DeKalb County

County Overview

Located within a 30-minute drive of two airports and less than 200 miles from Indianapolis, Chicago and Detroit, DeKalb County is a central location for your business. In fact, more than half of the United States’ manufacturers produce at least 1/3 of their goods and more than 1/5 of Americans and 1/5 of Canadians reside within one day of travel from this Indiana county. Taking advantage of DeKalb County’s central location and manufacturing-savvy workforce are such companies as Steel Dynamics Inc and Nucor.

Economic Development in DeKalb County
This centrally located manufacturing hub became home to two new companies, seventeen expansions, 36.26 million dollars of investment and 426 new jobs in 2009.

Population
Total Population, 2009
42,060
Projected Population 2015
42,960
Total Households, 2006-08
15,938
Median Age, 2009
37.9
Population Breakdown by Age, 2009
0-13 years
19.7%
14-17 years
6.2%
18-24 years
8.0%
25-44 years
25.8%
45-64 years
27.1%
65-84 years
11.3%
85+ years
1.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Household Income
Year
Median HHI
PCI
2000
$44,909
$25,515
2008
$48,698
$30,102
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and BEA
Labor Participation
Labor Force
20,596
Employed
17,888
Unemployed
2,708
Unemployment Rate
13.1%
Source: BLS LAUS, 2009 Annual
Commuting, 2008
Commuting INTO DeKalb County
6,383
Commuting OUT of DeKalb County
6,795
Source: STATS Indiana
Housing, 2006-08
Total Housing Units
17,395
Total Occupied Housing Units
15,938
Owner Occupied
12,849
81.1%
Rental
2,990
18.9%
Seasonal or Recreational, 2000
132
Median Value for Owner Occupied Housing
$114,800
Median Gross Rent
$582
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Educational Attainment, 2006-08
Level
Total
%
Less than High School
3,376
12.3%
High School Graduate
12,034
43.8%
Some College
5,177
18.8%
Associate's Degree
2,027
7.4%
Bachelor's Degree
3,315
12.1%
Master's, PhD, and/or Professional Degree
1,567
5.7%
Note: Data applies to the population 25 and older
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Private Employers
Nucor
Steel Dynamics Inc.
Wal-Mart Distribution Center
Therma-Tru Corp.
DeKalb Memorial Hospital
Cooper-Standard Automotive
Ashley Industrial Molding, Inc.
Electric Motors & Specialties
Metal Technologies Inc.
TI Automotive
Source: Community Research Institute
Announced Jobs & Investments, 2009
New Companies
2
Expanding Companies
17
Financial Investment
$36.26 Million
Jobs Created
426
Private Average Annual Wage & Employment By Industry - Preliminary 2009
Industry
Avg. Annual Wage
Emp.
% Emp.
Total - All Covered
$37,094
17,938
 
Total - Private
$37,501
15,889
 
Natural Resources & Mining
$24,417
79
0.5%
Construction
$33,910
634
4.0%
Manufacturing
$49,576
6,687
42.1%
Trade, Transportation, Utilities
$31,441
3,052
19.2%
Information
$24,812
85
0.5%
Financial Activities
$35,016
406
2.6%
Professional and Business Services
$37,255
1,488
9.4%
Education and Health Services
$30,977
1,651
10.4%
Leisure and Hospitality
$11,666
1,410
8.9%
Other Services
$15,909
397
2.5%
Source: BLS QCEW
Direct County Contact
Mr. Ken McCrory
DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership
4483 County Road 19, Suite C
Auburn, IN 46706

Phone: 260-927-1180
Cell: 260-435-0206
Fax: 260-927-1185

http://www.dekalbcountyedp.org
mailto:kmccrory@theallianceonline.com