Valparaiso, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat
of Porter County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.
. Chiqua's town existed from at or before 1830 until after 1832. The location is just north of the railroad crossing on State Route 2 and County Road 400 North.
Located on the ancient Indian trail from Rock Island
to Detroit, the town had its first log cabin in 1834. This log cabin was later used as the hiding place of Charles Manson in 1975. Established in 1836 as Portersville, county seat of Porter County, it was renamed to Valparaiso (meaning "Valley of Paradise" in Spanish) in 1837 after Valparaíso
, Chile
, near which the county's namesake David Porter
battled in the War of 1812
. The city was once called the "City of Churches" due to the large number of churches it was home to at the end of the 19th Century.
The city also has a long history of being a travel hub for the region. In 1858 the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, and Chicago Railroad reached Valparaiso and connected the city directly to Chicago. By 1910 an interurban railway had connected the city to Gary, Indiana
. Today, while the city no longer has a passenger train station, it is still very much a part of the "Crossroads of America" due to its proximity to I-94, I-80, I-90, and I-65.
Until 1991 it was the terminal of Amtrak
's Calumet commuter service.
http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/cityhistory/cityhistory/cityhistory.htm
The city is situated at the junctions of U.S. Route 30
, State Road 2
, Interstate 80
, and State Road 49
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 10.9 square miles (28.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.73%) is water.
Topography
The city is situated on the Valparaiso Moraine
, which is near the Saint Lawrence Seaway
.
Glatiation has left numerous features on the landscape here. Perhaps hundreds of Kettle lakes and knobs make up the majority of this hilly area of northwest Indiana. The Pines Ski Area is the only remaining Kame
in the city; the other one is under the university's Chapel of the Resurrection, however, grading of land in that area makes that particular kame almost nonexistent. Many glacial erratics can be found throughout the city. The moraine has left the city with mostly clay soil.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 27,428 people, 10,867 households, and 6,368 families residing in the city. The population density
was 971.6/km² (2,515.4/mi²). There were 11,559 housing units at an average density of 409.4/km² (1,060.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.35% White, 1.60% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.
There were 10,867 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 17.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,799, and the median income for a family was $60,637. Males had a median income of $46,452 versus $26,544 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,509. About 4.8% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Valparaiso has an elected mayor and an elected council. The mayor is elected for a four year term in November of the year before a presidential election year and assumes office on January 1.
has a satellite campus in Valparaiso, and one of Ivy Tech's 23 regional campuses is located in the city. Valparaiso is also home to namesake Valparaiso University
, occupying 310 acres (1.3 km²) on the south side of the city near downtown. The university is also a cultural center of the city, hosting venues such as the Brauer Museum of Art
, home to more than 2,700 pieces of 19th- and 20th century American art.
The official history of Valparaiso University was written by Prof. Richard Baepler. His Flame of Faith, Lamp of Learning details the colorful and impressive history of the University from its Methodist roots in 1859 to its lasting reputation as a Lutheran University (1925). The intellectual story of Valparaiso University in the post-war years might be best summarized by Prof. John Strietelmeier who wrote that what united the VU thinkers of this period was "the dream that somewhere there might be a place where high faith and high intellect might meet to provide an apostate age with a new vision and a new hope." Streietelmeier was a Professor in Geography and an Editor of the University's "The Cresset." His writings represent a critical set of impressions from the 1950s and 1960s at VU and are collected by Baepler in his Witness to His Generation: Selected Writings of John Strietelmeier along with a significant biography of Strietelmeier's life and intellectual context.
Valparaiso hosts an annual Popcorn Festival in the downtown area
Magazines
Parks
200 East, (east McCord St) – a community park with a playground and ball diamond.
Bicentennial Park, (Burlington Beach Road & Campbell St) – Provides a full range of activities, including a playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, ball diamond and picnic shelters. A prairie restoration is under way in the north half of the park.
Central Park Plaza, (Lincolnway and Lafayette St) – is the Center piece of the Downtown Valparaiso revitalization and opened the summer of 2011. It has an outdoor Amphitheater for concerts and other special events as well as a Splash pad in the center of the park for kids to play.
Fairgrounds Park (Calumet & Evans Avenues) – Has the largest complex of ball diamonds and soccer fields in the city. A playground and basketball court are available. Numerous city sports leagues use Fairgrounds Park for their games and tournaments. The park is surrounded by a paved walking circuit that is well occupied on nice days.
Foundation Meadows (Campbell Street & Bullseye Lake Rd) – One of the city's newer parks.
Glenrose South, (1500 Roosevelt Road) – Provides several ball diamonds and when school is out, Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools track is available for those interested in walking. Glenrose South has been the home of the Valparaiso 4 July Fireworks display and celebration since 2005.
Jessee-Pifer Park, (Elmhurst & Madison Streets) – a community park with a basketball court and picnic shelter.
Kirchhoff Miller Woods, (Roosevelt Road & Institute St – a community park that provides for basketball, baseball, tennis, picnicking and a playground.
