Places of Whitley County

Decorative engraving-style illustration of a generic map, compass, and rural crossroads — Decorative illustration; not a geographic map of Whitley County.

Whitley County’s current place framework consists of four incorporated communities—Columbia City, Churubusco, Larwill, and South Whitley—and nine townships: Cleveland, Columbia, Etna-Troy, Jefferson, Richland, Smith, Thorncreek, Union, and Washington. Every page gives a dated official population estimate and a specific historical or record-related note.

Incorporated communities

Columbia City is the county seat and had an official 2025 estimate of 10,256. Churubusco and South Whitley were linked by the 1871 railroad described in the county plan. Larwill is among the rail-linked populated places named by that plan.

Townships

The township pages use the state’s 2025 estimates and add evidence where the county record supports it: Cleveland Township includes the early Springfield/South Whitley settlement context; Smith Township includes early settlement along the Eel River and a cataloged 1827–1931 map; Union Township reports the Indiana State Library statement about Little Turtle; Etna-Troy Township points to an 1849–1850 record on state microfilm.

Geography and records

A mailing address, incorporated place, township, parcel description, and county filing office are not interchangeable. Use the county map catalog, Recorder guide, and public-records directory to connect the place named in a source to the correct legal geography.

Population figures come from STATS Indiana’s 2025 place table and 2025 township table.