Facts and Statistics about St. Joseph County
Size
457 Square Miles
Population
265,559 people
Founded
Organized January 29, 1830 becoming effective April 1, 1830. The county is named after the St. Joseph River that runs through the county. The St. Joseph River is named after Joseph, husband of St. Mary, the mother of Jesus.
County Seat
First county seat was located on a farm owned by William Brookfield a few miles southwest of South Bend, in German Township.
Since the first courts met in Alexis Coquillard’s house in South Bend, five commissioners were named to relocate the county seat which was done September 7, 1831, when South Bend was chosen as the seat for the county’s government.
Townships
There are 13 townships within St. Joseph County:
- Olive Township
- Warren Township
- German Township
- Portage Township
- Clay Township
- Harris Township
- Greene Township
- Center Township
- Penn Township
- Lincoln Township
- Liberty Township
- Union Township
- Madison Township
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