Bluffton, Indiana

Overview

Bluffton Regional Medical Center in Bluffton, Indiana serves as a critical healthcare facility for the surrounding region. Located in Indiana, this hospital draws visitors and residents from a wide catchment area that spans multiple incorporated communities. Understanding the population base within a 30-minute drive helps illustrate the regional significance of this location and the communities it connects.

Population catchment

Within a 30-minute drive of Bluffton Regional Medical Center, approximately 34,369 people reside across 20 incorporated places. The largest nearby community, Bluffton, contributes 10,308 residents to this total, making up about 30% of the area's population. The next largest communities are Decatur (9,913) and Berne (4,173), which together contribute an additional 14,086 residents to the catchment. The population distribution across these communities provides insight into the density and structure of the region.

Regional dependence

Many of the communities near Bluffton Regional Medical Center are relatively small, with 18 out of 20 falling below 5,000 residents. These smaller towns depend on proximity to Bluffton and regional destinations like Bluffton Regional Medical Center for everyday needs ranging from retail to medical care. This interdependence between small communities and larger centers is a defining feature of the area's geography.

Geographic interpretation

The demographic profile of the Bluffton Regional Medical Center catchment area reveals a suburban landscape. The area features a suburban pattern where several communities of moderate size coexist with smaller towns, creating a varied demographic landscape. Population concentration around Bluffton points to a moderately concentrated regional structure where access to amenities tends to correlate with proximity to the largest communities. With a median population of 425 across the nearby communities, the typical incorporated place is substantially smaller than the area's largest city. This geographic context is essential for understanding the practical reach of Bluffton Regional Medical Center.