Ogden Gardens/Forest Park, (Campbell Street & Harrison Blvd) – Ogden Gardens is the home of the city's botanical garden. The Campbell Street end is a formal garden with a variety of planting that bloom throughout the year. The Gazebo is a favorite place for weddings, wedding pictures and high school prom pictures. A Japanese garden is included with a 22,000 gallon Koi pond. Forest Park is to the west with an open grassy picnic area below a wooded picnic area with a shelter.
Rogers-Lakewood Park, (Meridian Road (N Campbell Street)) – Provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, and hiking trails. It is connected to the north side communities of Valparaiso by the Campbell Street Bike Trail (hiking and biking).
Tower Park, (Evans Ave & Franklin St.) – a community park that offers basketball, baseball, tennis, picnicking and a playground. During winter months, one of the basketball courts is turned into the community skating rink.
Valplayso/Glenrose North, (Glendale Blvd & Roosevelt Rd) – is the home of Valplayso, a community designed and community built playground. At the other end of the parking lot are several ball fields. Separated from Glenrose South by only the Middle Schools track, Glenrose North host over half of the community during the Fourth of July Celebration.
West Side Park, (Joliet Rd) – a community park with a ball field and a playground.
Will Park, (Morgan Blvd & Brown St). – a community park with a basketball court, playground, and picnic shelter.
Golf
Bike Trails
Valparaiso is building a series of bike trails across the city. Currently, most of the identified bike routes are part of the counties system of recommended roads and streets.
Bikeways (& hikeways), separated from traffic:
Campbell Street Bikeway runs from Rogers-Lakewood Park south 2.5 miles (4 km) to Vale Park Road (CR 400 N). It continues south on the opposite side of Campbell St. base Valparaiso High School, ending 2 miles (3.2 km) south at Ogden Gardens (Harrison Blvd).
At Vale Park, it connects to the Vale Park trail to Valparaiso Street 1 miles (1.6 km). A new bike loop 3 miles (4.8 km) is being built that circles north along Valparaiso Street to Bullseye Lake Rd, east to Cumberland Crossing (not open to the public (2008). South to Vale Park, turning west to on Vale Park to return to the corner of Vale Park and Valparaiso Street.
At Glendale, the Campbell Street Bikeway connects to the Glendale cross town bike lane. These travel east 2 miles (3.2 km) on Glendale, ending on North Calumet at the Walgreens corner.
The city holds two major festivals every year: the Popcorn Festival and the Porter County Fair. The Popcorn Festival is held on the first Saturday after Labor Day. It honors Orville Redenbacher, a former resident who built a popcorn factory there. Redenbacher participated in most of the festival's parades until his death in 1995. The festival also features racing events and a balloon launch in addition to typical fair activities. The Porter County Fair consists of carnival attractions and hosts a variety of shows such as a demolition derby, motocross races, and live musical performances.
s that draw water from depths between 90 and 120 feet (36.6 m). The supply is treated with chlorine solution to remove the iron http://www.valparaisoutilities.org/water/treatment/TreatmentProcess_files/frame.htm, and is backed up by diesel fuel generators to maintain the supply during power outage. Valparaiso also has three sewer
retention basins. The water department works with the recycling and waste reduction district to educate residents about the hazards of household waste.
Valparaiso’s energy is provided by NIPSCO, which also provides five hundred other companies with energy in states such as Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The NIPSCO energy plant is located only about twenty minutes south of Valparaiso, in Wheatfield Indiana at the Schaeffer Power Plant. http://www.nipsco.nisource.com/
On October 1, 2007, Valparaiso inaugurated a city bus service, the V-Line
. It operates between downtown, the university, shopping centers and the city's northern neighborhoods. It also offers an express service to the Indiana Dunes at the Dune Park train station of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District
Friday though Sunday (Friday through Saturday during Valparaiso University's spring, summer and winter breaks), timed to meet certain trains. V-Line does not operate on holidays.
A commuter bus service to Chicago started later this year and is called ChicaGo Dash
. Its main station and hub are at Valparaiso's Village Station, a former railroad depot. It was designed eventually serve as a Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District
train station as well. The trains were meant to go be linked to the South Shore line and will go to and from Chicago picking up passengers along the way. However, the recent studies suggested that the originally proposed route would not attract enough passengers to be sustainable. NICTD is currently considering alternative routing though Gary in hopes that this will prove to be more viable.
Valparaiso is served by three highways- U.S. Route 30
serves as the major east-west artery on the southern side of the city, Indiana Route 49 serves as the major north-south artery connecting it with Chesterton, Indiana
and the Indiana Toll Road
. Indiana Route 130 serves as a northwest-southeast route connecting it with Hobart, Indiana
.
The three major railroads that have tracks passing through the city are Norfolk Southern Railway
, Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad
, and Canadian National Railway
. The Norfolk Southern Railway operates on the tracks that were previously used by the Nickel Plate Road, and the CF&E Railroad operates on the tracks that were previously used by the Pennsylvania Railroad
.
Historic Districts and Structures
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....
of 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...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.
