In 1836, Porter County was formed, including the territory now comprising both Porter and Lake Counties, with Portersville as the county seat. In 1837, at the suggestion of local residents, the Indiana General Assembly changed the name of the county seat to Valparaiso, which is Spanish for "Vale of Paradise", to symbolize the beauty and wealth of the lakes and beaches and rich agricultural land surrounding it.

Porter County was named in honor of Commodore David Porter of the U.S. Navy, whose famous battle during the War of 1812, while in command of the Essex, was fought near the harbor of Valparaiso, Chile. Commodore Porter captured seven British ships and took possession of the Marquesas Islands during this great exploit. Eventually, the Essex was blockaded by British ships in the harbor at Valparaiso and Porter was taken prisoner. He was released later and when Porter County was named after him in 1836, he was serving as American charge d'affairs at Constantinople. Commodore Porter died in 1843.

To understand County Government and its obligations, it is first necessary to understand the geographical units in Indiana that are established by the General Assembly. In Indiana, local government is divided geographically into units: counties, townships, cities and towns. These units work together within each county to provide a variety of special duties which are required by the Indiana Constitution. Special duties can include: flood protection, schools, police and fire protection, highway or street construction, and planning administration.

Historically, Indiana counties were totally "creatures of the legislature." The counties relied on the Indiana General Assembly to define their powers and obligations. In 1978, the General Assembly recommended that the power of the counties be expanded. The General Assembly proposed that the counties be given the power to exercise any powers not specifically denied to them or reserved by the State of Indiana. In 1980, this recommendation became enacted as a law and is now known as the "home rule" statute. The "home rule" statute granted Indiana counties "all the powers that they need for the effective operation of government as to local affairs". The counties now have no limits on their powers except for certain powers reserved by the state.

Indiana counties are generally responsible for the administration of county governmental affairs. Administrative duties may include:

1. Law enforcement
2. Maintenance of county highway systems
3. Operation of county institutions
4. Collection of taxes
5. Keeping certain public records
6. Operation of court systems
7. Conducting voter registrations and elections
8. Landfill operations
9. Emergency medical services
10. Public Health Departments

Each county is required to have a five-member, bi-partisan Sheriff's Merit Board to administer certain police appointive functions under a merit system.

Porter County operates under an elected Board of Commissioners responsible for administration, and a seven-member County Council which must pass on all County appropriations. Administrative duties are divided among various elected or appointed county officials.

• elected to four-year term
• may be re-elected without limit
• must live in Porter County
• functions under the direction of the State Board of Tax Commissioners

Duties:

1. advise and instruct the county's township assessors.
2. serve as the county inheritance tax appraiser.
3. serve as President of the County Board of Review (hears appeals on property- tax assessment).

• office was established by the Indiana Constitution
• can not serve more than two terms within 12 years
• may appoint deputies

Duties:

1. Prepare annual tax duplicate showing the value of property and taxes assessed against each taxpayer.
2. Prepare maps of townships to show current ownership and value of parcel.
3. Write and sign checks for welfare recipients.
4. Report annually to the Board of Commissioners the amount of poor relief distributed.
5. Must sign instruments that affect title to real estate before they can be recorded.
6. Serve as secretary of the Board of Commissioners.
7. Serve as secretary of the County Board of Review.
8. Serve as secretary of the County Council.
9. Responsible for all documents, books, records, maps and papers deposited in the office of the auditor.

• One circuit court and judge
• The highest court in Porter County
• Porter County constitutes the 67th Judicial Circuit
• Judge is elected to a six-year term
• Presides as Juvenile Court Judge
• Cases may include: appeals from city/town courts, property right disputes, overload from superior courts.

• also known as the "County Clerk".
• office was established by the Indiana Constitution.
• elected to a four-year term.
• may not serve more than 8 years within a 12 year period.

Duties:

1. Attend sessions of the Circuit Court and any other county court.
2. File, record and enter orders pertaining to civil, juvenile, and criminal matters.
3. Issue testamentary letters, letters of administration, and letters of guardianship.
4. Record wills and inheritance tax orders.
5. Keep money to be held in trust during probate proceedings.
6. Receive filings of candidacy from persons seeking certain elective offices.
7. Issue marriage licenses.
8. Pay and give receipt for support from dependency cases.
9. File petitions for court determination of time & place of birth.
10. Serve as the secretary on the County Election Board.

• consists of three elected persons.
• each commissioner is elected from separate districts where they live (North, Central, and Southern) but by vote of the whole county.
• elected to a four-year term on a staggered basis.
• has both administrative and legislative powers.
• has authority to establish other county offices.
• must hold monthly public meetings.

