Lake County, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Lake County is a county
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...

 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of 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...

. In 2010, its population was 496,005, making it Indiana's second-most populous county. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 is Crown Point
Crown Point, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 27,317 people and 10,976 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 88.20% White, 6.30% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races...

. This county is part of Northwest Indiana
Northwest Indiana
Northwest Indiana, also known as the South Shore and The Calumet Region or simply The Region, comprises Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana. This region neighbors Lake Michigan and is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...

 and the Chicago metropolitan area. The county contains a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas.

History

Lake County was formed in 1837. From 1832 to 1836 the area that was to become Lake County was part of La Porte County. From 1836 to 1837 it was part of Porter County. It was named for its location on Lake Michigan
Lake 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...

.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 626.56 square miles (1,622.8 km²), of which 498.96 square miles (1,292.3 km²) (or 79.63%) is land and 127.6 square miles (330.5 km²) (or 20.37%) is water. The northern and southern portions of the county are mainly flat, except for a few sand ridges in the north. However, the central part of the county is very rolling and hilly. There are many remnants of the ancient shorelines of Lake Michigan
Lake 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...

. Hoosier Prairie, a portion of what once existed, has been preserved and restored.

As you travel south from the southern shore of Lake Michigan (the northern end of the county), the land gradually rises in elevation until the Valparaiso Moraine
Valparaiso Moraine
The Valparaiso Moraine is a terminal moraine around the Lake Michigan basin in North America. It is a band of high, hilly terrain made up of glacial till and sand that reaches an elevation of near 300 feet above the level of Lake Michigan at its maximum height in Indiana and 17 miles wide at its...

 is reached. This is the highest area in the county. From there the land descends into the Kankakee Outwash Plain
Kankakee Outwash Plain
The Kankakee Outwash Plain is a flat plain in the Kankakee River valley in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois. It is just south of the Valparaiso Moraine. It was formed during the Wisconsin Glaciation. As the glacier, stopped at the Valparaiso Moraine, melted, the meltwater was carried...

 until the Kankakee River
Kankakee River
The Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. At one time the river drained one of the largest wetlands in North America and furnished a significant portage between the Great Lakes and the...

 is reached.

Major highways

Interstate 65 in Lake County is called the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. Interstate 80/94/US 6 is the Frank Borman Expressway from the Illinois state line east to the Indiana Toll Road interchange in the eastern portion of the county. Interstate 94 has been referred to as the Chicago-Detroit Industrial Freeway. US 6 is part of the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Broadway (Indiana 53) is also the Carolyn Mosby Memorial Highway. Indiana 51 is known for its entire length as the Adam Benjamin
Adam Benjamin, Jr.
Adam Benjamin Jr. was a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1977 to 1982.Born to Assyrian parents, in Gary, Indiana on August 6, 1935, Adam Benjamin, Jr. became one of the Calumet Region's most dynamic and respected legislators...

 Memorial Highway. US 30 is part of the historic Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...

. US 12 from Gary eastward is part of Dunes Highway. Cline Avenue (Indiana 912) from US 12 north and westward is known as the Highway Construction Workers Memorial Highway.

Railroads

  • Amtrak
    Amtrak
    The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...

  • Canadian National Railway
    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"....

  • Chicago Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad
  • Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad
  • CSX Transportation
    CSX Transportation
    CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...

  • Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway
    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...

  • Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
    Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
    The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad is a Class III railroad in the United States. The line comprises of track—30 miles of single mainline track, of double-main track and of additional yard and side track—starting northwest of Chicago in Franklin Park, Illinois, traveling southeast...

  • Norfolk Southern Railway
    Norfolk Southern Railway
    The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...


Adjacent counties

  • Cook County
    Cook County, Illinois
    Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...

    , Illinois
    Illinois
    Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

     (northwest)
  • Porter County
    Porter County, Indiana
    Porter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 164,343. Much of the population growth has to do with the expansion of the Chicago Metropolitan Area eastward into Indiana. The county seat is Valparaiso...

      (east)
  • Jasper County
    Jasper County, Indiana
    As of the census of 2000, there were 30,043 people, 10,686 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,236 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...

      (southeast)
  • Newton County
    Newton County, Indiana
    Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 14,244. The county seat is Kentland.- History :...