History
The site of present day Valparaiso was included in the purchase of land from the Potawatomi Indians by the U.S. Government in October 1832. Chiqua's town or Chipuaw was located a mile east of the current Courthouse along the Sauk TrailSauk Trail
Sauk Trail began as a Native American trail running through Illinois, Indiana and Michigan in the United States. From west to east, the trail ran from Rock Island on the Mississippi River to the Illinois River near modern Peru then along the north bank of that river to Joliet, and on to Valparaiso,...
. Chiqua's town existed from at or before 1830 until after 1832. The location is just north of the railroad crossing on State Route 2 and County Road 400 North.
Located on the ancient Indian trail from Rock Island
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
to Detroit, the town had its first log cabin in 1834. This log cabin was later used as the hiding place of Charles Manson in 1975. Established in 1836 as Portersville, county seat of Porter County, it was renamed to Valparaiso (meaning "Valley of Paradise" in Spanish) in 1837 after Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, near which the county's namesake David Porter
David Porter (naval officer)
David Porter was an officer in the United States Navy in a rank of commodore and later the commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy.-Life:...
battled in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. The city was once called the "City of Churches" due to the large number of churches it was home to at the end of the 19th Century.
The city also has a long history of being a travel hub for the region. In 1858 the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, and Chicago Railroad reached Valparaiso and connected the city directly to Chicago. By 1910 an interurban railway had connected the city to Gary, Indiana
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...
. Today, while the city no longer has a passenger train station, it is still very much a part of the "Crossroads of America" due to its proximity to I-94, I-80, I-90, and I-65.
Until 1991 it was the terminal of 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...
's Calumet commuter service.
Flag
Inspired by the sights of rolling hills topped with trees and surrounding rich farmland, the flag's primary color is green. White, being a symbol of purity, was chosen as a secondary color to represent the deep religious roots found in the city. Gold was chosen as a third color to represent the quality of schooling, community life, and government in the area. Emblazoned on the flag is a "V" which stands for the V's of Valparaiso: Valparaiso University, Valparaiso High School, and Valparaiso Technical Institute. The center circle of the flag contains the Valparaiso University Chapel of the Resurrection (for education), a symbol for a church, a tree (for agriculture), and a gear (for industry). The Words "Valparaiso, Indiana" as well as the date of conception, 1866, are found encircling the four symbols.http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/cityhistory/cityhistory/cityhistory.htm
Geography
Valparaiso is located at 41°28′34"N 87°3′25"W (41.476151, -87.056919).The city is situated at the junctions of U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
, State Road 2
Indiana State Road 2
State Road 2 in the U.S. State of Indiana is an east–west route running from the Illinois border at Illinois Route 17 east to the outskirts of South Bend, Indiana at the U.S. Route 20/U.S. Route 31 freeway, also known as the St. Joseph Valley Parkway...
, Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
, and State Road 49
Indiana State Road 49
State Road 49 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a state highway in northwest Indiana. It runs from just north of Chesterton at the intersection with U.S. Route 12 south to a rural interchange 10 miles northeast of Rensselaer with State Road 14...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 city has a total area of 11 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 10.9 square miles (28.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.73%) is water.
Topography
The city is situated on 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...
, which is near the Saint Lawrence Seaway
Saint Lawrence Seaway
The Saint Lawrence Seaway , , is the common name for a system of locks, canals and channels that permits ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the North American Great Lakes, as far as Lake Superior. Legally it extends from Montreal to Lake Erie, including the Welland Canal...
.
Glatiation has left numerous features on the landscape here. Perhaps hundreds of Kettle lakes and knobs make up the majority of this hilly area of northwest Indiana. The Pines Ski Area is the only remaining Kame
Kame
A kame is a geological feature, an irregularly shaped hill or mound composed of sand, gravel and till that accumulates in a depression on a retreating glacier, and is then deposited on the land surface with further melting of the glacier...
in the city; the other one is under the university's Chapel of the Resurrection, however, grading of land in that area makes that particular kame almost nonexistent. Many glacial erratics can be found throughout the city. The moraine has left the city with mostly clay soil.
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census Valparaiso had a population of 31,730. 90.7% of the population lived in households. There were 12,610 households with 56.4% of them being family households. 93.4% of housing units in Valparaiso were occupied. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 85.6% non-Hispanic white, 3.3% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian Indian, 1.8% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 2.1% from two or more races and 7.1% Hispanic or Latino.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 27,428 people, 10,867 households, and 6,368 families residing in the city. 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 971.6/km² (2,515.4/mi²). There were 11,559 housing units at an average density of 409.4/km² (1,060.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.35% White, 1.60% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.79% 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 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.
