These groups were forcibly removed to Kansas by the United States government in 1838, and many died on what has been called the Potawatomi Trail of Death.

Residents in this area had to travel some distance east to Lemon's Bridge to cross the Kankakee River to travel south to the center of the county, the future site of the county seat at Knox.

[10] Despite being named for General John Stark and originally being known and appearing on maps as Stark County[11] when initially created and organized, an e was added to the county's name fairly early in its history.

Three possible explanations have been advanced - an early scribe had "fancy lettering", including a k with a long tail or flourish that appeared to others as ke, with the new spelling sticking;[12] General Stark himself may have used a similar flourish at the end of his signature;[13] which became a point of confusion to Indiana officials (unlikely, since Stark County, Ohio (1808) and Illinois (1839) both preceded Starke County, Indiana, not to mention numerous other smaller midwestern toponyms spelled "Stark"); or an Indianapolis official's clerical error around 1860.

[14] Starke County consists of low, rolling hills covered with vegetation or brush.

[15] Its boundaries include three prominences that rise to 780 ft (240 m) above sea level - two adjacent swells 0.6 miles (0.97 km) northeast of Bass Lake, and a small ridge 3.0 miles (4.8 km) east-southeast of Bass Lake.

[17] The northwestern boundary of Starke County is defined by the Kankakee River; the Yellow River, a tributary of the Kankakee, flows through the central part of the county, past Knox.

The commissioners execute the acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the functions of the county government.

[26] County officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk, elected to four-year terms.

As of the 2010 United States Census, 23,363 people, 9,038 households, and 6,484 families lived in the county.