      (south)
  • Kankakee County
    Kankakee County, Illinois
    Kankakee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 113,449, which is an increase of 9.3% from 103,833 in 2000. Its county seat is Kankakee....

    , Illinois
    Illinois
    Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

     (southwest)
  • Will County
    Will County, Illinois
    As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...

    , Illinois
    Illinois
    Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

     (west)

Cities

  • Crown Point
    Crown Point, Indiana
    As of the census of 2010, there were 27,317 people and 10,976 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 88.20% White, 6.30% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races...

  • East Chicago
    East Chicago, Indiana
    East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Chicago is located at ....

  • 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...

  • 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 ....

  • Hobart
    Hobart, Indiana
    Hobart is home to many thriving businesses in its downtown shopping district, including the historic Art Theatre.Hobart is also home to the Westfield Southlake Shopping Mall and many surrounding retailers and restaurants, although most businesses are required to list their addresses as Merrillville...

  • Lake Station
    Lake Station, Indiana
    Lake Station is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 12,572 at the 2010 census.-History:An early depot stop on the Michigan Central Railroads Detroit to Chicago line through the Calumet region, the village was first named when George Earle mapped out a town of about in...

  • Whiting
    Whiting, Indiana
    Whiting is a city located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area in Lake County, Indiana, which was founded in 1889. The city is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. It is roughly 16 miles from the Chicago Loop and just short of two miles from Chicago's South Side. Whiting is home to Whiting...


Towns

  • Cedar Lake
    Cedar Lake, Indiana
    -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,279 people, 3,394 households, and 2,450 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,366.3 people per square mile . There were 3,681 housing units at an average density of 542.0 per square mile...

  • Dyer
    Dyer, Indiana
    As of the census of 2010, there were 16,390 people residing in the town. The population density was 2,731.67 people per square mile . There were 6,125 housing units at an average density of 1,020.83 per square mile...

  • Griffith
    Griffith, Indiana
    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.-Geography:...

  • 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...

  • Lowell
    Lowell, Indiana
    -Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 7,505 people, 2,697 households and 2,030 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,839.2 per square mile . There were 2,809 housing units at an average density of 688.4 per square mile...

  • Merrillville
    Merrillville, Indiana
    Merrillville is a town in Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 35,246 at the 2010 census. Merrillville is located in the east-central portion of Lake County.-Geography:Merrillville is located at ....

  • 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...

  • New Chicago
    New Chicago, Indiana
    New Chicago is a town in Hobart Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,035 at the 2010 census.-Geography:New Chicago is located at ....

  • 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 :...

  • Schneider
    Schneider, Indiana
    Schneider is a town in West Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 277 at the 2010 census. It is the smallest town in Lake County by population.-Geography:Schneider is located at ....

  • St. John
    St. John, Indiana
    -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 14,850 people and 5,047 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 93.50% White, 1.30% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.30% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.40% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races...

  • Winfield
    Winfield, Indiana
    Winfield is a town in Winfield Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,383 at the 2010 census. The town was incorporated 1993, making it one of newest towns in the county. Prior to that time it had been part of Winfield Township as an unincorporated town. Winfield is...


Unincorporated areas

  • Belshaw
    Belshaw, Indiana
    Belshaw is an unincorporated town in West Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana....

  • Brunswick
  • Klaasville
  • Lake Ridge
  • Leroy
    Leroy, Indiana
    Leroy is an unincorporated town in Winfield Township, Lake County, Indiana. The town was founded on December 11, 1875, by Thomas McClann. The town sign at the intersection of U.S. 231 and Elkhart Street describes Leroy as "One of Lake County's First Irish Settlements". The town contains the Living...

  • Lake Dalecarlia
    Lake Dalecarlia, Indiana
    Lake Dalecarlia is a census-designated place in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the English name of the Dalarna region of Sweden.-Geography:...

  • Lakes of the Four Seasons
    Lakes of the Four Seasons, Indiana
    Lakes of the Four Seasons is a census-designated place in Lake County and Porter County, Indiana, United States. This private gated community's population was 7,033 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...

  • Shelby
    Shelby, Indiana
    Shelby is an unincorporated town in Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana. Shelby had a population of 539 at the 2010 census.-Economy:Whiteco Industries, an Indiana business which, with its affiliates, is engaged in advertising in Indiana, and in ownership of hotels, grew along with Dean...

