Northwest Indiana - Wikipedia

13/08/2021 Northwest Indiana - Wikipedia
Coordinates: 41°10′N 87°0′W
Northwest Indiana
Northwest Indiana, nicknamed "The Region" after the
Calumet Region,[1] comprises Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton Gary-Hammond
and Jasper counties in Indiana. This region neighbors Lake Metropolitan Area
Michigan and is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
According to the 2010 Census, Northwest Indiana has a
population of 819,537 and is the state's second largest urban
area after the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. It is also the
home of the Indiana Dunes, parts of which have been
preserved through conservation efforts.[2][3][4] The town of
Ogden Dunes houses the Hour Glass, a museum showcasing
the ecological and conservation efforts of O. D. Frank.[4]
The region's largest city is Hammond, followed closely by

Gary. Other municipalities in Northwest Indiana include Burns
Harbor, Chesterton, Crown Point, DeMotte, Dyer, East
Chicago, Griffith, Highland, Hebron, Hobart, Kentland, Lake
Station, La Porte, Lowell, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster,
Portage, Rensselaer, Schererville, St. John, Cedar Lake,
Valparaiso, Whiting, and Winfield.
Common name: The Region

Contents Largest city
Hammond
Overview Other cities - Gary
- Portage
Geography
- Merrillville
Chicago Lake Plain

- Valparaiso
Wheaton Morainal Plain
Kankakee Outwash Plain Counties - Jasper
Bloomington Ridged Plain - Lake
- LaPorte
Economy
- Newton
Education - Porter
Counties Population (2019) 813,316
Census Bureau population statistics
Transportation
Major airports
Commuter rail
Highways
Area codes
Local media
Online
Print
Broadcast
Notable people
Parks and nature areas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Indiana 1/9
References
Overview
The counties of Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton and Porter are included in the Chicago-Naperville-
Michigan City Combined Statistical Area, the broadest of the census-derived Metropolitan
definitions. Unlike the majority of Indiana, which operates on Eastern Standard Time, these
counties are among six in Northern Indiana that are in the Central Time Zone (the other being
Starke). This reflects their close economic integration in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Three counties — Lake, Porter and LaPorte — are served by the Northwestern Indiana Regional
Planning Commission metropolitan planning organization.[5] Northwest Indiana is the home of
Marktown, Clayton Mark's planned worker community.[6]
Geography
The Lake Michigan shore is a major attraction.
Indiana Dunes National Park, which stretches from
Gary to Michigan City, is a well-preserved stretch of
sand dunes, beaches, grasslands, and forests, as
well as several historical homes and buildings.
The terrain of Northwest Indiana varies from very

steep and rugged at the dunes, to rolling in the
moraines, and to pancake flat in the river valleys. It
was shaped by glacial activity and Lake Michigan.
The main geographical features of Northwest
Indiana include the Valparaiso Moraine, Tinley
Moraine, Lake Border Moraine, Iroquois Moraine, The Long Stairs up the dune at West Beach on
Calumet Shoreline, Glenwood Shoreline, Tolleston the Succession Trail
shorelines, and the Kankakee Outwash Plain.[7]
Chicago Lake Plain
The Chicago Lake Plain covers the relatively flat northern quarter of Northwest Indiana north of
the moraines. Initially, the plain was flat, composed of glacio-lacustrine deposits. These formed
under the waters of glacial Lake Michigan. The lake formed from the melting glaciers north of the
Valparaiso Moraine. Eventually the lake overflowed a low spot on the moraine at the Chicago
Outlet near the southwest suburbs. This lowered the lake level to current day Lake Michigan levels
(Horsley, 1986).[8] As the lake shrunk, it left a series of sand ridges where its ancient beaches were.
Along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the prevailing winds have built a series of dune ridges,
breaking up the original flat surface of the Lake Plain.
Wheaton Morainal Plain
South of the Chicago Lake Plain in the central parts of Lake and Porter County and northern
LaPorte county is the hilly Wheaton Morainal Plain. The Wheaton Morainal Plain consist of the
Valparaiso Moraine and Tinley Moraine, paralleling the Lake Michigan Shoreline. The plain consist
of rolling Wisconsinan-age moraines. The Morainal Plain is clayey till, and sandy and loamy till,
with areas of sand and gravel. Other deposits include lake clay, silt, and alluvium. Deposits are
between 50 and 200 ft thick, with many southern areas have over 200 ft of till (Mades, 1987).[9]
Kankakee Outwash Plain
The Kankakee Outwash Plain

