1. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes 1 GIS in Prevention County Profiles Series, No. 3 Wabash County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP 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. THE INDIANA PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER

2. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes GIS in Prevention County Profile Series, No. 3 Wabash County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP 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 Solomon Briggs Kyoungsun Heo, MPA Srinivasa Konchada

3. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Wabash County is located in North Central Indiana and is bordered by the following Indiana counties: Kosciusko to the north, Whitley to the northeast, Huntington to the east, Grant to the south and southeast, and Miami to the west and southwest. U.S. Highway 24 and State Highways 15 and 13 cross the county. Elevation is 750 to 850 feet. The landscape is nearly flat in the center of the county and in the west, slightly sloping in the northwest, east and south. The landscape features hickory, oak, ash, elm and cottonwood trees. The county pertains to the Indiana and Ohio Till Plain land resource area. Wabash county is in the Eastern Time Zone and observes DST. Average daily temperatures are 14٥/32٥ in January and 60٥/85٥ in July. Annual precipitation is about 37 and snowfall about 25-35 inches. The first freeze is between October 10-15, and the last freeze between May 1-5. The growing season lasts 158-168 days. Agricultural activity is mainly in corn for grain, winter wheat, and livestock. Hay and soybeans are additional crops. Livestock include cattle/calves, milk cows, hens/pullets, sheep/lambs, and hogs/pigs. Apples are a primary fruit, sweet corn is an important vegetable, and popcorn is a special crop. About three-fourths of the land is in farms and about three-quarters of that land is in cash crops. Important natural resources include construction sand and gravel, petroleum and forestland. Water resources include lakes/reservoirs (the largest being Long Lake, Luken’s Lake, Mississinewa Reservoir, Round Lake, Salamonie Reservoir); the Eels and Wabash Rivers; and several streams (Clear, Paw Paw, Largo, Pony, Beargrass, Kentner, Treaty, and Grant Creeks). Communities include the city of Wabash, the county seat; and the towns of LaFontaine, Lagro, North Manchester, and Roann. 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Sources: Map from PCensus for MapInfo; Geographic Notes from Indiana Facts: Flying the Colors by John Clements, 1995.

4. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Wabash County The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus 7.06 for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional 7.0.

5. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Wabash 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

6. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 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 (www.census.gov)www.census.gov 3. Wabash County Block Group Maps

7. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Wabash County Block Groups