  • Palmer
    Palmer, Indiana
    Palmer is an unincorporated town in Winfield Township, Lake County, Indiana. A 2003 article in The Times described the town as "home to 57 residents, 19 homes". A sign on Randolph street near the entrance to the town describes the population as "Just The Way We Like It". Palmer lies along the site...

  • Ross
    Ross, Indiana
    Ross is an unincorporated community in Calumet Township, Lake County, Indiana....


Townships

  • Calumet
    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:* *...

  • Cedar Creek
    Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Cedar Creek Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 12,097.-External links:* *...

  • Center
    Center Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Center Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 31,756.-External links:* *...

  • Eagle Creek
    Eagle Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Eagle Creek Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,668.-External links:* *...

  • Hanover
    Hanover Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Hanover Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 12,443.-External links:* *...

  • Hobart
    Hobart Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Hobart Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 39,417.-External links:* *...

  • North
    North Township, Lake County, Indiana
    North Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 162,855.-External links:* *...

  • Ross
    Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Ross Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 47,890.-External links:* *...

  • 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:* *...

  • West Creek
    West Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana
    West Creek Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 6,826.-External links:* *...

  • Winfield
    Winfield Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Winfield Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,054.-External links:* *...


Education

The administration of public schools in Lake County is divided among 16 corporations and governing bodies, more than any other Indiana county. http://www.stats.indiana.edu/imagemapper/school_districts/
  • Crown Point Community School Corporation – Web site - Center
    Center Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Center Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 31,756.-External links:* *...

     & Winfield Townships
    Winfield Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Winfield Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,054.-External links:* *...

  • Gary Community School Corporation
    Gary Community School Corporation
    Gary Community School Corporation serves most students who reside in Gary, Indiana, United States.-School Uniforms:All GCSC students from pre-Kindergarten through the 12 grade are required to wear school uniforms...

     – Web site - 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...

  • Griffith Public Schools – Web site - Town of Griffith
    Griffith, Indiana
    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.-Geography:...

  • Hanover Community School Corporation – Web site - Hanover Township
    Hanover Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Hanover Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 12,443.-External links:* *...

  • Lake Central School Corporation
    Lake Central School Corporation
    Lake Central School Corporation is a public school district in St. John Township, Indiana.-Schools:Lake Central School Corporation operates several schools in St. John Township, Indiana:* Lake Central High School, St. John* Clark Middle School, St...

     – Web site - St John Township
    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:* *...

  • Lake Ridge Schools Corporation
    Lake Ridge Schools Corporation
    Lake Ridge Schools Corporation is based in unincorporated Lake County, Indiana, United States and serves students within the unincorporated sections of the Calumet Township and portions of Gary.-Middle schools:* -Elementary schools:...

     – Web site - 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:* *...

  • Lake Station Community Schools
    Lake Station Community Schools
    Lake Station Community Schools is a school district headquartered in Lake Station, Indiana, United States. The district serves most of Lake Station.-Primary schools:* * * *...

     – Web site - City of Lake Station
    Lake Station, Indiana
    Lake Station is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 12,572 at the 2010 census.-History:An early depot stop on the Michigan Central Railroads Detroit to Chicago line through the Calumet region, the village was first named when George Earle mapped out a town of about in...

  • Merrillville Community School Corporation
    Merrillville Community School Corporation
    Merrillville Community School Corporation is a school district headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, United States.The district serves Merrillville, portions of Hobart, portions of Crown Point, and unincorporated sections of Lake County.-Secondary schools:...

     – Web site - Ross Township
    Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Ross Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 47,890.-External links:* *...

  • River Forest Community School Corporation
    River Forest Community School Corporation
    River Forest Community School Corporation is a school district headquartered in New Chicago, Indiana, United States. The district serves New Chicago, portions of Lake Station, portions of Hobart, unincorporated sections of Lake County, and portions of Gary....

     – Web site - Town of New Chicago
    New Chicago, Indiana
    New Chicago is a town in Hobart Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,035 at the 2010 census.-Geography:New Chicago is located at ....

     and some portions of adjecent communities
  • School City of East Chicago
    School City of East Chicago
    School City of East Chicago is a school district headquartered in East Chicago, Indiana, United States. The district serves all of East Chicago.-Mandatory Uniformity of Colors:...