(southern Lake, Porter, and LaPorte
counties) is a flat outwash plain
formed by the melting glacier, which
was stopped at the Valparaiso
Moraine. (Mickelson and others,
1984). Deposits are predominantly
sand and gravel, but also include
alluvium and fill materials. Deposits
average less than 200 ft thick; in the
lowlands they can be less than 50 ft
thick, while in the upland they can be
more than 200 ft thick. Local
elevation changes are less than
100 ft.[9] and include many scattered
sand dunes.
Bloomington Ridged Plain
The Bloomington Ridged Plain

covers only the most southern part of
Northwest Indiana in the valley of
the Iroquois River in southern
Newton and Jasper counties. This
area consists of low and rolling hills, Physiography of the Upper Illinois River Basin
i.e., moraines like the Iroquois
Moraine with less than 300 ft
changes in elevation. The soils are loamy till, lake clay and silt. Unlike the northern half of
Northwest Indiana, the Huron-Erie glacial lobe left these deposits in its northeastward retreat.
Deposits are less than 200 ft thick, with some more than 400 feet thick.[10]
Economy
With a gross domestic product of $28.64 billion in 2015, Northwest Indiana accounts for
approximately nine percent of Indiana's gross state product. This figure ranks second among
metropolitan areas in the state (after Indianapolis) and 89th in the United States, comparable to
the GDP of the El Paso, Texas metropolitan area.[11]
The northern portion of Northwest Indiana is noted for its heavy industry. Gary, Portage, Burns
Harbor and East Chicago are home to major steel mills, including the largest North American
facilities for both U.S. Steel (Gary Works) and ArcelorMittal (Indiana Harbor). Whiting and
Hammond are home to the largest oil refinery in the Midwestern U.S., operated by BP. Other
industrial outputs include fabricated metals, transportation equipment, and food products.
Since the 1990s, casino gambling has become a significant component of Northwest Indiana's
economy. Four casino boats with approximately 207,000 square feet (19,200 m2) of aggregate
gaming space are located along Lake Michigan in Lake County. An additional 65,000 square feet
(6,000 m2) of gaming space is located in Michigan City.[12]
Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and the Indiana State Legislature formed the entity
known as the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) in 2006.[13] The RDA, a
special-purpose district, is vested with both legal authority and tax dollars to invest in
transportation and economic development throughout the region.
A number of Northwest Indiana's suburban communities serve as bedroom communities for

Chicago.
Education
Colleges and universities located in Northwest Indiana include:
Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting

Indiana University Northwest (IU Northwest) in Gary
Purdue University Northwest, which encompasses the formerly named Purdue University
Calumet campus in Hammond and the formerly named Purdue University North Central
campus in Westville
Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer- Closed in 2017, with plans to reopen as a junior college
associated with Marian University (Indiana)
Valparaiso University in Valparaiso (the largest independent Lutheran University in the United
States)
Hyles-Anderson College in Crown Point.
These institutions offer a variety of degree programs in fields such as business administration,
engineering and engineering technology, law, education, computing and information technology,
and the liberal arts. Additionally, Northwest Indiana is proximate to numerous other universities
elsewhere in Indiana and in the Chicago metropolitan area.[14]
A number of both public and private primary and secondary schools are also located throughout
Northwest Indiana and the nearby Chicago metropolitan area.
Counties
Jasper County
Lake County
LaPorte County
Newton County
Porter County
Census Bureau population statistics
2010 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950

Census Area
Census Census Census Census Census Census Census
Jasper County,
33,478 30,043 24,960 26,138 20,429 18,842 17,031
Indiana
Lake County,
496,005 484,564 475,594 522,965 546,253 513,269 368,152
Indiana
LaPorte County,
111,467 110,106 107,066 108,632 105,342 95,111 76,808
Indiana
Newton County,
14,244 14,566 13,551 14,844 11,606 11,502 11,006
Indiana
Porter County,
164,343 146,798 128,932 119,816 87,114 60,279 40,076
Indiana
Total 819,537 786,077 750,103 792,395 770,744 699,003 513,073
Transportation
Major airports
Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY)
Commuter rail
*South Shore Line connecting Chicago to South

