120 North Michigan Street Plymouth, Indiana 46563 1-219-936-2323
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January 1998
Article by Jerry McKibbenUniversity of Southern Mississippi Dept. of Anthropology & Sociology The competition for both population and economic growth has become increasingly fierce over the last twenty years. Frequently, small cities and rural counties have been left behind in the quest for new industries and the people that these industries bring with them. Furthermore, this competition promises to become even more difficult over the next few decades. Fortunately, Plymouth and Marshall County have been successful in maintaining both demographic and economic growth in the face of deindustrialization that has devastated many counties in the Midwest. There is every indication that this success will continue given the demographic advantages of Marshall County such as the highway system, proximity to a metropolitan area, the aging of the rural counties, and the presence of medical facilities. These advantages along with the economic opportunities that present themselves in the greater Marshall County area will ensure future growth. With the completion of I-469 around Fort Wayne and the Ind. 49 extension the toll road, U.S. 30 has become a major east-west thoroughfare between Chicago and Ohio. The U.S. 20 bypass of South Bend makes U.S. 31 the default north-south freeway of Indiana. These two roads intersect at Plymouth, thus fulfilling the first requirement of population growth which is a good highway system. The close proximity to St. Joseph and Elkhart counties allows Marshall County to be a prime destination for suburban commuters who work in the city but want to live in a more "rural" setting. By using the U.S. 20 bypass it is possible to commute from Plymouth to virtually anywhere in the South Bend, Mishawaka, or Elkhart area within a 45 minute drive. This means Marshall County will not have to depend exclusively on local economic expansion to fuel future population growth. Suburbanization from the northern counties will add a steady, constant flow of new residents to the area. The rapid aging of the counties south and west of Marshall County will provide additional opportunities for growth. Counties such as Starke, Pulaski, and Fulton are some of the fastest aging in the United States. Since it is difficult and expensive to provide services to a sparsely distributed elderly population, many of these people will move to the nearest area that can provide the unique housing, retail, and recreational needs of the over 65 age group. It should be noted that the competition for demographic and economic growth is an on going procedure that never ends. No city or county can rest on its successes and expect growth to continue. However, with good planning, cooperation between the county and its municipalities, and a forward-looking business community, Marshall County is pulsed to remain a vibrant area well into the next century. |
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