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Indiana · Purdue Country · Wabash Valley · #318 Most Populous County in the US
Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Lafayette and Purdue University - the Boilermakers, the world's largest single-site Subaru manufacturing plant, the Battle of Tippecanoe that gave William Henry Harrison a presidential campaign slogan, and a county where Big Ten engineering and agricultural research drive one of Indiana's most diversified economies. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Tippecanoe County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Office: Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office – 2640 Duncan Road, Lafayette, IN | (765) 423-9388. Over 180 personnel across Administration, Patrol, and Corrections divisions; Patrol division also handles courthouse security and animal control.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Lafayette Police Department covers Lafayette city limits; West Lafayette Police Department covers West Lafayette and the Purdue University area.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-65 and US-52/231 serve Lafayette, the county seat, on the Wabash River, with West Lafayette forming a continuous urban area across the river.
Notes: Tippecanoe County was established in 1826, named for the Tippecanoe River and the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe. The area’s earliest European presence was the French Fort Ouiatenon, established 1717 across the river and three miles south of present-day Lafayette, a major fur-trading hub destroyed by General Charles Scott in 1791.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Tippecanoe County Courthouse – 301 Main Street, Lafayette, IN (completed 1884, designed by Lafayette architect James F. Alexander).
Notes: Tippecanoe County holds genuine national historical significance: the Battle of Tippecanoe was fought November 7, 1811, several miles north of Lafayette, between forces led by William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh’s Native American confederation, based at nearby Prophetstown. The battlefield is preserved as Tippecanoe Battlefield Park, a National Historic Landmark since 1960, deeded to the state by veteran John Tipton on the battle’s 25th anniversary in 1836. Purdue University, founded in 1869 in West Lafayette, was secured for the county through a dramatic act by local businessman John Purdue, who personally offered $100,000 on top of all other county contributions to win the land-grant college over rival bids from other counties (including Marion County/Indianapolis). Ground broke for the university’s first buildings August 9, 1871, with classes beginning in March 1872.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Tippecanoe County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via tippecanoe.in.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Tippecanoe County Public Library (Lafayette) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Tippecanoe Battlefield Park (National Historic Landmark), the Purdue University campus, the Moses Fowler House (1852), and Lafayette’s five historic downtown districts are the county’s premier heritage and recreational attractions.
Notes: The genuine, nationally significant Battle of Tippecanoe and the dramatic story of Purdue University’s founding are among the standout local historical facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Tippecanoe County Assessor’s Office – 20 N. 3rd Street, Lafayette, IN.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division – confirm current contact via tippecanoe.in.gov.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Tippecanoe County Environmental Health – confirm current contact via tippecanoe.in.gov.
NOTES: Tippecanoe County is the eightieth county completed in Indiana’s Round 3 v2 redo, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project. The genuine, nationally significant Battle of Tippecanoe and the dramatic story of Purdue University’s founding are among the standout local historical facts covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Tippecanoe County
Tippecanoe County is Indiana’s Purdue University and Battle of Tippecanoe county – the Cradle of Astronauts producing more NASA astronauts than any other university and the 1811 battle whose name became the first modern American presidential campaign slogan define a county whose Wabash River setting and university identity anchor west-central Indiana.
Lafayette (the county seat, population ~70,000) is Tippecanoe County’s governmental hub while West Lafayette (population ~45,000) hosts Purdue University across the Wabash River – the twin cities anchoring a west-central Indiana university community of exceptional engineering and agricultural heritage.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Tippecanoe County Assessor at 20 N. 3rd Street, Lafayette, IN 47901, phone 765-423-9208. IN assessed at market value.
Courts & Legal
Tippecanoe County Circuit Court at 301 Main Street, Lafayette, IN 47901, phone 765-423-9326, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT (Court Records, Marriage Licenses)
301 Main St., Lafayette, IN 47901
(765) 423-9326
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
20 N. 3rd St., Lafayette, IN 47901
(765) 423-9326
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Tippecanoe County Circuit Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, West Lafayette, and the Tippecanoe Battlefield historic site are significant regional historical resources.
Local societies
No dedicated Tippecanoe County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Tippecanoe County Circuit Court 301 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Lafayette, IN 47901 (765) 423-9343
Tippecanoe County is home to Purdue University and Lafayette, one of Indiana’s more populous cities. Named for the Tippecanoe River, the site of the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Indiana has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code – probate is governed by Indiana Code Title 29. Indiana offers several tracks depending on estate size and complexity:
Small Estate Affidavit – for estates where the gross probate estate (less liens, encumbrances, and funeral expenses) is $100,000 or less. Available 45 days after death. The affidavit must be signed and recorded with the county recorder’s office before a personal representative is appointed. No court filing is required.
Devolution of Real Estate Affidavit – a separate affidavit specifically for transferring real property, available 7 months after death, with no value limit on the real estate, recorded with the county recorder.
Unsupervised Administration – a simplified probate track available when the estate is solvent and all inheritors agree; fewer court appearances and filings than supervised administration.
Supervised Administration – full court oversight, used for contested, complex, or insolvent estates.
Step 2: filing for formal probate
File a Petition for Probate of Will and for Issuance of Letters (if there’s a will) or a Petition for Appointment of Personal Representative (if intestate) with the Tippecanoe County Circuit Court.
The court reviews the will for compliance with Indiana Code § 29-1-5-3 (in writing, signed by the testator, witnessed by at least 2 credible witnesses).
The court issues Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (intestate) appointing the personal representative.
Publish notice to creditors; creditors generally have a limited window (commonly 3 months from first publication) to file claims.
The personal representative marshals assets, pays valid debts and expenses, and distributes the estate.
File a closing statement or final accounting to formally close the estate.
What it costs
Indiana does not have a state estate or inheritance tax.
Filing fees vary by county – confirm current amounts with the Tippecanoe County Circuit Court.
Indiana has no statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives – fees must be “reasonable” and are subject to court approval.
Typical timelines: Small Estate Affidavit – a minimum 45-day wait; Unsupervised Administration – roughly 6-9 months if uncontested; Supervised Administration – 9-12+ months.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
2640 Duncan Rd., Lafayette, IN 47904
(765) 423-9388
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
20 N. 3rd St., Lafayette, IN 47901
(765) 423-9326
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Tippecanoe County Health Dept
(765) 423-9221
IN FSSA — North Central Region
(800) 403-0864
IN Medicaid
(800) 403-0864
IU Health Arnett
iuhealth.org/arnett (Lafayette — major regional hospital; Level II Trauma)
Franciscan Health Lafayette
franciscanhealth.org/lafayette
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Tippecanoe County Health Department – confirm current contact via tippecanoe.in.gov.
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Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Lafayette
Population: 215,000
Area: 500 mi²
Established: 1826
Tier: 2
Public Records
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