Wells County, Indiana

Founding: 1837 (declared in 1835)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: William Wells, U.S. army officer
Seat: Bluffton (1839–)

Land area: 368 square miles

Population (2020): 28,180

Population (historic): 1,822 (1840); 10,844 (1860); 18,442 (1880); 23,449 (1900); 18,411 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1900; 1930–2020

Subdivisions: One city; six towns; nine townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 3,705 (31.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 62.1%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 9.4%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 10.5%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,210
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,184

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.9 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,545
Average farm size (1920): 75.6 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio and Pennsylvania

___________________________________________________________________________________

Bluffton

Namesake: Unknown—perhaps the local terrain

Founding: 1838 (platting); 1839 (post office); 1851 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 10,308

Population (historic): 477 (1850); 1,131 (1870); 4,479 (1900); 5,074 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1838–1920; 1930–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,331 (29.3%)

___________________________________________________________________________________

View and filter the data. Or see a map.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Outstanding Buildings

1. Josiah Twibell Farm (1872). 2867 West 1200 South. Chester.
2. Bethel Methodist Church (1900). 4500 East 300 South. Harrison. Romanesque.
3. William Nelson House (c. 1875). 2641 River Road. Harrison. Italianate.
4. Six Mile Christian Church (1914). 4790 State Route 116. Harrison. Gothic Revival.
5. Oliver Markley House (c. 1845). 6200 State Route 116. Harrison.
6. Robert Kilander House (1899). 10816 South 600 West. Jackson. Classical Revival/Romanesque.
7. James Ferguson Log House (c. 1850). 6200 East 1000 North. Jefferson. Razed.
8. Africa School (1910). West 500 South and South 500 West. Liberty. Romanesque.
9. Sugar Grove School (1898). 4994 North 100 West. Rock Creek. Romanesque.
10. Emmanuel Reformed Church (1911–1912). 2115 North 500 West. Rock Creek. Gothic Revival.

___________________________________________________________________________________