Wabash County Demographic Report on the Population of Elders: An Overview of Census 2000 Data

Population / total
Total in 2000 / 34960
Total in 2006 (est.) / 33559
% Growth 2000-2006 / -4.01%
Ages 65 and over in 2000 / 5486
Ages 65 and over in 2006 / 5595
% 65 and over in 2006 / 16.67%
% Growth (65+) 2000-2006 / 2%
Population over 85 in 2006 / 1035
Population est. 55-64 2006 / 3385
Spanish Speakers (65+) / 11
Speak little or no Engl. (65+) / 4

Though the total population in the county declinedduring the period from 2000 to 2006, the population of seniors ages 65 and older in Wabash County grew modestly.

(*Number of seniors ages 65 and over by census tract.)

Income
% of ages 65+ living below poverty level / 6.5
% of total population below poverty level / 6.9
Ages 65+ living below 150% of poverty / 17.31
Labor force participation rate for ages 65+ / 14.76
Unemployment rate (%) among labor force participants ages 65+ / 0.99

The percentage of seniors in Wabash County that lives below the poverty level is smaller than the percentage of the total population in the county as well asthe percentage across Indiana (7.7%)that lives below the poverty line. The labor-force participation rate among seniors in Wabash County is higher than among seniors across Indiana (13.93%), while unemployment among seniors in the county is lower than among seniors across the state (3.45%).

The proportion of females to males generally increases in older cohorts.

The largest frequency of income categories for seniors in Wabash County is between $5,000 to $9,999,as in most counties in Indiana;however, the county has almost as many seniors in the $10,000 to $14,999 income category *Note that income categories for this graph are larger for those making more than $54,999.

Housing
Households with 1 or more 65+ / 3478
Number of 65+ householders / 3272
% 65+ householders who own (v. rent) / 72.70
% 65+ householders living in housing built before 1960 / 60.36
% 65+ householders who moved in before 1970 / 41.87
Number of 65+ females living alone / 1139
Number of 65+ male living alone / 293
% of householders living alone / 43.77
% of 65+ householders who pay >35% of income for housing / 9.9

Thepercentage of senior householders in Wabash County who live in older housing is considerably largerthan the percentage of senior householders who live in older housingacross Indiana (48.6%) and thepercentage of senior householders in the county who have been living in the same home for over 30 years somewhat larger than the corresponding percentage across the state(37.8%).

Grandparents as Caregivers for Grandchildren 18 Years Old and Younger

Tot. / %
Aged 65+ who live with one or more own grandchildren / 120 / 2.52% (of sample)
Aged 65+ having primary responsibility for grandchildren / 40 / *33.33%
Aged 65+ live with, but not responsible for grandchildren / 80 / *66.67%
Aged 55-64 who live with one or more own grandchildren / 110 / 3.35% (of sample)
Aged 55-64 having primary responsibility for grandchildren / 50 / *45.45%
Aged 55-64 live with, but not responsible for grandchildren / 70 / *63.64%

*Percent of total of those who live with one or more of their own grandchildren. Sample size for 65+ = 1830; sample size for ages 55-64 = 1410.

Most householders over 64 years old own their home as opposed to rent, while almost one third of all seniors live alone. The percentage of senior householders in Wabash County who own their home is much smaller than the percentage of senior householders who own their home across Indiana (82.13%); however, the percentage of householders ages 85 years and olderin Wabash County who own their home is slightly larger than the corresponding percentage across the state (70.94%). The percentage ofseniors in Wabash County who live alone is lower than the percentage of all seniors who live alone across Indiana (29.11%).

Disabilities among Non-institutionalized Population Aged 60+ / Total number
Sensory / 645
Physical / 1315
learning/remembering/concentrating / 390
Self-care disability / 355
Go-outside-home disability / 770
Employment disability / 120
Percent of ages 65+ with any disability / 38.0

*Categories are not mutually exclusive. (Source: US Census Summary File 3)