Located approximately 30 miles from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Noble County offers an accessible and affordable position for business. Four state highways and substantial rail infrastructure divide the county, which is approximately 42 miles from the nearest commercial airport and 102 miles from the nearest deepwater port. Living costs are low, when compared to the regional consumer price index. And, in 2007, more than 350 new jobs were created and $60.4 million invested in this affordable, accessible northeast Indiana county.
An Indiana County Manufacturing Mecca
The majority of this Indiana county’s workforce is employed in manufacturing: from confectionary manufacturing with Kraft Foods, to medical manufacturing with Group Dekko.
| Population |
| Total Population, 2008 |
47,601 |
| Projected Population 2015 |
48,431 |
| Total Households, 2005-07 |
17,378 |
| Median Age, 2008 |
35.8 |
| Population Breakdown by Age, 2008 |
| 0-13 years |
20.6% |
| 14-17 years |
6.1% |
| 18-24 years |
7.7% |
| 25-44 years |
28.7% |
| 45-64 years |
25.3% |
| 65-84 years |
9.9% |
| 85+ years |
1.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Income |
|
Year
|
Median HHI
|
PCI
|
| 2000 |
$42,700
|
$23,280
|
| 2007 |
$46,924
|
$27,096
|
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and BEA
| Labor Participation |
| Labor Force |
22,920
|
| Employed |
19,219
|
| Unemployed |
3,701
|
| Unemployment Rate |
16.2%
|
Source: BLS LAUS, Preliminary 2009 Annual
| Commuting, 2007 |
| Commuting INTO Noble County |
5,549
|
| Commuting OUT of Noble County |
8,632
|
Source: STATS Indiana
| Housing, 2005-07 |
| Total Housing Units |
19,546
|
| Total Occupied Housing Units |
17,378
|
| Owner Occupied |
13,850
|
79.7%
|
| Rental |
3,528
|
20.3%
|
| Seasonal or Recreational, 2000 |
517
|
| Median Value for Owner Occupied Housing |
$109,700
|
| Median Gross Rent |
$578
|
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Education Attainment, 2005-07 |
| Level |
Total
|
%
|
| Less than High School |
6,287
|
20.5%
|
| High School Graduate |
12,921
|
42.2%
|
| Some College |
5,045
|
16.5%
|
| Associate's Degree |
2,258
|
7.4%
|
| Bachelor's Degree |
2,472
|
8.1%
|
| Master's, PhD, and/or Professional Degree |
1,635
|
5.3%
|
| Note: Data applies to the population 25 and older |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-07 ACS
| Largest Private Employers |
| Courier Kendallville Inc. |
| Kraft Foods |
| Busche Enterprise Corp. |
| Group Dekko |
| Tenneco Inc. |
| Silgan Plastics Corp. |
| Dexter Axle |
| Parkview Noble |
| Colwell General |
| Guardian Industries |
Source: Community Research Institute
| Announced Jobs & Investments, 2008 |
| New Companies |
0
|
| Expanding Companies |
7
|
| Financial Investment |
$23.13 Million
|
| Jobs Created |
441
|
| Private Average Annual Wage & Employment By Industry - 2008 |
| Industry |
Avg. Annual Wage
|
Emp.
|
% Emp.
|
| Total - All Covered |
$31,526
|
17,818
|
|
| Total - Private |
$31,488
|
15,787
|
|
| Natural Resources & Mining |
$28,392
|
156
|
1.0%
|
| Construction |
$35,471
|
473
|
3.0%
|
| Manufacturing |
$38,204
|
8,204
|
52.0%
|
| Trade, Transportation, Utilities |
$26,353
|
1,977
|
12.5%
|
| Information |
$30,845
|
267
|
1.7%
|
| Financial Activities |
$31,794
|
562
|
3.6%
|
| Professional and Business Services |
$23,720
|
1,199
|
7.6%
|
| Education and Health Services |
$26,654
|
1,439
|
9.1%
|
| Leisure and Hospitality |
$9,552
|
1,057
|
6.7%
|
| Other Services |
$16,293
|
453
|
2.9%
|
Source: BLS QCEW