There were 10,867 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 17.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,799, and the median income for a family was $60,637. Males had a median income of $46,452 versus $26,544 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 city was $22,509. About 4.8% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Law and government
| Party | Mayors |
|---|---|
| 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... |
13 |
| 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... |
13 |
Valparaiso has an elected mayor and an elected council. The mayor is elected for a four year term in November of the year before a presidential election year and assumes office on January 1.
| Mayor | Term Began | Term Ended | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas J Merrifield | 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... |
||
| Thomas G. Lytle | 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... |
||
| John N. Skinner | 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... |
||
| Thomas G. Lytle | 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... |
||
| Alvin D. Bartholomew | 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... |
||
| Thomas G. Lytle | 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... |
||
| Frank P. Jones | 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... |
||
| Col. I.C. B. Suman | 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... |
||
| Addison E. Woodhull | 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... |
||
| William F. Spooner | 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... |
||
| William H. Williams | 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... |
||
| William F. Spooner | 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... |
||
| Perry L. Sisson | |||
| Edgerton W. Agar | 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... |
||
| William F. Spooner | 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... |
||
| Louis F. Leetz | 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... |
||
| Harold J. Schenck | 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... |
||
| Charles L. Bartholomew | 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... |
||
| Garrett Conover | 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... |
||
| Elden Kuehl | 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... |
||
| John E. Wiggins | 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... |
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| Donald E. Will | 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... |
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| Bryce E. Billings | 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... |
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| Elden Kuehl | 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... |
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| David A. Butterfield | 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... |
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| Jon Costas Jon Costas H. Jonathon Costas is the mayor of Valparaiso, Indiana, a member of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, an elder law attorney, small business owner, and father of four... |
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... |
Higher education
The city is the site of multiple colleges and universities. Purdue University North CentralPurdue University North Central
Purdue University North Central is a regional campus within the Purdue University system that is located in rural LaPorte County near Westville in northwestern Indiana.-Academics:...
has a satellite campus in Valparaiso, and one of Ivy Tech's 23 regional campuses is located in the city. Valparaiso is also home to namesake Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
, occupying 310 acres (1.3 km²) on the south side of the city near downtown. The university is also a cultural center of the city, hosting venues such as the Brauer Museum of Art
Brauer Museum of Art
The Brauer Museum of Art is home to a nationally recognized collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art, world religious art, and Midwestern regional art. It is located in the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts on the campus of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, USA...
, home to more than 2,700 pieces of 19th- and 20th century American art.
The official history of Valparaiso University was written by Prof. Richard Baepler. His Flame of Faith, Lamp of Learning details the colorful and impressive history of the University from its Methodist roots in 1859 to its lasting reputation as a Lutheran University (1925). The intellectual story of Valparaiso University in the post-war years might be best summarized by Prof. John Strietelmeier who wrote that what united the VU thinkers of this period was "the dream that somewhere there might be a place where high faith and high intellect might meet to provide an apostate age with a new vision and a new hope." Streietelmeier was a Professor in Geography and an Editor of the University's "The Cresset." His writings represent a critical set of impressions from the 1950s and 1960s at VU and are collected by Baepler in his Witness to His Generation: Selected Writings of John Strietelmeier along with a significant biography of Strietelmeier's life and intellectual context.
Primary and secondary education
- Public schools
-
- Valparaiso Community Schools
- Valparaiso High SchoolValparaiso High SchoolValparaiso High School is a public high school in Valparaiso, Indiana. This high school is currently a four star and accredited high school, cited by US News and World Report as a "Best High School 2008". The current principal is Mr...
, 2727 Campbell - Porter County Career and Technical Center, 1005 N Campbell
- Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 605 N Campbell
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 1600 Roosevelt Road
- Central Elementary, 305 Franklin
- Cooks Corner Elementary School, N Campbell
- Hayes Leonard Elementary, Hayes Leonard Road at US 30
- Flint Lake Elementary School, 4106 N Calumet
- Thomas Jefferson Elementary School,
- Memorial Elementary, Park Ave
- Northview Elementary School, 257 Northview
- Parkview Elementary, E Wood
- Valparaiso High School
- Valparaiso Community Schools
-
- East Porter County Schools
- Morgan Township High School, 299 S State Route 49
- Washington Township High School, 381 E State Route 2; serves part of the city of Valparaiso
- Kouts High School, 302 College, Kouts
- East Porter County Schools
-
- Porter Township School Corporation (does not serve Center Township or Valparaiso)
- Boone Grove High School, 260 S 500 W
- Porter Township School Corporation (does not serve Center Township or Valparaiso)
-
- Union Township Schools (does not serve Center Township or Valparaiso)
- Wheeler High School, 587 W 300 N
- Union Township Middle School,
- Union Center Elementary School, 272 N 600 W
- John Simatovich Elementary School, 424 W 500 N
- Union Township Schools (does not serve Center Township or Valparaiso)
-
- Brunswick Elementary School
- Bailly Middle School, Duneland schools (not a valpo address)
- Arthur P. Melton Elementary School
- Private schools
- Christ Baptist Christian Academy
- The Classical Academy
- Immanuel Lutheran School (K-8), 1700 Monticello Park Drive
- Montessori School of Valparaiso
- Saint Paul's Catholic School (K-8), 1755 West Harrison
- Spirit Of God Accelerated Education,
- South Haven Christian School (K-12), 786 Juniper Road
- Victory Christian Academy, 3805 LaPorte Ave
Culture
- Valparaiso is very close to Lake MichiganLake MichiganLake 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...
and the Indiana dunes, which are open year-round and offer hiking, swimming, and camping.http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/cityhistory/cityhistory/CHShort/cityhistory.htm - Valparaiso is home to the Taltree Arboretum and GardensTaltree Arboretum and GardensThe Taltree Arboretum and Gardens is an ecologically diverse nature preserve of woodlands, savanna, wetlands and prairie, woody plant collections and gardens, located in Valparaiso, Indiana, USA...
