Griffith, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Griffith is a town in Calumet
and St. John
townships, Lake County
, Indiana
. It is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 16,893 at the 2010 census.
.
Griffith borders the town of Highland
to the west, the city of Hammond
to the northwest, the city of Gary
to the northeast, the town of Schererville
to the south, and unincorporated Calumet Township
to the east.
. The stage was set for the wave of immigrants that would change the face of our country.
Among the first settlers in what would become Griffith were Mathias and Anna Miller. They had left their native Germany
for the uncertain future of life in the wilds of new and hostile land. Alone and with only a few goods which could be transported across a 700 miles (1,126.5 km) journey with horse and carriage, they camped in a clearing on higher ground, an area of the ancient Glenwood
and Calumet
shorelines, the future town of Griffith. Their first home was a sod roofed dugout. Mathias and his brother would drain, plow, and plant 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of buckwheat, corn, and potatoes purchased through the swamp act. Anna gave birth to 8 children who would go on to build a town.
Other first settlers to the area were Peter Young, Peter Govert, the Walters family, the Grimmer family, and the Beiriger family. There is currently an elementary school in Griffith named after Peter J. Beiriger.
. Needless to say, their plan was never fulfilled. The Dwiggins brothers unfortunately did not have the financial backing they needed, because of the Panic of 1893
. Due to the Panic of 1893, the area’s visionary brothers left a struggling “soon to be town.” Other town developers include Aaron Hart a pioneer developer through the area who drained marshy land by a ditch called Hart Ditch.
The future for the area seemed quite dim. However, because of its railroads, the area had a chance of survival.
, Erie
, Grand Trunk
, Elgin Joliet & Eastern
(EJ&E) and The Chesapeake & Ohio, many going to and from Chicago. Farmers in the area welcomed the train traffic for a way to ship out milk and other agricultural products.
The town’s close association with railroads is even reflected in its name. While controversy surrounds the origin of the name of Griffith for the town, the one generally accepted theory today centers on a railroad surveyor for the Grand Trunk, a Mr. Benjamin Griffith, who set the grade for that railroad. He worked preparing railroad maps, which he signed. It became only natural for railroaders using these maps to refer to this area as “Griffith Section.” Since railroads dominated the town, the name stuck.
Currently only the EJ&E and Canadian National
(successor to the Grand Trunk) railroads travel through the town.
” and “gunboat diplomacy
” to the technological leaps of the Indiana born Wright Brothers
, America was on the move, and the tiny town of Griffith was following in her tracks. Griffith continued to attract farmers, railroad workers, and factory workers to its town.
As years went by, work was done. The town evolved, grew, and became great. More and more streets were being paved as the town expanded away from “the junction.” Between 1905 and 1910, all able bodied men were required to work two days each month on development of town roads. Those who missed a day had to pay $1.50.
A town hall and police station complex was constructed in 1912 at a cost of $4,853. This complex housed Griffith’s government and the police station. It gave Griffith a tradition of a crime-free community for many years because of men like John Harkenrider, Griffith’s first marshal, Deputy John Taylor, and Dan Walters, town Marshall between 1914 and 1917. Currently, the Griffith Police Department is headed by a chief rather than a marshal.
In the spring 1912, the Griffith Public school system was created when Franklin School was built on Broad Street in downtown Griffith. In downtown Griffith Public transportation was available at this time with Hammond buses. Elementary and high school education was offered at the first school house. Griffith’s population continued to grow through the years. Many places of worship were being constructed in the town, most Christian affiliated.
While Catholics were the largest domination in town, they were relatively slow to organize their own parish. However, in 1921, the diocese gave permission for the citizens of Griffith to split from St. Michael’s Church in Schererville, and Saint Mary Parish was formed. Now, Griffith Catholics didn’t have to travel all the way to St. Michael’s every Sunday. The new Catholic parish offered a place for public gatherings, religious worship, and an elementary and junior high school education in the town of Griffith.