Bend, Indiana, passing through Gary and Michigan
City
Highways
Interstate 65
Interstate 80
Interstate 90 (Indiana Toll Road)
Interstate 94 South Shore Train at Dune Park Station
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 35
U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 231
U.S. Route 421
Indiana State Road 2

Area codes
219
574
Local media
Online
NWIndianaLife.com - Online
Print
The Times of Northwest Indiana - Print, Online
Post-Tribune - Print, Online
Region Sports Network - Print, Online, Broadcast
Chesterton Tribune - Print, Online
La Porte Herald-Argus - Print, Online
The News-Dispatch - Print, Online
Broadcast
WJOB (AM) 1230 - Radio
WLTH (AM) 1370 - Radio
WWCA (AM) - Radio
WAKE 1500 - Radio
WIMS (AM) 1420 - Radio
WGVE-FM 88.7 - Radio
WLPR-FM 89.1 [15] - Radio

WEFM (FM) 95.9 - Radio
WXRD (FM) 103.9 - Radio
WLJE (FM) 105.5 - Radio
WZVN 107.1 - Radio
Regional Radio Sports Network - Radio
WYCC-TV - 20/21 Television
WYIN-TV - 56/17 Television
WJYS-TV - 62/36 Television
Notable people
Anne Baxter Kenny Lofton
Larry Bigbie Lloyd McClendon
Stephan Bonnar Karen McDougal
Frank Borman Karl Malden
Junior Bridgeman Dale Messick
Bob Chapek E'Twaun Moore
Dick Cathcart Hal Morris
Jack Chevigny Betsy Palmer
Dan Dakich Mary Lou Piatek
Bryce Drew Dan Plesac
Homer Drew Gregg Popovich
James Edwards Gary Primich
Jim Gaffigan Orville Redenbacher
Freddie Gibbs Frank Reynolds
LaTroy Hawkins John Roberts
Sue Hendrickson Glenn Robinson
Jack Hyles Glenn Robinson III
Jackson family Jerry L. Ross
Janet Jackson Scott Sheldon
Jermaine Jackson Kawann Short
La Toya Jackson Bobby Skafish
Marlon Jackson Tim Stoddard
Michael Jackson Hank Stram
Randy Jackson Dean White
Tito Jackson Eugene Wilson
Jeff Samardzija
Michael Joiner
Jean Shepherd
Alex Karras
Jo Anne Worley
Ron Kittle
Tony Zale
Bob Kuechenberg
Rudy Kuechenberg
Art LaFleur
Barney Liddell
Parks and nature areas

