Fort Wayne

The Fort Wayne Division consists of a Branch Supervisor and has a current staffing of AUSAs and support staff.  The greatest population growth from 1990 to 2000 has been in the Fort Wayne area, where it has increased by 9.8%. Fort Wayne itself has increased by 18.9%.

Fort Wayne is the second largest city in Indiana with a population of 205,727. The Fort Wayne Division serves 12 counties: LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, DeKalb, Whitley, Allen, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Jay,Blackford and Grant, with a combined population of 725,796.

About Fort Wayne and Allen County

The City of Fort Wayne is located in Allen County.  Fort Wayne was named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who built a fort at the confluence (joining) of three rivers (Maumee, St. Joseph and St. Mary’s River) in 1794 during the French and Indian War. Individuals can visit a full-scale replica of the original fort (on the river near Headwaters Park) that commemorates thecity's pioneer heritage and spirit.  Every year, for the last 40 years, there has been a Three Rivers Festival at Headwaters Park.  The festival features many activities that will accommodate children and senior, including aparade, concerts, concessions, arts fair and more which all adds up to fun for the whole family.

A great place to live and work, Fort Wayne (nicknamed the City of Churches due to the vast number of Churches in City limits) has an abundance of things to do andplaces to see.  Like most Cities, Fort Wayne has many recreational activities like bicycling, hiking, fishing, shopping, dining, etc. There are many sites to see as well.  For those who love nature, you can visit Fort Wayne Parks Floral Gardens whichhas been destination of interest for over 80 years.  The Parks Floral Gardens feature several different floral and botanical gardens for those who want to see the beauty of nature.  Fort Wayne is home of The Lincoln Museum, theworld's largest private collection of President Abraham Lincoln artifacts, including an original signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. The City of Fort Wayne has America's largest, public genealogy research library.  Fort Wayne is alsothe home of the Fort Wayne Daisies - the professional women's baseball team featured in the movie, "A League of Their Own."  The City is also the birthplace of the now NBA Detroit Pistons.

Many great devices have been invented in Fort Wayne.  Some of those inventions include the washing machine, baking powder, calculator, juke box, television, breathalyzer and refrigerator. The City is also known for being the first to create and manufacture stereo sound, the garbage disposal, magnetic wire, streetlights and the gasoline pump.

Fort Wayne Area Higher Learning Facilities

• Huntington University (Huntington, Indiana)
• Indiana Institute of Technology (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
• Indiana University - Purdue University (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
• Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Indiana)
• Ivy Tech Community College (Marion, Indiana)
• Taylor University (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
• Tri-State University (Angola, Indiana)

Interesting Facts

LaGrange County - Approximately 37% of the population is Amish, and the county is home to the third largest Amish community in the United States.  This is reflected in the linguistic situation in the county: 28.45% of the population report speaking German, Pennsylvania German, or Dutch at home. A further 2.85% speak Spanish.

Steuben County has 60-70 clear water lakes with gravely and sandy bottoms with fine beaches.  The County is home to Pokagon State Park which boasts a variety of outdoor activities for all seasons.  In the winter, experience the thrill of a quarter-mile run down a toboggan track at speeds up to 40 miles an hour.

DeKalb County - Auburn, Indiana is the County Seat.  Auburn is the location of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, held each Labor Day weekend, and of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum and the National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States. Both are National Historic Landmarks. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg festival with the Kruse International Auction (yearly Labor Day event), is said to host the world's largest automotive auction. These automotive-related events are the legacy of the fact that the Auburn Automobile Company, which went out of business in the late 1930s, had its headquarters and a factory in Auburn. Other museums located near Auburn include the Hoosier Air Museum, the Kruse Automotive and Carriage Museum and the World War II Victory Museum. Auburn also hosts the annual DeKalb County Free Fall Fair, a six-day event usually held in the last week of September.  Auburn was also home to early automobile company DeSoto in 1913; not the same DeSoto later a division of Chrysler.

Huntington County was formed in 1832. It was named for Samuel Huntington, who signed the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. He was also President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation.