East Chicago, Indiana
City of East Chicago, Indiana | |
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File:EastChicagoIN.jpg | |
![]() Location in the state of Indiana | |
Country | United States |
State | Indiana |
County | Lake |
Government | |
• Mayor | George Pabey (D) |
Area | |
• Total | 15.6 sq mi (40.5 km2) |
• Land | 12.0 sq mi (31.0 km2) |
• Water | 3.7 sq mi (9.5 km2) |
Elevation | 591 ft (180 m) |
Population (2000) | |
• Total | 32,414 |
• Density | 2,706/sq mi (1,044.7/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP code | 46312 |
Area code | 219 |
FIPS code | 18-19486Template:GR |
GNIS feature ID | 0433875Template:GR |
Website | www.eastchicago.com |
East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana, opposite Chicago, Illinois. The population was 32,414 at the 2000 census.
Geography
East Chicago is located at 41°38′20″N 87°27′44″W / 41.63889°N 87.46222°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (41.638885, -87.462140)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40.5 km²), of which, 12.0 square miles (31.0 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.5 km²) of it (23.35%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 32,414 people, 11,707 households, and 7,937 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,706.3 people per square mile (1,044.7/km²). There were 13,261 housing units at an average density of 1,107.2/sq mi (427.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 36.54% White, 36.08% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 23.98% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.61% of the population. Whites who are not Hispanic or Latino were 12.10% of the city's population. 54.3% spoke English, 42.9% Spanish and 1.2% Polish as their first language.
There were 11,707 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.8% were married couples living together, 26.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.41.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,538, and the median income for a family was $31,778. Males had a median income of $32,588 versus $21,678 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,517. About 22.5% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
The nearest commercial airport to East Chicago is the Gary/Chicago International Airport in neighboring Gary. The South Shore Line (NICTD) has a station in East Chicago, and the city operates a free bus system. Indiana State Road 912, the Cline Avenue Expressway, connects East Chicago with the Indiana Toll Road and Borman Expressway, and serves the casino and steel mills on the lakefront.
Neighborhoods
- Indiana Harbor
- The Harbor
- North Harbor
- Washington Park
- Prairie Park
- Sunnyside
- Darkside
- Lakeside
- East Chicago
- Northside
- Southside
- Calumet
- Roxana Park
- New Edition
- Marktown
Notable People from East Chicago
- Derek Bailey - singer and songwriter
- Junior Bridgeman NBA basketball player
- Emilio A. De La Garza Medal of Honor recipient USMC
- Eric Flint Science fiction author
- John M. Ford Science fiction writer
- Katherine Jackson Mother of pop superstars Michael and Janet Jackson
- Kenny Lofton MLB baseball player
- Angel Manfredy Junior Welterweight Boxer
- Gregg Popovich NBA Head Coach
- Andy Prieboy Singer, songwriter, author and playwright
- George Reedy White House press secretary for Lyndon Johnson
- Frank Reynolds, American Broadcasting Company Television anchor
- Steve Stojan Tesich Oscar winning Screenwriter
- Tim Stoddard Retired MLB Pitcher
School City of East Chicago
- East Chicago Central High School (EC Central Cardinals)
- Joseph L. Block Jr. High (Block Jr. High Chargers)
- West Side Jr. High (West Side Jr. High 76ers)
- Carrie Gosch Elementary (Carrie Gosch Cougars)
- Field Elementary (Field Lakers)
- Franklin Elementary (Franklin Flyers)
- Harrison Elementary (Harrison Hawks)
- Lincoln Elementary (Lincoln Warriors)
- McKinley Elementary (McKinley Mustangs)
- Washington Elementary (Washington Senators)
City Government
East Chicago is known throughout the Calumet Region for its many corrupt government officials. In recent years, several city officials have been indicted for involvement in vote buying schemes. In late 2004, the Mayor of East Chicago for 32 years, Robert Pastrick, was defeated in a special election by George Pabey. This marked the first time the Indiana Supreme Court ordered a new primary and general election to be conducted, due to electioneering schemes that were revealed in the original election.