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| City of Gary, Indiana | |
|---|---|
| Name | Gary, Indiana |
| Settlement type | City |
| Coordinates | 41°36′N 87°20′W |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | Indiana |
| Subdivision type2 | County |
| Subdivision name2 | Lake County |
| Established title | Founded |
| Established date | 1906 |
| Leader title | Mayor |
| Area total sq mi | 27.62 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 69,093 |
| Population density sq mi | 2,500 |
| Timezone | Central (CST) |
| Elevation ft | 600 |
| Postal code type | ZIP codes |
| Postal code | 46401–46408 |
| Area code | 219 |
City of Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana, is a city on the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Lake County, Indiana, established in 1906 as a company town for U.S. Steel Corporation and named for lawyer Elbert H. Gary. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and lies near Chicago, Calumet City, Illinois, and Hammond, Indiana, with historic ties to steelmaking and the Great Migration. The city has been central to discussions tied to Rust Belt decline, urban renewal projects, and cultural legacies such as Michael Jackson and the Jackson family.
Gary was founded amid the expansion of U.S. Steel Corporation's Gary Works to serve demand from World War I industrialization and the broader Second Industrial Revolution. Early 20th-century growth attracted migrants during the Great Migration from Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as European immigrants from Poland, Lithuania, and Italy, paralleling patterns in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. During the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, labor tensions led to actions involving United Steelworkers of America and strikes similar to those at Homestead Steel Works and influenced by leaders like John L. Lewis. Post‑World War II suburbanization, alongside federal policies such as Interstate Highway System construction and Urban Renewal programs tied to administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt and later Lyndon B. Johnson, reshaped neighborhoods. From the 1960s to the 1980s, deindustrialization accelerated as companies like Bethlehem Steel and Republic Steel contracted, echoing declines seen in Detroit and Youngstown, contributing to population loss, fiscal stress, and municipal challenges addressed in court cases akin to Brown v. Board of Education in civil rights contexts. Cultural institutions, including Glen Park and historic sites linked to the Jackson family residence, persisted amid efforts at redevelopment under mayors such as Richard Hatcher and figures in state government like Mitch Daniels.
Gary sits on the Indiana Dunes coastal plain adjacent to Lake Michigan and within the Calumet Region, bounded by East Chicago, Indiana, Hammond, Indiana, and the Calumet River. Its topography includes lakefront shoreline, industrial plains near Indiana Harbor and Miller Beach, and reclaimed wetlands tied to projects similar to those at the Indiana Dunes National Park. The city experiences a humid continental climate influenced by lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan, with seasonal variation comparable to Chicago and Milwaukee. Weather events affecting Gary often relate to patterns tracked by the National Weather Service and climatological studies conducted at institutions like Purdue University and Indiana University.
Gary's population peaked mid-20th century and declined amid industrial restructuring, mirroring demographic shifts in Cleveland, Buffalo, New York, and St. Louis. Its current composition reflects large African American communities originating from the Great Migration, as well as smaller Hispanic populations with roots in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Socioeconomic indicators align with federal data collection by the U.S. Census Bureau and analyses by think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and Urban Institute. Neighborhoods like Miller Beach contrast demographically with inland districts near Indiana Harbor and the Downtown Gary core. Population trends have prompted collaborations with regional entities including the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
Gary's economy historically centered on heavy industry at Gary Works and related suppliers such as U.S. Steel Corporation and rail connections like the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and CSX Transportation. Ancillary industries included shipping at Indiana Harbor, construction firms working with Interstate 90, and manufacturers serving markets linked to Automotive Industry suppliers in Detroit and Chicago. Deindustrialization involved corporate decisions by companies like Nucor and market forces described in studies by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Efforts to diversify included tourism tied to the Indiana Dunes National Park, casino proposals comparable to developments in Gary, Indiana (casino), and initiatives by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and state economic development agencies. Redevelopment projects have attracted interest from private developers, philanthropic organizations including the Kresge Foundation, and universities conducting urban research such as Northwestern University.
Municipal leadership in Gary has included notable mayors such as Richard Hatcher and interactions with state officials like Evan Bayh and Mike Pence on urban policy. The city operates within the frameworks of Lake County, Indiana governance, coordination with the Indiana General Assembly, and oversight from federal entities including the Department of Housing and Urban Development on housing initiatives. Political dynamics have mirrored urban electoral patterns studied by scholars at institutions like Harvard University and University of Chicago, and Gary has been a focal point for civil rights-era politics, influenced by national figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and legal advocacy organizations like the NAACP.
Education in Gary includes institutions like the Gary Community School Corporation and nearby higher education partners such as Purdue University Northwest, Indiana University Northwest, and vocational programs at Ivy Tech Community College. Cultural life has been shaped by the Jackson family, particularly Michael Jackson, whose early career with The Jackson 5 and connections to venues in Gary contributed to popular music history alongside artists from Motown and labels such as Berry Gordy's Motown Records. Arts organizations, community theaters, and museums have partnered with groups like the Gary Public Library and regional cultural foundations, while festivals and events connect to traditions found across Midwest cities.
Gary's infrastructure includes access to Interstate 90 (the Borman Expressway), rail freight lines operated by Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation, and ports on Lake Michigan serving the Great Lakes shipping network. Passenger services historically included South Shore Line commuter rail, Amtrak proposals, and regional bus connections coordinated by the Regional Transportation Authority and agencies like NIRPC. Utilities and environmental remediation projects have involved the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies in cleanup efforts similar to projects under the Superfund program. Airport facilities in the region include Gary/Chicago International Airport and nearby Chicago Midway International Airport and O'Hare International Airport.
Gary's legacy includes figures such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Richard Hatcher, and athletes who trained in the region, with cultural links to Motown and American music history recorded by scholars at institutions like Smithsonian Institution. Labor leaders and industrialists connected to Gary include executives from U.S. Steel Corporation and union organizers associated with the United Steelworkers of America. The city's built environment, from abandoned Gary Works facilities to restored sites in Miller Beach, continues to feature in documentaries and scholarship by organizations like the Brookings Institution and universities including University of Michigan.