In August 1920, the Griffith Volunteer Fire Department was established. H. B. Ritchie headed the Griffith Fire Department at its start. Currently, there is still a Volunteer Fire Department in the town of Griffith. The Fire Department was well equipped with the technologically advanced equipment for that time period. The “Red Speed Wagon” was the department’s pride and joy. Most of these older fire engines can be seen at various fire stations throughout Griffith or in Fourth of July parades to this day.
. The bank turned into a library, and then an art center. Currently, this building is vacant, but is protected as a historical site and is one of the oldest buildings in Griffith.
Although Griffith was in the middle of the Great Depression
and World War II
had broken out in Europe, optimistic views were still present throughout the town. In 1930, Meinhard Nissen and Ernie Strack opened the Royal Blue grocery store in downtown Griffith, their partnership lasted until 1943.
Mr. Strack went on to become a success in Northwest Indiana, and the chain is currently known as Strack and Van Til.
was president of the United States, and the baby boomer
generation was evolving. Along with the baby boomers came the nuclear age (the era after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ending WWII.) Griffith experienced success and a larger population. New subdivisions were added to the town. Elementary schools, such as Ready, Beiriger, and Wadsworth, were built to satisfy the population. The original Griffith High School
was one of the first public high schools in the area. Students from Munster
, Highland, and Schererville attended Griffith High School until those communities established their own high schools. Later, a new high school was built, and the original Griffith High School became a fourth elementary, now known as Franklin Elementary School. Griffith became a community known for its warmth and friendliness. Athletics are a large part of the community, good and bad. Many people at this time called Griffith “Baseball Town USA” for its popularity in the town. Over the years football seemed to overtake baseball's popularity, and now Griffith is one of the biggest football towns in the state of Indiana. Griffith also boasted at this time a new apartment complex off Ridge Road called “The Mansards”. At the time, their advertising slogan was “Living in the Mansards is like taking a vacation at home.” Now, the Mansards might not seem as extravagant.
Currently (as of 2010), the population of Griffith is at 16,893 citizens and it still holds true to its reputation of a friendly community, even though it is not a farm town anymore, rather a built up metropolitan suburb. However, Griffith still has room to grow. Griffith recently annexed unclaimed land to its south and is looking at more areas to its south such as New Elliot.
" starring Peter Billingsley
, a brief reference was made to Griffith, Indiana. The movie was based on a book written by Jean Shepherd
. Shepherd, who was born and raised in northwest Indiana, used his hometown, Hammond, and towns surrounding it, as locations in his books and screenplays. In the movie, little Ralphie's father is sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. He then turns to his wife and says "You hear about this guy that swallowed a yo-yo?" His wife replies "A yo-yo?" The husband follows with, "yeah, some clod-hopper down in Griffith, Indiana."
High School
Middle School
Elementary Schools
St. Mary Catholic Elementary & Junior High School is in Griffith.
As of 2011, Franklin Elementary has closed, and will be converted into a "YMCA"
, the town has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 17,334 people, 6,728 households, and 4,749 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,417.7 people per square mile (933.4/km²). There were 6,990 housing units at an average density of 974.9 per square mile (376.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.01% White, 10.11% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.86% from other races
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.43% of the population.
There were 6,728 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,030, and the median income for a family was $57,090. Males had a median income of $44,817 versus $27,036 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,866. About 2.7% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
The town motto is: The town that came to the tracks.
in Gary is Griffith's nearest commercial airport.
Griffith-Merrillville Airport
, (generally known locally simply as “Griffith Airport”) is a smaller airport within the boundaries of the Town of Griffith.
Cline Avenue runs through Griffith north to East Chicago. Interstate 65
, The Borman Expressway
, The Indiana Toll Road
US 30 and US 41 are all short drives from Griffth.
EasyGo Lake Transit
Brown Route travels between Munster Community Hospital and Lake County Government Center on weekdays during, traveling through Griffith along Main Street. Riders can flag the bus at any unobstructed street corner. The closest Amtrak station is in Whiting, while the closest South Shore Line station is in East Chicago. Riders can transfer from Brown Line to Green Line and Red Line to reach the Amtrak station and the South Shore Line station, respectively. However, Brown Route is primarely meant as a commuter shuttle, so service is relatively infrequent, with buses running once an hour or once every two hours depending on the time of day.