. - Valparaiso is featured in ValparaisoValparaiso (play)Valparaiso is Don DeLillo's second play, in which a man suddenly becomes famous following a mistake in the itinerary of an ordinary business trip which takes him to Valparaíso, Chile, instead of Valparaiso, Indiana....
, a successful play by Don DeLilloDon DeLilloDon DeLillo is an American author, playwright, and occasional essayist whose work paints a detailed portrait of American life in the late 20th and early 21st centuries...
. - Valparaiso's Banta Neighborhood features many historic homes; architectural designs include, Italianate, Arts & Crafts, and English/Cottswald.
- The primary local radio stations are WLJEWLJEWLJE is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Valparaiso, Indiana, USA, it serves Northwest Indiana. The station is currently owned by Radio One Communications and features programing from ABC Radio , Jones Radio Network and Premiere Radio Networks....
105.5 FM "Indiana 105", which broadcasts country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, WAKEWAKE (AM)WAKE is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Standards/MOR format.WAKE had a standards format until 2009, when it briefly switched to CNN Headline News, before adopting a Classic Country format in 2010. As of November 2011, the station has switched back to standards, using Dial Global Local's...
1500 AM, which plays adult standardsAdult standardsAdult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
, and WVLP 98.3 FM "ValpoRadio", a non-profit, low power FM community radio station. Valparaiso formerly had a fourth local station, WNWIWNWIWNWI is a radio station broadcasting an ethnic radio format. Licensed to Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA, it serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by the Birach Broadcasting Corporation....
1080 AM, which relocated to Oak Lawn, IllinoisOak Lawn, IllinoisOak Lawn is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 55,245 at the 2000 census.Oak Lawn is a suburb of the city of Chicago, located southwest of the city...
in 1998 and is now a Chicago-market station. Radio is usually from the Chicago market.
Live theater
- Valparaiso hosts the Chicago Street Theatre, run by the local Community Theater Guild, 154 Chicago Street
- The Memorial Opera HouseMemorial Opera HouseBuilt in 1893 by the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic, this 364-seat auditorium was built as a living memorial to the American Civil War veterans of Porter County, Indiana...
is a popular destination for musical theatre fans throughout the year, Franklin and Indiana
Valparaiso hosts an annual Popcorn Festival in the downtown area
Museums
- Brauer Museum of ArtBrauer Museum of ArtThe Brauer Museum of Art is home to a nationally recognized collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art, world religious art, and Midwestern regional art. It is located in the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts on the campus of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, USA...
, Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso UniversityValparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school... - Indiana Aviation MuseumIndiana Aviation MuseumThe Indiana Aviation Museum was an aviation museum located in Valparaiso, Indiana, at the Porter County Regional Airport. Incorporated on September 28, 2000, the museum was permanently closed October 29, 2010...
- Porter County Museum, also known as the Old Jail Museum.
Local media
Newspapers- The Times of Northwest IndianaThe Times of Northwest IndianaThe 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...
(or NWI Times), was founded in 1906 and is the second largest of Indiana’s 76 daily newspapers. http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/visitor/media/media.htm - The Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana was founded in 1907, serving the Northwest Indiana region. The Post-Tribune is owned by the Sun Times Media Group. http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/visitor/media/media.htm
Magazines
- Valparaiso Magazine is a magazine produced by the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, released quarterly.
- Shore Magazine is a magazine produced by the NWI Times, which also produces ShoreLines, a weekly newsletter.
Parks & recreation
Valparaiso boasts of an extensive city park district. There are currently thirteen parks with another in the planning stages. Recent purchase of the old Sears building on Lafayette between Indiana St and Lincolnway.Parks
200 East, (east McCord St) – a community park with a playground and ball diamond.
Bicentennial Park, (Burlington Beach Road & Campbell St) – Provides a full range of activities, including a playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, ball diamond and picnic shelters. A prairie restoration is under way in the north half of the park.
Central Park Plaza, (Lincolnway and Lafayette St) – is the Center piece of the Downtown Valparaiso revitalization and opened the summer of 2011. It has an outdoor Amphitheater for concerts and other special events as well as a Splash pad in the center of the park for kids to play.
Fairgrounds Park (Calumet & Evans Avenues) – Has the largest complex of ball diamonds and soccer fields in the city. A playground and basketball court are available. Numerous city sports leagues use Fairgrounds Park for their games and tournaments. The park is surrounded by a paved walking circuit that is well occupied on nice days.