     – Web site - City of East Chicago
    East Chicago, Indiana
    East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Chicago is located at ....

  • School City of Hammond
    School City of Hammond
    School City of Hammond is a school district headquartered in Hammond, Indiana, United States. The district serves Hammond.-School:The school year is divided into trimesters. All students are also required to wear school uniforms.-High Schools:...

     – Web site - 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 ....

  • School City of Hobart
    School City of Hobart
    School City of Hobart is a school district headquartered in Hobart, Indiana, United States. The district serves most of the city of Hobart.-Secondary schools:* Hobart High School* -Primary schools:* * * * -External links:*...

     – Web site - City of Hobart
    Hobart, Indiana
    Hobart is home to many thriving businesses in its downtown shopping district, including the historic Art Theatre.Hobart is also home to the Westfield Southlake Shopping Mall and many surrounding retailers and restaurants, although most businesses are required to list their addresses as Merrillville...

     within Hobart Township
    Hobart Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Hobart Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 39,417.-External links:* *...

  • School City of Whiting
    School City of Whiting
    School City of Whiting is a school district headquartered in Whiting, Indiana, United States. The district serves Whiting.-Schools:The district includes three schools: Nathan Hale Elementary School, Whiting Middle School, and Whiting High School....

     – Web site - City of Whiting
    Whiting, Indiana
    Whiting is a city located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area in Lake County, Indiana, which was founded in 1889. The city is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. It is roughly 16 miles from the Chicago Loop and just short of two miles from Chicago's South Side. Whiting is home to Whiting...

  • School Town of Highland
    School Town of Highland
    The School Town of Highland is the school district which serves the town of Highland, Indiana. There are 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school....

     – Web site - Town of Highland
    Highland, Indiana
    Highland is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Indiana:*Highland, Lake County, Indiana*Highland, Vanderburgh County, Indiana*Highland, Vermillion County, Indiana...

  • School Town of Munster
    School Town of Munster
    The School Town of Munster is the school district which serves the town of Munster, Indiana. There are 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. There is also 1 early childhood educational center. Known for its excellence, all of the schools in this district are blue ribbon and four...

     – Web site - Town of 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...

  • Tri-Creek School Corporation
    Tri-Creek School Corporation
    Tri-Creek School Corporation is a school district in Lowell, Lake County, Indiana, USA. The superintendent is Dr. Alice Neal.The corporation is governed by a five-person school board...

     – Web site - Cedar Creek
    Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Cedar Creek Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 12,097.-External links:* *...

    , Eagle Creek
    Eagle Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana
    Eagle Creek Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,668.-External links:* *...

    , & West Creek Townships
    West Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana
    West Creek Township is one of eleven townships in Lake County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 6,826.-External links:* *...



Colleges and Universities
  • Calumet College of St. Joseph
    Calumet College of St. Joseph
    Calumet College of St. Joseph is a private college affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church through the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Its main campus is in Whiting, Indiana, with additional campuses located in Chicago, Illinois, and Merrillville, Indiana...

  • Hyles-Anderson College
    Hyles-Anderson College
    Hyles–Anderson College is an unaccredited Bible college in unincorporated Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana, with a postal address at 8400 Burr Street, Crown Point, Indiana 46307-1499. The college is a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Hammond. It focuses primarily on training pastors,...

  • Indiana University Northwest
    Indiana University Northwest
    Indiana University Northwest is a regional university campus in the Indiana University system in Gary, Indiana, USA, established in 1963.-Courses:...

  • Ivy Tech Northwest
  • Kaplan College
    Kaplan College
    Kaplan College is a system of for-profit colleges in the United States and is a subsidiary of Kaplan Inc. and Kaplan Higher Education. Kaplan College offers career training for the healthcare industry....

  • Purdue University Calumet
    Purdue University Calumet
    Purdue University Calumet is a school within the Purdue University system that is located in Hammond, Indiana in the Northwest Indiana portion of the Chicago metropolitan area.-Schools:Purdue University Calumet is academically organized into six schools:...

  • University of Phoenix
    University of Phoenix
    The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...


Major businesses

  • Ameristar Casino
  • ArcelorMittal
  • BP
    BP
    BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...

  • Cargill
    Cargill
    Cargill, Incorporated is a privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2011, number 13 on the Fortune 500,...

  • Commonwealth Edison
    Commonwealth Edison
    Commonwealth Edison is the largest electric utility in Illinois, serving the Chicago and Northern Illinois area...

     (coal-fired powerplant)
  • Dietrich Industries (steel framing)
  • Horseshoe Casino
  • Lear Corporation (auto interiors)
  • Majestic Star Casino
    The Majestic Star Casino, LLC
    The Majestic Star Casino, LLC is a gaming holding company founded in Gary, Indiana by Don H. Barden. Now based in Las Vegas, Nevada, it is the largest black-owned casino operator in the United States and the first and only black-owned casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.As of the end of 2005, the company...

  • NiSource
    NiSource
    NiSource, Inc. , based in Merrillville, Indiana, is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution...

  • PepsiAmericas
    PepsiAmericas
    PepsiAmericas, Inc. was the world's second-largest bottler of Pepsi-Cola products, and also contracted to produce beverages for Dr Pepper Snapple Group and smaller regional brands. PepsiAmericas had 19 bottling plants in the United States and had a presence in 11 countries in Central/Eastern...

  • Unilever
    Unilever
    Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....

  • US Steel

Newspapers

The Times
The Times of Northwest Indiana
The Times of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Munster, Indiana. The Times is the second largest of Indiana's 76 daily newspapers, The Indianapolis Star being the largest...

is the largest daily newspaper in Lake County and Northwest Indiana, and the second largest in the state. Lake County is also served by the Post-Tribune
Post-Tribune
The Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, United States. It serves the Northwest Indiana region, and is owned by the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:...

, a daily newspaper based in Merrillville.

Indiana State Quarter

The northwest tip of Lake County is seemingly missing from the state outline on the Indiana state quarter
50 State Quarters
The 50 State Quarters program is the release of a series of circulating commemorative coins by the United States Mint. Between 1999 and 2008, it featured each of the 50 U.S. states on unique designs for the reverse of the quarter....

. The outline of the state on the quarter shows the Lake Michigan shore line continuing in a southwest direction from the Porter/Lake County line to the Illinois-Indiana state line, showing Lake Michigan where Gary and Hammond are located. Unlike the similar occurrence with Dade County
Dade County, Georgia
Dade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population is 15,154. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,098...

, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

 on the Georgia state quarter, fewer complaints were made concerning the omission.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Crown Point have ranged from a low of 12 °F (-11.1 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (28.9 °C) in July, although a record low of -28 °F was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.68 inches (4.3 cm) in February to 4.79 inches (12.2 cm) in June.

Government

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana
Constitution of Indiana
There have been two Constitutions of the State of Indiana. The first constitution was created when the Territory of Indiana sent forty-three delegates to a constitutional convention on June 10, 1816 to establish a constitution for the proposed State of Indiana after the United States Congress had...

, and by the Indiana Code
Indiana Code
The Indiana Code is the code of laws for the US State of Indiana. The contents are the codification of the all the laws currently in effect within Indiana...

.

County Council: The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Court: The county maintains a small claims court
Small claims court
Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction; it may be known as a county or magistrate's court...

 that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...

.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....

, coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...

, auditor, treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...

, recorder
Recorder of deeds
Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...

, surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

, and circuit court clerk
Court clerk
A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...

 Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 affiliations and to be residents of the county.

Politics

Presidential election results
Year Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

Others
2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...

32.5% 67,742 66.7% 139,301 0.8% 1,525
2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...

38.2% 71,903 61.1% 114,743 0.7% 1,714
2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....

36.0% 63,389 62.0% 109,078 2.0% 3,527
1996
United States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...

29.2% 47,873 61.2% 100,198 9.6% 15,789
1992
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....

28.9% 53,867 55.2% 102,778 15.9% 29,653
1988
United States presidential election, 1988
The United States presidential election of 1988 featured no incumbent president, as President Ronald Reagan was unable to seek re-election after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Reagan's Vice President, George H. W. Bush, won the Republican nomination, while the...

43.0% 79,929 56.6% 105,026 0.4% 780
1984
United States presidential election, 1984
The United States presidential election of 1984 was a contest between the incumbent President Ronald Reagan, the Republican candidate, and former Vice President Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate. Reagan was helped by a strong economic recovery from the deep recession of 1981–1982...

