The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

PORTER, a county in the N. W. part of Indiana, bordering on Lake Michigan, contains about 400 square miles. The Kankakee river bounds it on the S., and it is drained by the Calumet river. The surface is undulating, and diversified with prairies and forests; the soil mostly fertile. Wheat, Indian corn, oats, and grass are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 205,655 bushels of corn; 70,252 of wheat; 76,143 of oats, and 5896 tons of hay. It contained 6 churches, 1 newspaper office, and 1418 pupils attending public schools. It is traversed by the Michigan Central railroad, the Northern Indiana railroad, and the Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad, (unfinished.) Organized in 1836. Capital, Valparaiso. Population, 5234.