Foundation Meadows (Campbell Street & Bullseye Lake Rd) – One of the city's newer parks.
Glenrose South, (1500 Roosevelt Road) – Provides several ball diamonds and when school is out, Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools track is available for those interested in walking. Glenrose South has been the home of the Valparaiso 4 July Fireworks display and celebration since 2005.
Jessee-Pifer Park, (Elmhurst & Madison Streets) – a community park with a basketball court and picnic shelter.
Kirchhoff Miller Woods, (Roosevelt Road & Institute St – a community park that provides for basketball, baseball, tennis, picnicking and a playground.
Ogden Gardens/Forest Park, (Campbell Street & Harrison Blvd) – Ogden Gardens is the home of the city's botanical garden. The Campbell Street end is a formal garden with a variety of planting that bloom throughout the year. The Gazebo is a favorite place for weddings, wedding pictures and high school prom pictures. A Japanese garden is included with a 22,000 gallon Koi pond. Forest Park is to the west with an open grassy picnic area below a wooded picnic area with a shelter.
Rogers-Lakewood Park, (Meridian Road (N Campbell Street)) – Provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, and hiking trails. It is connected to the north side communities of Valparaiso by the Campbell Street Bike Trail (hiking and biking).
Tower Park, (Evans Ave & Franklin St.) – a community park that offers basketball, baseball, tennis, picnicking and a playground. During winter months, one of the basketball courts is turned into the community skating rink.
Valplayso/Glenrose North, (Glendale Blvd & Roosevelt Rd) – is the home of Valplayso, a community designed and community built playground. At the other end of the parking lot are several ball fields. Separated from Glenrose South by only the Middle Schools track, Glenrose North host over half of the community during the Fourth of July Celebration.
West Side Park, (Joliet Rd) – a community park with a ball field and a playground.
Will Park, (Morgan Blvd & Brown St). – a community park with a basketball court, playground, and picnic shelter.
Golf
- Valparaiso Country Club
- Forest Park
- Creekside
- Mink Lake
- The Course at Aberdeen
Bike Trails
Valparaiso is building a series of bike trails across the city. Currently, most of the identified bike routes are part of the counties system of recommended roads and streets.
Bikeways (& hikeways), separated from traffic:
Campbell Street Bikeway runs from Rogers-Lakewood Park south 2.5 miles (4 km) to Vale Park Road (CR 400 N). It continues south on the opposite side of Campbell St. base Valparaiso High School, ending 2 miles (3.2 km) south at Ogden Gardens (Harrison Blvd).
At Vale Park, it connects to the Vale Park trail to Valparaiso Street 1 miles (1.6 km). A new bike loop 3 miles (4.8 km) is being built that circles north along Valparaiso Street to Bullseye Lake Rd, east to Cumberland Crossing (not open to the public (2008). South to Vale Park, turning west to on Vale Park to return to the corner of Vale Park and Valparaiso Street.
At Glendale, the Campbell Street Bikeway connects to the Glendale cross town bike lane. These travel east 2 miles (3.2 km) on Glendale, ending on North Calumet at the Walgreens corner.
City fairs
Shopping
- Cumberland Crossing, North Calumet
- Downtown, Courthouse and Lincolnway
- Eastgate, East Lincolnway
- Valparaiso Marketplace, State Route 2 at Silhavy. Includes Target and Kohls
- Valparaiso Walk, State Route 2 at Silhavy, includes Menards and Best Buy
- Strongbow Center, U.S. 30 and State Route 49. includes Walmart
- Thornapple Plaza, West U.S. 30, includes Wiseway.
Infrastructure
Valparaiso gets all of its water from wellWater well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s that draw water from depths between 90 and 120 feet (36.6 m). The supply is treated with chlorine solution to remove the iron http://www.valparaisoutilities.org/water/treatment/TreatmentProcess_files/frame.htm, and is backed up by diesel fuel generators to maintain the supply during power outage. Valparaiso also has three sewer
Sanitary sewer
A sanitary sewer is a separate underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater...
retention basins. The water department works with the recycling and waste reduction district to educate residents about the hazards of household waste.
Valparaiso’s energy is provided by NIPSCO, which also provides five hundred other companies with energy in states such as Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The NIPSCO energy plant is located only about twenty minutes south of Valparaiso, in Wheatfield Indiana at the Schaeffer Power Plant. http://www.nipsco.nisource.com/
On October 1, 2007, Valparaiso inaugurated a city bus service, the V-Line
V-Line (bus)
The V-Line is the local bus operation in Valparaiso, Indiana. Service began on October 1, 2007 making Valparaiso one of the smallest cities in the United States to have its own independent public transit system.-Operations:...
. It operates between downtown, the university, shopping centers and the city's northern neighborhoods. It also offers an express service to the Indiana Dunes at the Dune Park train station of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District
South Shore Line (NICTD)
The South Shore Line is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend Regional Airport in South Bend, Indiana...
Friday though Sunday (Friday through Saturday during Valparaiso University's spring, summer and winter breaks), timed to meet certain trains. V-Line does not operate on holidays.