Calumet Township, Lake County, Indiana
Calumet Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 104,258.Cities and Towns*Gary*Griffith-External links:* *...
and St. John
St. John Township, Lake County, Indiana
St. John Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 66,741.-External links:* *...
townships, Lake County
Lake County, Indiana
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. In 2010, its population was 496,005, making it Indiana's second-most populous county. The county seat is Crown Point. This county is part of Northwest Indiana and the Chicago metropolitan area. The county contains a mix of urban,...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. It is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 16,893 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Griffith is located at 41°31′51"N 87°25′33"W (41.530835, -87.425812). The average elevation is 630 feet (192 m) above sea level. The town's boundaries encompass part of the ancient Calumet shore lines of Lake MichiganLake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
.
Griffith borders the town of Highland
Highland, Lake County, Indiana
Highland is a town in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 23,727 at the 2010 census. The town was incorporated on April 4, 1910...
to the west, the city of Hammond
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
to the northwest, the city of Gary
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
to the northeast, the town of Schererville
Schererville, Indiana
Schererville is a town in St. John Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 29,243 at the 2010 census.- History :...
to the south, and unincorporated Calumet Township
Calumet Township, Lake County, Indiana
Calumet Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 104,258.Cities and Towns*Gary*Griffith-External links:* *...
to the east.
History of Griffith, Indiana
In its heyday, it saw more than 180 trains pass through its town boundaries. In its beginnings it was normal for its citizens to be called “clod hoppers”. It’s in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most baseball diamonds for its population, and for the most train tracks to intersect at one point. It was nearly called Dwiggin’s Junction but it is known today best as Griffith.Humble start "The Clod Hoppers"
The year was 1853. The United States Congress and the Indiana State Legislature had just passed the Swamp Reclamation Act under terms from the Northwest OrdinanceNorthwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was an act of the Congress of the Confederation of the United States, passed July 13, 1787...
. The stage was set for the wave of immigrants that would change the face of our country.
Among the first settlers in what would become Griffith were Mathias and Anna Miller. They had left their native Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for the uncertain future of life in the wilds of new and hostile land. Alone and with only a few goods which could be transported across a 700 miles (1,126.5 km) journey with horse and carriage, they camped in a clearing on higher ground, an area of the ancient Glenwood
Glenwood Shoreline
The Glenwood Shoreline is an ancient shoreline of the precursor to Lake Michigan, Lake Chicago. It is named after the town of Glenwood, Illinois. The shoreline was formed when the lake was higher during the last Ice Age when ice blocked the Straits of Mackinac and after the straits were freed the...
and Calumet
Calumet Shoreline
The Calumet Shoreline is an ancient shoreline of Lake Michigan located in the Lake Michigan Basin. It can be clearly seen as a sand ridge along Ridge Road south of Chicago. Closer to the lake from the Calumet Shoreline, there are the Tolleston shorelines and farther from the lake are the Glenwood...
shorelines, the future town of Griffith. Their first home was a sod roofed dugout. Mathias and his brother would drain, plow, and plant 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of buckwheat, corn, and potatoes purchased through the swamp act. Anna gave birth to 8 children who would go on to build a town.
Other first settlers to the area were Peter Young, Peter Govert, the Walters family, the Grimmer family, and the Beiriger family. There is currently an elementary school in Griffith named after Peter J. Beiriger.
It was nearly Dwiggins Junction
Soon visionary pioneers and developers came to the area. Two developers in particular, brothers Jay and Elmer Dwiggins, are often referred to as “the town founders.” The Dwigginses were land developers and speculators. They had grand visions for what is today the town of Griffith. In fact, at one point the brothers toyed with the idea of naming the area Dwiggins Junction. Because of the large number of train tracks in the area, their plan was to create a factory town, which attracted companies like "Pleasant Remedies," an ice plant, and "The Pennsylvania Art Glass Company." Their idea was to rival their big neighbor to the north, ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Needless to say, their plan was never fulfilled. The Dwiggins brothers unfortunately did not have the financial backing they needed, because of the Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
. Due to the Panic of 1893, the area’s visionary brothers left a struggling “soon to be town.” Other town developers include Aaron Hart a pioneer developer through the area who drained marshy land by a ditch called Hart Ditch.
