1. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes 1 Indiana Prevention Resource Center GIS in Prevention County Profiles Series, No. 4 Newton County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP, Project Director The Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Department of Applied Health Science and The School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

2. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes GIS in Prevention County Profile Series, No. 4 Newton County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP Project Director Project Staff : Indiana Prevention Resource Center Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Indiana University accepts full Responsibility for the content of this publication. ©2005 The Trustees of Indiana University. Permission is extended to reproduce this County Profile for non-profit educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Ritika Bhawal, MPH Ryan Chopra, MPH Kyoungsun Heo, MPA Tuba M. Pervin Altay, MPH

3. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Newton County Map The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional.

4. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Newton County is located in Northern Indiana and is bordered by the State of Illinois to the west and by the following Indiana counties: Lake to the north, Jasper to the east, and Benton to the south. U.S. Highways 41 and 24, and State Highway 55 cross the county. Elevation is 650-750 feet. The county’s landscape is nearly level and features oak and hickory trees. The northern part of the county pertains to the Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana Drift Plain land resource area, and the southern part of the county pertains to Northern Illinois and Indiana Heavy Till Plain land resource area. Newton county is in the Ceantral Time Zone and observes DST. Average daily temperatures are 12٥/32٥ in January and 60٥/86٥ in July. Annual precipitation is about 37 and snowfall about 20-26 inches. Typically the first freeze of the season occurs October 5-10 through most of the county, and a few days later (October 10-15) in the southeast tip. The last freeze varies from May 1-5 in the southern half of the county to May 5-10 in northern Newton County. The growing season lasts about 148-168 days. Agricultural activity is mainly in soybeans and corn for grain. About four-fifths of the land is in farms and a little over four-fifths of that land is in cash crops. Another important crop is hay. Pumpkins and sweet corn are important vegetable crops. Popcorn is a special crop. Livestock are include cattle/calves and hogs/pigs. Main natural resources include crushed stone and forestland. Water resources include the Goose Pond Swamp and J.C. Murphy Lake, the Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers, and several streams (Curtis Creek, Beaver Lake Ditch, Knight Ditch, Hunter Ditch, and Montgomery Ditch). Communities include the towns of Kentland, which is the county seat, Brook, Goodland, Kentland, Morocco, and Mount Ayr. 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Sources: Map from PCensus for MapInfo; Notes from Indiana Facts: Flying the Colors by John Clements, 1995.

5. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Newton County The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus 7.06 for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional 7.0.

6. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Newton County is not a tobacco-producing county, according to the Strategic Development Group’s “Alternative Agricultural Strategy” (Bloomington, March 15, 2001) report, which is part of Governor Joseph E. Kernan’s “Recipient Final Reports for Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture Grant Programs” (http://www.in.gov/oca/grants/valueadd/VAFinalReports.html):http://www.in.gov/oca/grants/valueadd/VAFinalReports.html 3. Location and Historical Notes

7. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Don’t Know Your Block Group Number? You can find it easily at the American Factfinder Web SiteAmerican Factfinder Web Site 3. Newton County Block Group Maps

8. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Newton County Block Groups Close-up