A commuter bus service to Chicago started later this year and is called ChicaGo Dash
ChicaGo Dash
ChicaGo Dash is an express bus service between Chicago and Valparaiso. It is jointly run by the city of Valparaiso and the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission, with substantial financial support from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority...
. Its main station and hub are at Valparaiso's Village Station, a former railroad depot. It was designed eventually serve as a Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District
South Shore Line (NICTD)
The South Shore Line is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend Regional Airport in South Bend, Indiana...
train station as well. The trains were meant to go be linked to the South Shore line and will go to and from Chicago picking up passengers along the way. However, the recent studies suggested that the originally proposed route would not attract enough passengers to be sustainable. NICTD is currently considering alternative routing though Gary in hopes that this will prove to be more viable.
Valparaiso is served by three highways- U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
serves as the major east-west artery on the southern side of the city, Indiana Route 49 serves as the major north-south artery connecting it with Chesterton, Indiana
Chesterton, Indiana
Chesterton is a town in Westchester, Jackson and Liberty townships, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,068 at the 2010 census. The three towns of Chesterton, Burns Harbor, and Porter are known as the tri-towns or the Duneland area....
and 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...
. Indiana Route 130 serves as a northwest-southeast route connecting it with Hobart, Indiana
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...
.
The three major railroads that have tracks passing through the city are 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...
, Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad
Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad
The Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad is a short line railroad offering service from Tolleston, Indiana to Crestline, Ohio, United States over the former Fort Wayne Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It began operations in 2004 as a division of the Central Railroad of Indianapolis , under...
, and 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"....
. The Norfolk Southern Railway operates on the tracks that were previously used by the Nickel Plate Road, and the CF&E Railroad operates on the tracks that were previously used by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
.
Buildings of Note
- Porter County Courthouse (Indiana)Porter County Courthouse (Indiana)Porter County Courthouse is in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana. The current building replaced the brick building in 1883. The current building is 128 feet by 98 feet. It was built with a square tower rising out of the center. The tower was 168 feet tall with a clock on each side. Built of...
replaced an earlier brick building in 1883. The current building is 128 feet by 98 feet. It was built with a square tower rising out of the center. The tower was 168 feet tall with a clock on each side. A fire in 1934 damaged in the interior requiring the removal of the tower.
Historic Districts and Structures
- David Garland Rose HouseDavid Garland Rose HouseThe David Garland Rose House was built circa 1860 in Valparaiso, Indiana, USA. David Rose was a local businessman. This Gothic Revival house is unusual in that it is eight-sided, an octagon. Each of the eight gables include decorated wood panels...
- DeForest Skinner HouseDeForest Skinner HouseThe DeForest Skinner House or Skinner Homestead, is a place on the National Register of Historic Places in Valparaiso, Indiana. It was placed on the Register on June 24, 2008. Built around 1860, it is a two-story carpentered Italianate structure with a double brick foundation, weatherboard walls,...
Built in 1860, it is of Italianate design. - Dr. David J. Loring Residence and ClinicDr. David J. Loring Residence and ClinicThe Loring Residence and Clinic was the first facility built to provide medical services to the community. The residence has continue to provide for public service through its current use by the Valparaiso Woman's Club. Dr Loring used his home as his medical office until his death in 1914. It...
Built in 1906, this house served Dr. Loring as a home and a business. - Heritage HallHeritage Hall (Valparaiso University)Heritage Hall is the oldest building on the campus of Valparaiso University in the U.S. state of Indiana. Erected in 1875, the building had prominent dormers and French Mansard roof. Originally named Flint Hall after the contractor that built it, but was renamed after Richard Aaron Heritage, head...
Built in 1875 as Flint Hall, to day, it is part of the Law School. - Immanuel Lutheran ChurchImmanuel Lutheran Church (Valparaiso, Indiana)Congregation founded in 1862 by 45 German families. The church was erected in 1891 by Henry Lemster and his son Charles. A fire gutted the building in 1975. Marks can still be seen on the altar and pews. Immanuel Lutheran Church congregation moved to a new site on Glendale Blvd. The building...
In 1862by a German congregation, the church is today known as Heritage Lutheran Church. - Josephus Wolf House, outside of city limits, with Valparaiso address.
- Porter County Jail and Sheriff's HousePorter County Jail and Sheriff's HousePorter County Jail and Sheriff’s House are located southeast of the County Courthouse in Valparaiso, Indiana. Overtime, the needs of the county grew and these original structures were replaced by a new jail in 1974, just south of the original jail on Franklin Street. By 2000, the county again...
The residence was built in 1860 and the jail was added in 1871. Today, the Historical Society of Porter County has the County Museum in the Jail. - Porter County Memorial Opera HallPorter County Memorial Opera HallThe Porter County Memorial Hall, also known as Memorial Opera House, is an historic Grand Army of the Republic memorial hall located in Valparaiso, Indiana. It was the meeting place of Chaplain Brown GAR Post No. 106, one of 592 GAR posts in Indiana. Designed in 1892 by a local architect, Charles...