The future for the area seemed quite dim. However, because of its railroads, the area had a chance of survival.
The Town That Came to the Tracks
The area’s excellent rail connections promised much for a new town. The rail connections served as Lake County’s grandest rail road crossing. The junction brought in trains on the Michigan CentralMichigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
, Erie
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
, Grand Trunk
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
, Elgin Joliet & Eastern
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway
The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway is a Class II railroad that operates in the suburbs surrounding Chicago. The railroad is a link between Class I railroads in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana...
(EJ&E) and The Chesapeake & Ohio, many going to and from Chicago. Farmers in the area welcomed the train traffic for a way to ship out milk and other agricultural products.
The town’s close association with railroads is even reflected in its name. While controversy surrounds the origin of the name of Griffith for the town, the one generally accepted theory today centers on a railroad surveyor for the Grand Trunk, a Mr. Benjamin Griffith, who set the grade for that railroad. He worked preparing railroad maps, which he signed. It became only natural for railroaders using these maps to refer to this area as “Griffith Section.” Since railroads dominated the town, the name stuck.
Currently only the EJ&E and Canadian National
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
(successor to the Grand Trunk) railroads travel through the town.
New century -- New town
As the country moved into the twentieth century, the tiny community sifted through the rubble of the broken dreams of the Dwiggins brothers. In the wake of the whirlwind, they had battled against a national depression, bank failures, discouragement, and doubt during a painful period of let down. Those who stayed in the area came together in the settlement of unfinished factories, broken dreams, and a town that only lived in aspiration and paper. With the backbone of the area, the railroads, prospering, citizens of the community looked into the future with hope and encouragement. Three years after the turn of the century, in 1904, Griffith was incorporated as a town. Confidence was everywhere throughout America. From the foreign policy of “jingoismJingoism
Jingoism is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy. In practice, it is a country's advocation of the use of threats or actual force against other countries in order to safeguard what it perceives as its national interests...
” and “gunboat diplomacy
Gunboat diplomacy
In international politics, gunboat diplomacy refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power — implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare, should terms not be agreeable to the superior force....
” to the technological leaps of the Indiana born Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
, America was on the move, and the tiny town of Griffith was following in her tracks. Griffith continued to attract farmers, railroad workers, and factory workers to its town.
First steps - A young town
Griffith’s first town board met for the first time on November 19, 1904, in Harkenrider Hall. William Peter Govert was the first trustee elected from the first district of Griffith. Mathias Grimmer was from the second district, and Moses Toohill as the third district representative. Matt Beiriger had been elected to the position of Clerk – Treasurer. These men were given the title “The founding fathers of Griffith” because they established the first local government in Griffith.As years went by, work was done. The town evolved, grew, and became great. More and more streets were being paved as the town expanded away from “the junction.” Between 1905 and 1910, all able bodied men were required to work two days each month on development of town roads. Those who missed a day had to pay $1.50.
A town hall and police station complex was constructed in 1912 at a cost of $4,853. This complex housed Griffith’s government and the police station. It gave Griffith a tradition of a crime-free community for many years because of men like John Harkenrider, Griffith’s first marshal, Deputy John Taylor, and Dan Walters, town Marshall between 1914 and 1917. Currently, the Griffith Police Department is headed by a chief rather than a marshal.
In the spring 1912, the Griffith Public school system was created when Franklin School was built on Broad Street in downtown Griffith. In downtown Griffith Public transportation was available at this time with Hammond buses. Elementary and high school education was offered at the first school house. Griffith’s population continued to grow through the years. Many places of worship were being constructed in the town, most Christian affiliated.
While Catholics were the largest domination in town, they were relatively slow to organize their own parish. However, in 1921, the diocese gave permission for the citizens of Griffith to split from St. Michael’s Church in Schererville, and Saint Mary Parish was formed. Now, Griffith Catholics didn’t have to travel all the way to St. Michael’s every Sunday. The new Catholic parish offered a place for public gatherings, religious worship, and an elementary and junior high school education in the town of Griffith.
