Gary, Indiana
City in Indiana, United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gary (/ˈɡæri/ GARR-ee) is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census the city's population was 69,093, making it Indiana's ninth-largest city.[4] The city has been historically dominated by major industrial activity and is home to U.S. Steel's Gary Works, the largest steel mill complex in North America. Gary is located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of downtown Chicago. The city is the western gateway to the Indiana Dunes National Park, and is within the Chicago metropolitan area.[5][6]
Gary | |
|---|---|
 Seal | |
| Nicknames: "City in Motion", "City of the Century", "Magic City", "Steel City", "City on the Move" | |
| Motto: We Are Doing Great Things | |
 Location of Gary in Lake County, Indiana | |
  Gary  Gary | |
| Coordinates: 41°35′44″N 87°20′43″W[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Lake |
| Townships | Calumet, Hobart |
| Incorporated | July 14, 1906; 117 years ago (1906-07-14) |
| Named for | Elbert Henry Gary |
| Government | |
| • Type | Strong mayor–council |
| • Body | City council |
| • Mayor | Eddie Melton (D) |
| • City Clerk | Suzette Raggs (D) |
| • City Judge | Deidre L. Monroe (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 50.60 sq mi (131.05 km2) |
| • Land | 49.87 sq mi (129.15 km2) |
| • Water | 0.73 sq mi (1.89 km2) |
| Elevation | 607 ft (185 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 69,093 |
| • Density | 1,385.55/sq mi (534.97/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (Central) |
| ZIP Codes | 46401–46411 |
| Area code | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-27000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394863[1] |
| Website | gary |
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Gary was named after lawyer Elbert Henry Gary, who was the founding chairman of the United States Steel Corporation. U.S. Steel had established the city in 1906 as a company town to serve its steel mills.[7] Like other Rust Belt cities, Gary's once thriving steel industry has been significantly affected by the disappearance of local manufacturing jobs since the 1970s. As a result of this economic shift, the city's population has decreased drastically, having lost 61% of its population since 1960.[8] Because of its large losses in population and deteriorating economy, Gary is often cited as an example of industrial decline and urban decay in America. Although initially a very diverse city, the city of Gary holds one of the nation's highest percentages of African Americans.[9]
Gary is serviced by the Gary/Chicago International Airport, an alternative airport to the Chicago region's two larger airports. The city's public transport is provided by the Gary Public Transportation Corporation and the South Shore Line passenger railway, which connects to the Chicago transit system. It is also home to a professional baseball team, the Gary SouthShore RailCats. In addition to its large steel mills, the city is known for being the birthplace of the Jackson family, a family of well-known entertainers whose members include singer Michael Jackson.[10]