Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on January 8, 1971.
City Reaches 20,000
Valparaiso is officially a third-class city in the State of Indiana.
Based on official final population count in an advance report from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Valparaiso’s 1970 census figure is 20,020, just 20 noses more than needed to attain third-class status.
Final official figures showed Valparaiso with a 44.5 percent population gain, from 15,227 in 1960 to 20,020 today.
The official figures were received in an advance report, dated December 1970 by the Lake-Porter Regional Transportation and Planning Commission. The commission immediately confirmed the Valparaiso total with Mayor Bryce Billings.
Billings said he was elated over the official returns, adding he never had given up hope of reaching the 20,000 figure even after the preliminary figure of 19,550 was released last summer.
Before the city annexed 15,00 acres in 1969, planners had estimated the action would bring the city’s population to about 20,500.
No explanation was available today on the wide difference in last June’s preliminary figure of 19,550 and today’s 20,020.
Billings said today he is now checking state laws to determine what major changes will be necessary for a city of third class administration. He said he was advised by Water Dept. Supt. Philip Coote that changes in waterworks administration will have to be made in accordance with the statutes.
Billings also said he intends to contact the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns to determine if any official procedures are necessary to be recognized as a third class city in the state. The mayor said he represents fourth class cities on the association and will now lose this post.
Attainment of the new city status will now give Valparaiso administrators control over a three-mile buffer zone around the city, thus preventing any other ambitious city or town from encroaching within that territory.
The higher count also will benefit the city in state distributions of tax funds based on population. These include motor vehicle, alcoholic beverage and cigarette tax funds.
Portage Threatens
Official 1970 census figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce show that Valparaiso barely retained its position as Porter County’s largest city over fast-growing Portage.
Final figures gave Valparaiso an increase of 4,793, for 15,227 in 1960 to 20,020, a 44.5 percent gain.
Portage, however, showed the largest gain of 7,305, to come within 893 persons of Valparaiso’s total population of 19,127. In 1960 Portage had 11,822 people.
Chesterton tallied Porter County’s third largest advance, coming up with a population increase of 1,842 and moving the Westchester Township community from 4,335 in 1960 to the current total of 6,177.
Other municipality totals in Porter County in the 1970 census, with 1960 census and percent increase, were: Beverly Shores, 945, up from 773, 22.4 percent; Burns Harbor, 1,284, no 1960 census; Dune Acres, 301, 43.7 percent; The Pines, 1,007, up from 939, 7.2 percent; Porter, 3,058, up from 2,189, 39.7 percent; Kouts, 1,388, up from 1,007, 37.8 percent, and Hebron, 1,624, up from 1,401, 15.9 percent.
Final Porter County figures showed an increase of 26,835 residents, listing 87,114 compared to 69,279 in 1960.
