St. Joseph County, Indiana: Demographics, government, and cities

Overview of St. Joseph County, Indiana — demographics, government structure, major cities including county seat South Bend, population trends, and urban–suburban–rural composition

St. Joseph County (often shortened by residents to "St. Joe County") is a county in the United States, located in the north-central portion of the state of Indiana. It is one of Indiana’s administrative counties and contains a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities.

County seat and principal city

The administrative center of the county is the city of South Bend, which is also the largest city in the county. Official references identify South Bend as the county seat, where the main government offices and courthouse are located.

Population

According to the 2010 United States Census, St. Joseph County had 266,931 residents. More recent counts show modest change: the 2020 census recorded a population of 272,912. Population density and distribution vary across the county, with concentrations around South Bend and its suburbs.

Overview

Local usage: commonly called "St. Joe County."
Location: part of the state of Indiana in the U.S.
Administrative classification: an Indiana county with an established county government centered in South Bend (county seat).