Resident Survey Results

We conducted four surveys as part of the San Pierre Comprehensive Planning Process - a Resident Survey, a Visitor Survey, a Survey of the Alumni of San Pierre High School, and a Youth Survey.

We received 90 responses to our Resident Survey. The population of San Pierre is 156. This means 57.7% of the residents provided input into the planning process. The typical average nationwide for a community survey is roughly 19% of the citizenry. We have been able to reach three times that national average in San Pierre. The results of the San Pierre Resident Survey are as follows:

Number of Respondents = 90
Percentage of the Population = 57.7%

Average Age of Respondents = 51.7 years

Gender
Female = 60.0%
Male = 40.0%

Average Number of Years Lived in San Pierre = 22.1

Homeownership
Own = 92.5%
Rent = 7.5%

Number of People per Household = 2.6
Number of Vehicles per Household = 2.2

Occupation
Retired = 40.5%
Nurse = 8.1%
Construction = 5.4%
Factory Work = 5.4%
Farmer = 5.4%
Teacher = 4.5%
House Cleaning = 2.7%
Maintenance = 2.7%
Psych/Counselor = 2.7%
Waitress = 2.7%
Other = 19.0%

Location of Workplace
San Pierre = 21.4%
North Judson = 11.9%
Knox = 7.1%
Valparaiso = 7.1%
all over = 7.1%
DeMotte = 4.8%
Gary = 4.8%
Wheatfield = 4.8%
Other = 31.0%

Location of Workplace
In Starke County = 40.4%
Out of Starke Co = 59.6%

Average Commute to Work = 33.7 minutes (67.4 minutes round trip)

Carpool
Occasionally = 5.0%
Never = 95.0%

Where Do You Buy Groceries?
Valparaiso = 53.2%
North Judson = 35.1%
Knox = 5.3%
Michigan City = 3.2%
other = 3.2%

Where Do You Buy Groceries?
In Starke County = 40.4%
Out of Starke Co = 59.6%

Where Do You Buy Gas?
North Judson = 49.4%
all over = 13.5%
Valparaiso = 10.1%
Knox = 5.6%
LaCrosse = 5.6%
Wheatfield = 4.5%
Medaryville = 2.2%
Westville = 2.2%
other = 6.9%

Where Do You Buy Gas?
In Starke County = 55.0%
Out of Starke Co = 45.0%

Where Do You Bank?
North Judson = 53.0%
Valparaiso = 10.8%
Knox = 8.4%
LaCrosse = 7.2%
Wheatfield = 6.0%
Hobart = 2.4%
Kouts = 2.4%
Medaryville = 2.4%
other = 7.4%

Where Do You Bank?
In Starke County = 61.4%
Out of Starke Co = 38.6%

Where Do You Buy Hardware?
Valparaiso = 61.2%
North Judson = 28.2%
Knox = 5.9%
Michigan City = 3.5%
other = 1.2%

Where Do You Buy Hardware?
In Starke County = 34.1%
Out of Starke Co = 65.9%

Where Do You Buy Clothes?
Valparaiso = 73.2%
Merrillville = 7.3%
Michigan City = 6.1%
On-line = 4.9%
North Judson = 2.4%
other = 3.2%

Where Do You Buy Clothes?
In Starke County = 3.7%
Out of Starke Co = 96.3%

Where Is Your Church Located?
San Pierre = 58.3%
North Judson = 15.0%
Wheatfield = 6.7%
Valparaiso = 5.0%
Medaryville = 5.0%
Knox = 3.3%
other = 6.7%

Where Is Your Church Located?
In Starke County = 78.3%
Out of Starke Co = 21.7%

Where Is Your Doctor Located?
North Judson = 43.0%
Valparaiso = 12.7%
Knox = 10.1%
DeMotte = 5.1%
Crown Point = 2.5%
LaPorte = 2.5%
Plymouth = 2.5%
Rensselaer = 2.5%
San Pierre = 2.5%
other = 16.6%

Where Is Your Doctor Located?
In Starke County = 55.6%
Out of Starke Co = 44.4%

Where Is Your Dentist Located?
Valparaiso = 26.2%
North Judson = 26.2%
Knox = 13.8%
Francesville = 9.2%
Winamac = 7.7%
Kouts = 3.1%
Portage = 3.1%
other = 1.2%

Where Is Your Dentist Located?
In Starke County = 34.1%
Out of Starke Co = 65.9%

Do You Shop On-line?
Yes = 43.7%
No = 56.3%

Do You Attend School Events?
Yes = 87.3%
No = 12.7%

Which School Events Do You Attend?
Sports = 73.6%
Plays = 7.5%
Concerts = 3.8%
other = 15.1%

Do You Visit the Park in San Pierre?
Yes = 88.2%
No = 11.8%

What Activities Do You Enjoy at the Park?
Playground = 29.6%
Picnics/Reunions = 24.1%
Walking = 16.7%
Basketball = 14.8%
other = 15.1%

How Often Do You Visit Chicago?
Once a Month = 9.1%
Four Times a Year = 25.5%
Once a Year = 85.5%
Never = 14.5%

What Activities Bring You To Chicago?
Cultural Events = 24.2%
Shopping = 18.2%
Airport = 13.6%
Family/Friends = 13.6%
Medical = 4.5%
Sports = 4.5%
Christmas Lights = 3.0%
other = 18.4%

How Often Do You Visit Indianapolis?
Once a Month = 8.2%
Four Times a Year = 20.4%
Once a Year = 87.8%
Never = 12.2%

What Activities Bring You To Indianapolis?
Family/Friends = 34.6%
Airport = 13.4%
Work Related = 13.4%
Shopping = 11.5%
Fairs/Expos = 9.6%
Sports = 7.7%
Zoo = 3.8%
other = 6.0%

What Are the Most Important Issues Facing San Pierre Today?
Negative Town Image = 32.9% (vacant & unused buildings, clean up yards/homes/junk cars, stray dogs, condition of roads & sidewalks, town is dying)
Need More Amenities = 18.9% (shops, activities for elderly & youth, attract tourists & families)
Economy = 17.6%
Education/Youth Activities/Family Activities = 16.5%
Infrastructure = 14.1% (roads, sidewalks, sewer, streetlights, traffic planning, keep and improve existing amenities - park, library, post office...)
Safety = 11.8% (traffic issues, police presence)
Low Community Involvement = 5.9%
Need to Protect the Environment = 3.5%

What Would You Most Like to See in San Pierre?
Gas Station = 68.2%
Grocery Store = 35.4%
Convenience Store = 24.8%
Bank = 9.3%
Street Lights = 8.3%
Restaurant = 7.0%
Businesses/Stores = 5.9%
Park Improvements = 5.9%
Hospital/Health Care = 4.7%
Community Center = 4.7%
School = 4.7%
Sidewalks = 4.7%
More Police = 3.6%
Nicer Buildings = 2.3%
Library Improvements = 2.3%
Motel/Bed & Breakfast = 2.3%
Swimming Pool = 2.3%
other = 15.5%

What Would You Least Like to See in San Pierre?
Ethanol Plant/Heavy Industry/Pollution = 23.5%
City Influence = 22.4% (sprawl, big-box stores, commercial development, subdivisions, sewer systems, more government, gangs)
More Bars = 14.1%
Incorporation = 11.8%
The Town Run-Down = 8.2%
Crime/Gangs = 5.9%
Straighten US Highway 421 = 4.7%
Skate Park = 3.5%
other = 9.4%

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continue to next section: Visitor Survey
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© 2008 The Institute for Small Town Studies