Biesecker Nature Preserve, St. John, Lake County[16]
Calumet Prairie Nature Preserve, Gary, Lake County[16]
Conrad Savanna Nature Preserve, Conrad, Newton County (black and white oak savanna)[17]
Fish Lake Wildlife Conservation Area, Fish Lake, LaPorte County[17]
Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, Hammond, Lake County[16]
Indiana Dunes National Park, Porter County[17]
Cowles Bog
Pinhook Bog, LaPorte County
Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve, Griffith, Lake County[16]
Indiana Dunes State Park, Porter County
Dunes Nature Preserve
Ivanhoe Nature Preserve, Gary, Indiana
Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, Radioville, Pulaski County
Kingsbury Fish and Wildlife Area, Kingbury, LaPorte County
LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area
Stoutsburg Savanna Nature Preserve, Wheatfield, Jasper County (rolling sand ridges)[17]
Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area, Morocco, Newton County
References
1. https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/what-s-up-with-that-where-did-the-term-
da/collection_43199a3b-bf7a-5585-889d-361224440aae.html (https://www.nwitimes.com/news/
local/what-s-up-with-that-where-did-the-term-da/collection_43199a3b-bf7a-5585-889d-3612244
40aae.html). Missing or empty |title= (help)
2. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120913013557/http://www.southshorejournal.or
g/index.php/issues/volume-1-2006/78-journals/vol-1-2006/117-alice-gray-dorothy-buell-and-nao
mi-svihla-preservationists-of-ogden-dunes). Archived from the original (http://www.southshorejo
urnal.org/index.php/issues/volume-1-2006/78-journals/vol-1-2006/117-alice-gray-dorothy-buell-
and-naomi-svihla-preservationists-of-ogden-dunes) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
g/index.php/issues/volume-3-2009/83-journals/vol-3-2009/75-the-historical-roots-of-the-nature-
conservancy-in-the-northwest-indianachicagoland-region-from-science-to-preservation).
Archived from the original (http://www.southshorejournal.org/index.php/issues/volume-3-2009/8
3-journals/vol-3-2009/75-the-historical-roots-of-the-nature-conservancy-in-the-northwest-indian
achicagoland-region-from-science-to-preservation) on 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
g/index.php/issues/volume-2-2007/82-journals/vol-2-2007/104-the-cultural-impact-of-a-museu
m-in-a-small-community-the-hour-glass-in-ogden-dunes). Archived from the original (http://ww
w.southshorejournal.org/index.php/issues/volume-2-2007/82-journals/vol-2-2007/104-the-cultur
al-impact-of-a-museum-in-a-small-community-the-hour-glass-in-ogden-dunes) on 2012-11-30.
Retrieved 2012-06-11.
5. "Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission Homepage" (http://www.nirpc.org/).
Nirpc.org. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
g/index.php/issues/volume-4-2011/82-marktown-clayton-marks-planned-worker-community-in-
northwest-indiana). Archived from the original (http://www.southshorejournal.org/index.php/issu
es/volume-4-2011/82-marktown-clayton-marks-planned-worker-community-in-northwest-indian
a) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
7. Environmental Geology of Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana An Aid to Planning; By Edwin J.
Hartke, John R. Hill, and Mark Reshkin; Environmental Study 8 Department of Natural
Resources Geological Survey Special Report 11
8. Environmental Setting of the Upper Illinois River Basin and Implications for Water Quality
Water-Resources Investigations Report 98–4268; Terri L. Arnold, Daniel J. Sullivan, Mitchell A.
Harris, Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Barbara C. Scudder, Peter M. Ruhl, Dorothea W. Hanchar, and
Jana S. Stewart; U.S. Geologic Survey, Department of the Interior; Urbana, Illinois; 1999; pg 11
9. pg 12
10. pg 12, 18
11. "Northwest Indiana has state's second biggest economy" (http://indianaeconomicdigest.com/M
ain.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=116&ArticleID=84440). Indianeconomicdigest.com.
Retrieved July 3, 2016.
12. "South Shore Casinos | Northwest Indiana Things to Do" (http://www.southshorecva.com/visitor
-information/casinos/). Southshorecva.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
13. Mike Pence (2016-07-21). "RDA: Home" (http://www.in.gov/rda/). In.gov. Retrieved
2016-07-26.
14. " "America's Best Colleges 2007" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20070111132503/http://www.us
news.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drglance_1842_brief.php). U.S. News & World
Report. Archived from the original (https://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/
drglance_1842_brief.php) on 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
15. "The Lakeshore 89.1 FM Homepage" (http://www.thelakeshorefm.com/). Thelakeshorefm.com.
Retrieved 2015-07-26.
16. Streets of Northwest Indiana; Rand McNally, Chicago, Illinois, 2008
17. Indiana Atlas and Gazetter; DeLorme, Yarmouth, Vermont
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13/08/2021 Northwest Indiana - Wikipedia

Coordinates: 41°10′N 87°0′W

The region's largest city is Hammond, followed closely by

Common name: The Region

Overview Other cities - Gary

Chicago Lake Plain

The terrain of Northwest Indiana varies from very

Chicago Lake Plain

Wheaton Morainal Plain

Kankakee Outwash Plain

The Kankakee Outwash Plain

Bloomington Ridged Plain

The Bloomington Ridged Plain

A number of Northwest Indiana's suburban communities serve as bedroom communities for

Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting

Census Bureau population statistics

2010 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950

*South Shore Line connecting Chicago to South

Indiana State Road 16

WLPR-FM 89.1 [15] - Radio

Parks and nature areas

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northwest_Indiana&oldid=1034796342"

This page was last edited on 21 July 2021, at 21:36 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;

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