The Memorial Opera House opened in 1893 as a monument to the men who served during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. - Valparaiso Downtown Commercial DistrictValparaiso Downtown Commercial DistrictValparaiso has retained an active downtown. It remains a mix of government, retail and business center, with a mixed residential and service area . Numerous economic changes have not changed the basic character, historic courthouse area...
- William McCallum House
- The 502
Notable natives and residents
- Newton ArvinNewton ArvinNewton Arvin was an American literary critic and academic. He achieved national recognition for his studies of individual nineteenth-century American authors....
, literary critic - John L. BascomJohn L. BascomJohn Luman Bascom was born in Farmersburg, Iowa, the son of John Sanburn Bascom and Phoebe Spencer. He was an Iowan lawyer and politician...
, politician - Beulah BondiBeulah BondiBeulah Bondi was an American actress.Bondi began her acting career as a young child in theater, and after establishing herself as a stage actress, she reprised her role in Street Scene for the 1931 film version...
, actress - Kevin L. Brown, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Mark N. BrownMark N. BrownMark Neil Brown is an engineer and former astronaut with NASA.-Education:* 1969: Graduated from Valparaiso High School, Valparaiso, Indiana...
, astronaut - Bryce DrewBryce DrewBryce Homer Drew is the head coach, and a former member, of the Valparaiso University Crusader men's basketball team...
, former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player - Michael EssanyMichael EssanyMichael Essany is an American comedian and talk show host.Essany hosted The Michael Essany Show on local, national and international television for seven years and his self-titled reality/talk series on E! Entertainment television, executive produced by Leeza Gibbons...
, reality televisionReality televisionReality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
talk show host - Chris FunkChris FunkChristopher Lyman Funk is a multi-instrumentalist and member of the Portland, Oregon, indie rock band The Decemberists. He is originally from Valparaiso, Indiana where he worked at Front Porch Music which inspired his love of American Folk Music. He plays guitar, pedal steel, piano, violin,...
, Guitarist for The Decemberists - Henry C. GordonHenry C. GordonHenry Charles Gordon was a X-20 Dyna-Soar astronaut and a colonel in the United States Air Force....
, astronaut - Robbie HummelRobbie HummelRobert John Hummel is an American college basketball player for Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana...
, All-American forward for Purdue University men's basketball team - Samuel Austin KendallSamuel Austin KendallSamuel Austin Kendall was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Samuel A. Kendall was born in Greenville Township, Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools and was a student for some time at Valparaiso, Indiana, and at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio...
, politician - Heather KuzmichHeather KuzmichHeather Kuzmich is an American fashion model. She lives in Chicago, Illinois, where she is studying video game design. She is best known for being a contestant of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9, in which she was the fourth runner-up of the show...
, 4th runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9America's Next Top Model Cycle 9 was the ninth cycle of America's Next Top Model and the third season of the series to be aired on The CW network. This cycle's promotional tagline was "The Future Of Fashion." The promotional song was "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna.The international destinations... - Earl F. LandgrebeEarl F. LandgrebeEarl Fredrick Landgrebe was a politician and businessman. He served as an Indiana state senator and United States representative for the 2nd district. Langrebe was from Valparaiso in Porter County, Indiana...
, politician—staunch defender of Richard NixonRichard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under... - David E. Lilienthal, politician
- Scott Murphy, noted programmer for Sierra Games.
- Orville RedenbacherOrville RedenbacherOrville Clarence Redenbacher was an American businessman most often associated with the brand of popcorn that bears his name.-Early life:...
, hybrid popcorn developer - Jeff SamardzijaJeff SamardzijaJeffrey Alan Samardzija is an American baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs...
, former University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
football and baseball player, currently a relief pitcher for the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. - Carly SchroederCarly SchroederCarly Brook Schroeder is an American film and television actress. She is best known for playing Serena Baldwin, the daughter of Scotty Baldwin and Lucy Coe in the General Hospital spin-off Port Charles. She also had a recurring role on the Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire...
, actress - Walter Wangerin, Jr.Walter Wangerin, Jr.Walter Wangerin, Jr. is an award-winning American author and educator best known for his religious novels and children's books.-Biography:...
, noted author and professor at Valparaiso University - R. Harold ZookR. Harold ZookRoscoe Harold Zook was born in Valparaiso, Indiana in 1889. He received a degree in architecture from the Armour Institute of Technology in 1914. In 1916 Zook married his first wife, Mildred. They divorced in the late 1930s. They had one son, Harold B...
, architect - Michael Hagerty, television/radio personality at KNPB-TV in Reno, Nevada, and public address announcer for the Triple A baseball team the Reno AcesReno AcesThe Reno Aces are a minor league baseball franchise based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. The team is a member of the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks....
.
External links
- City website
- Directory of Valparaiso Churches
- Valparaiso community website
- Valparaiso University
- Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
- Historical Society of Porter County Website (Contains information on the city's Old Jail House)
- Valparaiso Public Library