44.3% 94,870 55.1% 117,984 0.6% 1,289
1980
United States presidential election, 1980
The United States presidential election of 1980 featured a contest between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who ran as an independent...

46.0% 95,408 48.8% 101,145 5.2% 10,786
1976
United States presidential election, 1976
The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It pitted incumbent President Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate, against the relatively unknown former governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the Democratic...

42.4% 90,119 56.7% 120,700 0.9% 1,922
1972
United States presidential election, 1972
The United States presidential election of 1972 was the 47th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on November 7, 1972. The Democratic Party's nomination was eventually won by Senator George McGovern, who ran an anti-war campaign against incumbent Republican President Richard...

56.2% 115,480 43.1% 88,510 0.7% 1,352
1968
United States presidential election, 1968
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...

36.5% 77,911 46.8% 99,897 16.7% 35,766
1964
United States presidential election, 1964
The United States presidential election of 1964 was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had come to office less than a year earlier following the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. Johnson, who had successfully associated himself with Kennedy's...

35.2% 73,722 64.4% 134,978 0.4% 823
1960
United States presidential election, 1960
The United States presidential election of 1960 was the 44th American presidential election, held on November 8, 1960, for the term beginning January 20, 1961, and ending January 20, 1965. The incumbent president, Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, was not eligible to run again. The Republican Party...

37.0% 78,278 62.8% 132,554 0.2% 526


Lake County has long been a Democratic stronghold, giving pluralities to Democrats in every Presidential
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 election since 1960 except 1972.

Lake is part of Indiana's 1st
Indiana's 1st congressional district
Indiana's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. The district is based in Gary and its surrounding suburbs and exurbs. It consists of all of the counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton, and part of Porter County in the northwestern part of the state...

 congressional district, which is held by Democrat Pete Visclosky
Pete Visclosky
Peter John "Pete" Visclosky is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1985. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district lies in Northwest Indiana and includes all of Lake, Newton, Jasper and Benton counties as well as a major portion of Porter County...

. In the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...

, Lake is part of the 1st through 4th, 12th through 15th and 19th districts. In total nine districts; seven seats represented by Democrats and two by Republicans. In the State Senate
Indiana Senate
The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits...

, Lake is part of the 1st through 4th and 6th districts, which are held by four Democrats and one Republican.

Lake County Indiana Senate
Indiana Senate
The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits...

 districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...

 districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19.

2008 Presidential Primary

In the 2008 Democratic presidential primary
Indiana Democratic primary, 2008
Clinton narrowly defeated Obama to win the primary.The Indiana Democratic Presidential Primary took place on May 6, 2008. It was an open primary with 72 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Indiana's nine congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 47....

 on May 6, 2008, Lake County was one of the last counties to report results. Lake County had reported no results at 11 p.m. ET, and at midnight ET, only 28% of Lake County's vote had been reported. A large number of absentee ballots and a record turnout delayed the tallies, and polls closed an hour later than much of the state because Lake County is in the Central Time Zone
Central Time zone
In North America, the Central Time Zone refers to national time zones which observe standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC , and daylight saving, or summer time by subtracting five hours...

. Early returns showed Senator Barack Obama leading by a potentially lead-changing margin, leaving the race between Senator Hillary Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...

 and Obama "too close to call" until final tallies were reported.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
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 484,564 people, 181,633 households, and 126,961 families residing in the county. 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 975 people per square mile (376/km²). There were 194,992 housing units at an average density of 392 per square mile (151/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 66.72% White
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...

, 25.33% Black
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...

 or African American
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...

, 12.20% of the population were Hispanic
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...

 or Latino
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...

, 0.28% Native American
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...

, 0.82% Asian
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...

, 0.04% Pacific Islander
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...

, 4.96% 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 1.85% from two or more races. The most commonly cited national ancestries were German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....

 (12.2%), Polish (9.6%) and Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 (7.1%).

In 2000, there were 181,633 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% 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, 16.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,829, and the median income for a family was $50,131. Males had a median income of $41,986 versus $26,393 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 county was $19,639. About 9.70% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2010 the racial makeup of the county population was 55.27% Non-Hispanic white, 25.30% Non-Hispanic black, 0.33% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 1.26% Non-Hispanics of two or more races and 16.67% Hispanic or Latino.

See also


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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