In August 1920, the Griffith Volunteer Fire Department was established. H. B. Ritchie headed the Griffith Fire Department at its start. Currently, there is still a Volunteer Fire Department in the town of Griffith. The Fire Department was well equipped with the technologically advanced equipment for that time period. The “Red Speed Wagon” was the department’s pride and joy. Most of these older fire engines can be seen at various fire stations throughout Griffith or in Fourth of July parades to this day.
The Great Depression
Griffith was riding high along with the rest of the country on the morning of October 24, 1929. By the evening of that day, dreams of permanent prosperity were torn apart by the crash. The new Griffith State Bank had just opened its historical doors on the corner of Main and Broad. It tried its best to stay open during the depression until it was robbed and was forced to close. It is uncertain who robbed the bank, but it has been speculated that it was the work of the infamous John DillingerJohn Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
. The bank turned into a library, and then an art center. Currently, this building is vacant, but is protected as a historical site and is one of the oldest buildings in Griffith.
Although Griffith was in the middle of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
had broken out in Europe, optimistic views were still present throughout the town. In 1930, Meinhard Nissen and Ernie Strack opened the Royal Blue grocery store in downtown Griffith, their partnership lasted until 1943.
Mr. Strack went on to become a success in Northwest Indiana, and the chain is currently known as Strack and Van Til.
Start of the modern age
In the late 40s and early 50s after the second world war, the man where "The Buck Stopped" Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
was president of the United States, and the baby boomer
Baby boomer
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the period between 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus of a precise definition, even...
generation was evolving. Along with the baby boomers came the nuclear age (the era after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ending WWII.) Griffith experienced success and a larger population. New subdivisions were added to the town. Elementary schools, such as Ready, Beiriger, and Wadsworth, were built to satisfy the population. The original Griffith High School
Griffith High School
Griffith High School is a coeducational, New South Wales government public school located in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia.- External links :*...
was one of the first public high schools in the area. Students from Munster
Munster, Indiana
Munster is a town located in North Township, Lake County, in Northwest Indiana in the United States. This bedroom community lies in the Chicago metropolitan area, approximately southeast of the Chicago Loop, and shares municipal boundaries with Hammond to the north, Highland to the east, Dyer and...
, Highland, and Schererville attended Griffith High School until those communities established their own high schools. Later, a new high school was built, and the original Griffith High School became a fourth elementary, now known as Franklin Elementary School. Griffith became a community known for its warmth and friendliness. Athletics are a large part of the community, good and bad. Many people at this time called Griffith “Baseball Town USA” for its popularity in the town. Over the years football seemed to overtake baseball's popularity, and now Griffith is one of the biggest football towns in the state of Indiana. Griffith also boasted at this time a new apartment complex off Ridge Road called “The Mansards”. At the time, their advertising slogan was “Living in the Mansards is like taking a vacation at home.” Now, the Mansards might not seem as extravagant.
Currently (as of 2010), the population of Griffith is at 16,893 citizens and it still holds true to its reputation of a friendly community, even though it is not a farm town anymore, rather a built up metropolitan suburb. However, Griffith still has room to grow. Griffith recently annexed unclaimed land to its south and is looking at more areas to its south such as New Elliot.
In the Movies
In the popular movie "A Christmas StoryA Christmas Story
A Christmas Story is a 1983 American Christmas comedy film based on the short stories and semi-fictional anecdotes of author and raconteur Jean Shepherd, including material from his books In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories. It was directed by Bob Clark...
" starring Peter Billingsley
Peter Billingsley
Peter Billingsley , also known as Peter Michaelsen and Peter Billingsley-Michaelsen, is an American actor, director, and producer best known for his role as Ralphie in the 1983 movie A Christmas Story. He began his career as an infant, in television commercials.-Early life, family and...
