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Valparaiso, Indiana

14 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1953 and the latest in 1992. It stands in Center Township. It lies in ZIP code area 46383. It stands on Beauty Creek. The Survey maps it on the Valparaiso quadrangle. 34,151 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 794 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Valparaiso within Porter County

On record in Valparaiso

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 17 shown

Every listing in Porter County

Population over time

2 figures

Valparaiso grew from 31,730 to 34,151 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201031,730
202034,151+2,421 (+8%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 14 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

33 since 1995

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 33 fires within 5 miles of Valparaiso between 1995 and 2004, burning about 81 acres in total. None started naturally. 4 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined16
Recreation and ceremony8
Arson/incendiarism4
Debris and open burning4
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
27 September 2002Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
27 September 2002Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
14 September 2002Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
7 August 2002Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
10 August 2002Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
31 July 2002Arson/incendiarism1.0 acresIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
5 June 2003Arson/incendiarism1.5 acresIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
6 May 2004Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Porter County

Mines and quarries near this place

2 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Valparaiso: 2 producers. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Stone. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Porter Co. Hwy Dept.StoneProducer
Valparaiso Supt. of StreetsStoneProducer

Every working recorded in Porter County

Storms near this place

60 of 72 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Valparaiso in 72 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 39 thunderstorm wind, 18 hail, 6 flood, 5 lightning. The reports record 4 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2011LightningValparaiso2 hurtAn employee at a drugstore was using the telephone when lightning struck nearby. The employee reported feeling a jolt and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. A dispatcher at the 911 center also reported a jolt after lightning struck the center. Sparks were reportedly seen inside the center just after the lightning strike.
May 2011LightningValparaiso1 hurtA woman in Jackson Township was injured when lightning struck nearby while she was closing a metal window.
July 2005LightningValparaiso1 hurtA worker at the Porter County Fairgrounds was struck by lightning.
August 2014Flash FloodValparaiso$250,000Street and basement flooding was reported over portions of Valparaiso.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindValparaiso$100,000no account filed
November 2013Thunderstorm WindValparaiso$25,000On the east side of Valparaiso, numerous power poles were snapped and trees were blown down. County Road 600N was closed between 300E and 400E due to several high tension poles and power lines down across the road.
August 2012LightningValparaiso$25,000Two houses were set on fire after lightning strikes.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindValparaiso$25,000Several trees and tree limbs were blown down. One tree was blown onto a house. A large tree was blown down in Tower Park. The roof of a restaurant was blown off a sandwich shop.
August 2007FloodValparaiso$25,000A van drove into eight inches of flood water, lost control, crossed the median into westbound lanes and was hit by a semi-trailer. Two passengers were killed and the driver was critically injured.
May 2011LightningValparaiso$5,000Lightning struck a garage on Roosevelt Road. About an hour later, smoke was seen billowing from the detached garage. The fire was quickly put out by firefighters.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindValparaiso$5,000Trees and power lines blown down.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindValparaiso$3,000Large tree limbs fell on cars at Chesterton and Valparaiso. A tree also fell across Route 12 in Porter County.
August 2017Thunderstorm WindValparaiso$1,000Two trees were blown down onto power lines.
July 2025FloodValparaiso-Multiple streets in Valparaiso were flooded with a few inches of water.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Trees and power lines were blown down on Union Street.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Trees and tree limbs were blown down on and around the Valparaiso University campus.
March 2023HailValparaiso-A photo shared of hail in Valparaiso showed the largest hailstones were approximately quarter sized.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-A photo shared via social media shows a 2 to 4 inch diameter tree branch had been snapped near Oak St and Garfield St. Wind speed was estimated using radar.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Tree limbs were blown down on power lines.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Scattered large tree limbs were blown down in Valparaiso.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-A photo was shared on social media of a large tree limb snapped.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Tree damage was reported.
April 2020FloodValparaiso-Minor flooding of low lying areas was reported.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Trees were blown down in Valparaiso.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Four tree limbs, 8 to 10 inches in diameter, were snapped.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-A semi truck was blown over near Valparaiso.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Numerous reports of trees and wires blown down around Valparaiso were received.
June 2019FloodValparaiso-Standing water was reported in a yard along with nearby fields partially flooded. Storm total rainfall of 2.50 inches was measured.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-A large tree limb and a power line were blown down in Jackson Township. Other large tree limbs were blown down in parts of Porter County.
September 2018Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-A large tree was split on the southeast side of Valparaiso.
June 2017HailValparaiso-Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported in Valparaiso.
August 2016FloodValparaiso-Standing water over Route 2 one mile east of Valparaiso.
June 2015Flash FloodValparaiso-Numerous streets and bridges had to be closed due to flooding.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Powerlines were blown down across portions of Valparaiso.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Tree limbs and branches were blown down across portions of Valparaiso.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Numerous trees were blown down.
June 2013FloodValparaiso-Porter County Highway Department reported numerous roads and subdivisions flooded throughout the County. Approximately two inches of rain fell in 37 minutes.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Wind gusts were estimated to 75 mph.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Several trees were blown down in the Valparaiso area.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-A one foot diameter tree was blown down near Joliet Road and Route 130.
August 2009Heavy RainValparaiso-Rainfall of 2.20 inches was reported in the past 24 hours.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph one mile east of Valparaiso.
June 2008HailValparaiso-Penny to quarter size hail was reported.
August 2007Flash FloodValparaiso-Roadways covered by water.
August 2007HailValparaiso-Quarter size hail reported on the west side of Valparaiso.
August 2007HailValparaiso-Nickel size hail reported at Sweetbriar Road.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Trees blown down near Route 30 and Horseprairie Road, winds estimated to 80 mph.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Estimated gust to 80 mph in rural Washington Township.
May 2007Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-A two and half foot diameter tree was snapped at it's base.
October 2007HailValparaiso-Quarter size hail was reported at Route 2 and Route 30.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Small trees were uprooted and large limbs were blown down near County Road 325 and County Road 400.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-A 30 foot tall tree was blown down along the county line, 2 miles west of Westville in Porter County.
June 2005HailValparaiso-Penny size hail fell for about 10 minutes.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-In Morgan Township several old trees were blown down.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Large tree limbs were blown down across parts of eastern Valparaiso.
May 1997Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-Trees and limbs downed throughout the county, especially southwest of Valparaiso.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindValparaiso-no account filed
March 2023HailValparaiso-no account filed
April 2020HailValparaiso-no account filed
May 2020HailValparaiso-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Porter County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Marian Manor1.5 miles14
Crestview1.5 miles14
Coolwood Acres1.7 miles14
Westhill2.0 miles14
Burlington Beach2.4 miles17
Lincoln Hills2.5 miles14
Sylvan Manor2.6 miles14
Williamsburg Manor2.9 miles14

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on ValparaisoAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q868888The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 449849. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.