Wells County is located only 17 miles from Fort Wayne, 100 miles from Indianapolis and less than 350 miles from 12 major U.S. cities. The Indiana county is intersected by I-69, Route 224 and more than 7 state roads. And, much of the Wells County workforce is employed by companies in the trade, transportation and utilities industries. In addition to superior market access, this Indiana county is home to one of the most educated labor pools in the state, with nearly 89% holding a high school diploma or higher.
Economic Development in Wells County
The Indiana county supported and benefited from five expansions, 3.83 million dollars in capital investments and 227 new jobs in 2009.
| Population |
| Total Population, 2009 |
27,566 |
| Projected Population 2015 |
28,081 |
| Total Households, 2006-08 |
10,770 |
| Median Age, 2009 |
40.1 |
| Population Breakdown by Age, 2009 |
| 0-13 years |
17.9% |
| 14-17 years |
6.1% |
| 18-24 years |
8.5% |
| 25-44 years |
23.8% |
| 45-64 years |
28.7% |
| 65-84 years |
12.7% |
| 85+ years |
2.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Income |
|
Year |
Median HHI |
PCI |
| 2000 |
$43,934 |
$25,920 |
| 2008 |
$51,730 |
$30,781 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and BEA
| Labor Participation |
| Labor Force |
14,497 |
| Employed |
13,016 |
| Unemployed |
1,481 |
| Unemployment Rate |
10.2% |
Source: BLS LAUS, 2009 Annual
| Commuting, 2008 |
| Commuting INTO Wells County |
3,052 |
| Commuting OUT of Wells County |
5,862 |
Source: STATS Indiana
| Housing, 2006-08 |
| Total Housing Units |
11,655 |
| Total Occupied Housing Units |
10,770 |
| Owner Occupied |
8,446 |
78.4% |
| Rental |
2,324 |
21.6% |
| Seasonal or Recreational, 2000 |
40 |
| Median Value for Owner Occupied Housing |
$105,500 |
| Median Gross Rent |
$580 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Educational Attainment, 2006-08 |
| Level |
Total |
% |
| Less than High School |
2,085 |
11.1% |
| High School Graduate |
8,358 |
44.3% |
| Some College |
3,868 |
20.5% |
| Associate's Degree |
1,784 |
9.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree |
1,726 |
9.2% |
| Master's, PhD, and/or Professional Degree |
1,032 |
5.5% |
| Note: Data applies to the population 25 and older |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Largest Private Employers |
| Peyton's Northern |
| Bluffton Regional Medical Center |
| Pretzels, Inc. |
| Bluffton Motor Works |
| Inventure Group |
| Metaldyne Corp. |
| Franklin Electric |
| Buckhorn, Inc. |
| Ormsby Trucking |
| Caylor-Nickel Professional Corp. |
| First Fleet Inc. |
| TI Automotive |
Source: Community Research Institute
| Announced Jobs & Investments, 2009 |
| New Companies |
0 |
| Expanding Companies |
5 |
| Financial Investment |
$3.83 Million |
| Jobs Created |
227 |
| Private Average Annual Wage & Employment By Industry - Preliminary 2009 |
| Industry |
Avg. Annual Wage |
Emp. |
% Emp. |
| Total - All Covered |
$31,471 |
10,425 |
|
| Total - Private |
$31,713 |
8,906 |
|
| Natural Resources & Mining |
$29,013 |
193 |
2.2% |
| Construction |
$35,389 |
363 |
4.1% |
| Manufacturing |
$42,120 |
2,141 |
24.0% |
| Trade, Transportation, Utilities |
$30,662 |
2,731 |
30.7% |
| Information |
$31,073 |
92 |
1.0% |
| Financial Activities |
$36,261 |
320 |
3.6% |
| Professional and Business Services |
$23,885 |
558 |
6.3% |
| Education and Health Services |
$31,463 |
1,666 |
18.7% |
| Leisure and Hospitality |
$8,717 |
595 |
6.7% |
| Other Services |
$18,959 |
248 |
2.8% |
Source: BLS QCEW