialect, with little recognizable influences. Because of the city's transitional location between the Inland North, North Midland, and Central Midland dialects, Fort Wayne has been difficult for linguists to define, with some labeling speech here "virtually accent neutral," attributed to historical settlement patterns.Economy
Northern Indiana's economy is primarily based on manufacturing and distribution and transportation. Outside the metropolitan areas, the region's agricultural sector is abundant provided its location within the fertile Corn Belt. Northwest Indiana is also a vital trade and shipping center for the state. The Port of Indiana–Burns Harbor handles more ocean-going cargo than any other Great Lakes port in the U.S.Northern Indiana is also situated in the heart of the Rust Belt, an area of the U.S. that has suffered deindustrialization and some economic stagnation since the late 20th century.
Manufacturing
The Calumet region of Northwest Indiana is home to much heavy industry, notably steel mills. The Calumet region is the nation's second-largest steel-producing area. U.S. Steel's Gary Works was once the largest steel mill in the world and employed 30,000. Gary Works remains North America's largest integrated steel mill.The north central area of Northern Indiana, centered on Warsaw, is home to several companies specializing in the development and production of orthopedic medical devices. In 2013, nearly one-third of the US$38 billion global orthopedic industry was concentrated in north central Indiana.
Elkhart and surrounding municipalities in the Michiana region are home to the largest concentration of recreational vehicle and mobile home manufacturers in the U.S., including Forest River, Heartland Recreational Vehicles, Jayco, and Monaco Coach, among several others. In 2013, some 83% of American RVs were produced in Elkhart County.
The automotive industry is another significant driver of the region's economy. General Motors' Fort Wayne Assembly near Roanoke produces the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. South Bend-based AM General manufactures the civilian Hummer H1 and military Humvee at its Mishawaka assembly plant.
Gambling
is an important sector of the region's economy. Northern Indiana is home to three riverboat casinos, one land-based casino, and one tribal casino, owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.Energy
Natural gas is primarily supplied by the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, a subsidiary of Merrillville-based NiSource. Electric utilities serving the region include NIPSCO, Indiana Michigan Power, and Duke Energy Indiana. Four of Indiana's five hydroelectric power plants are located in Northern Indiana. Two are owned by Indiana Michigan Power and two are owned by NIPSCO. The company also operates two coal-fired power stations in the region: Michigan City Generating Station and R. M. Schahfer in Wheatfield.Northern Indiana's share of renewable energy generation, particularly solar and wind sources, has increased since the late 2000s. Wind farms are common in rural Benton and White counties, including Fowler Ridge, the largest wind farm in the American Midwest. Upon its completion, the Mammoth Solar project will be the largest in the U.S., covering 13,000 acres across rural Starke and Pulaski counties.
BP's Whiting Refinery in Whiting is the largest inland oil refinery in the U.S., processing of crude oil daily.
Two regional transmission organizations serving the nation's electrical grid provide coverage to portions of Northern Indiana: Midcontinent Independent System Operator and PJM Interconnection.