Duties:

1. Responsible for the administration of county business.
2. May enact ordinances to meet local conditions.
3. Control, maintain and supervise all county property.
4. Audit and authorize claims against the county.
5. Receive bids to authorize contracts.
6. Supervise construction and maintenance of roads and bridges.
7. Exercise the county's power of eminent domain.
8. Establish precincts for elections.
9. Provide polling places and equipment for elections.
10. Appoint County and Township officials.
11. Serve as members of the County Drainage Board.
12. Alter township boundaries.
13. Recommend to the County Council the amount of salary to be paid to each county officer.
14. Issue bonds or notes in connection with the borrowing of money for the county.
15. Establish animal shelters and rabies-control projects.
16. Fix and post speed limits and yield or stop signs on any street.
17. Authorize financial assistance to non-profit community services for the county.
18. Pass ordinance incorporating towns.
19. Regulate electrical contractors.
20. Establish minimum standards for plumbing and plumbing systems.
21. Establish and maintain an adequate system of books & records of the county highway department.
22. Adopt fire-prevention ordinances.
23. Contract for ambulance service.
24. Establish solid-waste districts.
25. Provide highway construction and maintenance.
26. Adopt ordinances and regulations to control the location, construction or repair of all wells within the county.
27. Provide park and recreation facilities.
28. Further economic development.
29. Provide burial services to veterans.
30. Further redevelopment of land.
31. Provide county fair and 4-H projects.
32. Preserve cemeteries having no resources.
33. Provide housing and building regulations.
34. Assist public transportation facilities.
35. Provide zoning & Planning.
36. Audit the books of the County Treasurer and Auditor.
37. May establish world war memorials.
38. May provide historical markers.
39. May purchase land for park purposes.
40. May establish minimum standards for the operation of food establishments.

• office was established by the Indiana Constitution.
• elected to a four-year term.
• may not serve more than 8 years within a 12 year period.
• must live in Porter County.

Duties:

1. Determine the manner of death in cases involving violence or casualty.
2. File the finding of death with the local health officer.
3. Employ a qualified physician to conduct autopsies.
4. May act as a peace officer if sheriff is incapacitated or becomes disqualified and has no chief deputy.

• a legislative body with its responsibility confined almost exclusively to the fiscal affairs of the county.
• Seven Members: County is divided into four districts. One council member is elected from each district. 3 council members are elected from the county at large.

Duties:

1. Serve as a check on the Board of Commissioners.
2. Fix the tax rate for county purposes.
3. Make appropriations to be paid out of the county treasury.
4. Adopt the annual budget.
5. Incur county indebtedness.
6. Fix salaries of officers, deputies, assistants and employees.
7. Levy taxes to provide funds for erecting new jails and repairing old jails.
8. Furnish financial assistance to any community center for the mentally retarded.

• Two courts and two judges - located in Courthouse, Valparaiso.
• Appointed by Porter County Court Judges.
• Appointed to a ten-year term.
• Cases may include: domestic relations - separations, support, etc.; guardianship, probates.

• office was established by the Indiana Constitution.
• elected for a four-year term.

Duties:

1. Must be a licensed attorney.
2. Represent the State of Indiana.
3. Prosecute violators of state statutes in various courts having criminal jurisdiction.
4. May appoint a chief deputy.
5. May appoint investigators to collect evidence for criminal prosecutions.

• office was established by the Indiana Constitution.
• elected for a four-year term.
• may not serve more than 8 years in a 12 year period.
• must live in Porter County

Main Duty: Preserve public records (ie: deeds, mortgages, liens, leases, articles of incorporation).

• office was established by the Indiana Constitution.
• elected for a four-year term.
• may not serve more than two terms in 12 years.
• must live in Porter County.
• must be furnished at least one automobile to perform official duties.

Duties:

1. Serve as conservator of the peace.
2. Take charge of the county jail and its prisoners.
3. Serve warrants & subpoenas as an officer of the courts.
4. Collect delinquent state income taxes.
5. Sell mortgaged property at a foreclosure sale.
6. Execute deeds to real estate sold at foreclosure sales.
7. Attend County Council sessions.
8. Attend Board of County Commissioners meetings.
9. May appoint deputies.
10. Oversees Sheriff's Merit Board.

• Superior Division (Courts #1, #2 and #5)
• Three courts and three judges - located in Courthouse, Valparaiso
• Judges are elected to a six-year term.
• Cases may include: tort and plenary cases, Class A, B and C Felonies, criminal offenses, wills and estates.

• County Division (Courts #3, #4 and #6)
• Three courts and three judges - #4 located in Courthouse, Valparaiso; #3 and #6 located in Portage.
• Judges are elected to a six-year term.
• Cases may include: small claims and minor offenses, Class D felonies, misdemeanors, violations of local ordinances.

• office was established by the Indiana Constitution.
• elected for a four-year term.
• no limit on re-election.
• must live in Porter County.

Duties:

1. Survey and keep records of all section corners throughout the county.
2. Supervise all civil engineering work of the county.
3. Prepare, maintain and keep a detailed record book showing maps of each section, grant, tract or subdivision.
4. Supervise all legal ditch construction and maintenance.
5. Serve as a member of the County Drainage Board.
6. Serve as a member of the County Planning Commission.
7. May appoint deputies and assistants.

• office was established by the Indiana Constitution.
• elected for a four-year term.
• may not serve more than two terms within a 12 year period.
• must live in Porter County.

Duties:

1. Collect and disburse county funds.
2. Collect delinquent taxes.
3. Collect local & state general property taxes for:
   
   1. Property in the county.
   2. Inheritance taxes
   3. Tax on capital stock
   4. Deposits of banks & trust companies
   5. Capital stock and the surplus of building & loan associations
4. Send a statement annually to people who owe property tax.
5. Serve as a member of the County Board of Finance.
6. Serve as Treasurer of the County Board of Education.
7. Serve as Treasurer to the Board of Hospital Trustees.