St. Joseph County Fast Facts
Size of County
457 square miles
Population of County (2020)
272,912
Founded
The county was organized on January 29, 1830 and became effective April 1, 1830. The county is named after the St. Joseph River, which runs through it. The St. Joseph River is named after Joseph, the husband of St. Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The County Seat
The first St. Joseph County seat was located on a farm owned by William Brookfield, a few miles southwest of the city of South Bend, in German Township.
After the first court met in Alexis Coquillard’s house in South Bend, five commissioners were appointed to relocate the county seat, which they did on September 7, 1831, when South Bend was chosen as the county seat.
St. Joseph County 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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