, a brief reference was made to Griffith, Indiana. The movie was based on a book written by Jean Shepherd
Jean Shepherd
Jean Parker Shepherd was an American raconteur, radio and TV personality, writer and actor who was often referred to by the nickname Shep....
. Shepherd, who was born and raised in northwest Indiana, used his hometown, Hammond, and towns surrounding it, as locations in his books and screenplays. In the movie, little Ralphie's father is sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. He then turns to his wife and says "You hear about this guy that swallowed a yo-yo?" His wife replies "A yo-yo?" The husband follows with, "yeah, some clod-hopper down in Griffith, Indiana."
Town council elected government
- Mr. Bud Gaby (R) 1st Ward
- Mr. George Jerome (R) 2nd Ward - President
- Mr. Richard A. Ryfa (R) 3rd Ward
- Mr. Michael Gulley (D) 4th Ward
- Mr. Stanley Dobosz (D) 5th Ward
- Mr. Ronald Szafarczyk (D) Clerk-Treasurer
Police Department - Fallen Officers
In the history of the Griffith Police Department, one officer has been killed in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of death | Age | Tenure | Cause of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Texas O. Minter | December 20, 1963 | 45 | 7 years | Struck by train |
Education
Griffith Public Schools operates five local public schools (one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools).High School
- Griffith Senior High School (9-12)
Middle School
- Griffith Middle School (7-8)
Elementary Schools
- Peter J. Beiriger Elementary School (K-6)
- Eldon Ready Elementary School (K-6)
- Elsie Wadsworth Elementary School (K-6)
St. Mary Catholic Elementary & Junior High School is in Griffith.
As of 2011, Franklin Elementary has closed, and will be converted into a "YMCA"
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 17,334 people, 6,728 households, and 4,749 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,417.7 people per square mile (933.4/km²). There were 6,990 housing units at an average density of 974.9 per square mile (376.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.01% White, 10.11% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.86% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.43% of the population.
There were 6,728 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,030, and the median income for a family was $57,090. Males had a median income of $44,817 versus $27,036 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $21,866. About 2.7% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
The town motto is: The town that came to the tracks.
Transportation
Gary/Chicago International AirportGary/Chicago International Airport
Gary/Chicago International Airport is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Gary, a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The airport, which serves the Chicago metropolitan area, is 25 miles southeast of the Chicago Loop...
in Gary is Griffith's nearest commercial airport.
Griffith-Merrillville Airport
Griffith-Merrillville Airport
Griffith-Merrillville Airport is a public-use airport located two nautical miles east of the central business district of Griffith, a town in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is privately owned by Griffith Aviation, Inc....
, (generally known locally simply as “Griffith Airport”) is a smaller airport within the boundaries of the Town of Griffith.
Cline Avenue runs through Griffith north to East Chicago. Interstate 65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
, The Borman Expressway
Borman Expressway
The Frank Borman Expressway is an east–west highway in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Indiana, named after astronaut and former Eastern Airlines CEO Frank Borman. The expressway consists of parts of Interstate 80 , I-94, and U.S. Highway 6 , as well as a short section of US 41...
, The Indiana Toll Road
Indiana Toll Road
The Indiana Toll Road, officially the Indiana East–West Toll Road, is a toll road that runs for east–west across northern Indiana from the Illinois state line to the Ohio state line...
US 30 and US 41 are all short drives from Griffth.
EasyGo Lake Transit
Hammond Transit
Hammond Transit System is the provider of bus service in the Chicago suburb of Hammond, Indiana. It features four local intra-city routes and one route that provides access to neighboring Whiting and Chicago's East Side neighborhood. The system was established in 1976 as replacement for the...
Brown Route travels between Munster Community Hospital and Lake County Government Center on weekdays during, traveling through Griffith along Main Street. Riders can flag the bus at any unobstructed street corner. The closest Amtrak station is in Whiting, while the closest South Shore Line station is in East Chicago. Riders can transfer from Brown Line to Green Line and Red Line to reach the Amtrak station and the South Shore Line station, respectively. However, Brown Route is primarely meant as a commuter shuttle, so service is relatively infrequent, with buses running once an hour or once every two hours depending on the time of day.