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Gary, Indiana

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Gary is the largest city located in Lake County in northwest Indiana, near the city of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 102,746 and is the largest Indiana city that is not the county seat. It borders Lake Michigan and is known for its large steel mills and as the hometown of the musical Jackson family. Gary is home of Indiana University Northwest, a regional campus of the Indiana University system.

Gary, Indiana is also the subject of a song in the musical The Music Man, and songs and albums by The Jacksons: "Going Back to Indiana," and "2300 Jackson Street."

History

The city was founded in 1906 by the United States Steel Corporation as the home for its new plant. The city was named after the chairman of U.S. Steel, Elbert H. Gary.

Among U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Gary has the highest percentage of African-American residents (as of the 2000 U.S. census). Gary had one of the nation's first African-American mayors, Richard G. Hatcher, and hosted the ground-breaking 1972 National Black Political Convention.

Gary's fortunes have risen and fallen with those of the steel industry. In the 1960s, like many other American urban centers, Gary entered a downward spiral of decline. Gary's decline was brought on by layoffs at the steel plants. US Steel continues to be a major steel producer with a fraction of its former level of employment. Gary has failed to attract many major businesses since its population peak. Two casinos located along the Gary lakeshore in the 1990s. Today, Gary faces numerous difficulties, including unemployment, major economic problems and a high rate of crime.

Recent events

Before his current legal troubles, singer and famous former Gary resident Michael Jackson promised to build a performing arts center for Gary, though this has not come to pass. Gary has been in the news in connection with politicking over the construction of a new airport for Chicago. Because the Gary airport is closer to downtown Chicago than the other proposed site for a third Chicago airport at Peotone, Illinois, some have argued that building a new airport at Peotone is not necessary, and that money would be better spent on improving the Gary/Chicago International Airport. This plan is backed by the mayors of Gary and Chicago, while the Illinois state government is in favor of construction at Peotone. Tax revenues from a new airport at Peotone would go to the Illinois state government, while those from an expanded Gary airport would go to a regional airport authority, and thus to the cities of Chicago and Gary. Most agree that an airport in Gary would be the best solution, not only because of its proximity to downtown Chicago, but also for the fact that thousands of acres of farmland are being seized for the Peotone airport that may or may not even be built.

Geography

Gary is located at 41°34'51" North, 87°20'44" West (41.580786, -87.345449)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 148.3 km² (57.2 mi²). 130.1 km² (50.2 mi²) of it is land and 18.2 km² (7.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.25% water.

Gary sits on the southern end of the former lake bed of the prehistoric Lake Chicago. Most of the city's soil is nearly pure sand. Much of the sand in the Gary area was used in the manufacture of glass.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 102,746 people, 38,244 households, and 25,623 families residing in the city. The population density is 789.8/km² (2,045.5/mi²). There are 43,630 housing units at an average density of 335.4/km² (868.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 84.03% Black, 11.92% White, 0.21% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.97% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. 4.93% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 38,244 households out of which 31.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.2% are married couples living together, 30.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% are non-families. 28.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 3.28.

In the city the population is spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 78.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $27,195, and the median income for a family is $32,205. Males have a median income of $34,992 versus $24,432 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,383. 25.8% of the population and 22.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 37.9% of those under the age of 18 and 14.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

The city's population was 16,802 in 1910, 55,378 in 1920, and 111,719 in 1940.

Features

The following sports teams are based in Gary:

Gary is also a major stop along the South Shore railroad, a commuter rail system (and the United States' last operating interurban train system) that runs between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana.

Famous people from Gary

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