A brief overview of facts about East Chicago, Indiana.
Facts
Schools
MISSION STATEMENT:
The School City of East Chicago is committed to developing a community of lifelong learners who are empowered to access, process, evaluate, and ethically apply information in an ever changing global society.
About our City
Population: (31,366)
State Ranking: 24
Natal. Ranking: 973
County: Lake
Avg. Temp: Jan 26°F, July 71°F
Elevation: 592 ft
School District: School City of East Chicago
Area Code(s): 219
Time Zone: Central
Central ZIP Code: 46312
US Representative: Visclosky
East Chicago Schools: Elementary (K-6) - 7 Junior High (7-8) - 2 High School
(9-12) - 1 Parochial - 3
For more info about our schools: Click here
General Data: Total Enrollment - 6,442 Student/Teacher Ratio - 13.4 students per teacher
Colleges and Universities: East Chicago is served by three major higher institutions of learning and a two-year technical college including, Calumet College of St. Joseph, Hammond, Purdue University Calumet, Indiana University Northwest and Indiana Vocational Technical College-Northwest--Ivy Tech.
Library's
East Chicago has (2) libraries
No. of Volumes: 170,000 - East Chicago System
(635,818 available from Lake County Public Library System) - ECPL.org
The following lists all forms of media that are relevant to the area. If you have other links to share with us, please e-Mail us.
State Ranking: 24
Natal. Ranking: 973
County: Lake
Avg. Temp: Jan 26°F, July 71°F
Elevation: 592 ft
School District: School City of East Chicago
Area Code(s): 219
Time Zone: Central
Central ZIP Code: 46312
US Representative: Visclosky
Port city
East Chicago is a city in Lake County, in the Chicago metro area.
East Chicago City Government: . East Chicago is classified as a second-class city under Indiana law, which classifies all cities by population. It is governed by a City Council of nine members, and a full-time Mayor - all elected for four-year terms. Other elected officials include a City Clerk, Township Assessor, and Township Trustee. The number of full-time employees is 910. The city's boundary encompasses 12 square miles.
Police Protection: One police station with 120 police officers.
Fire Protection: Four fire stations with 90 firefighters.
Airports: Gary Municipal Airport (east and immediately adjacent to East Chicago) A reliever airport to ease congestion at Midway and O'Hare Airports in Chicago. Gary Municipal offers regularly scheduled, as well as on demand, cargo service and corporate aircraft service up to DC 9's. The terminal area comprises 19,000 square feet, and handles more than 95,000 flights a year. Repair and hangar facilities are available.
Midway Airport (32 miles) and O'Hare Airport (52 miles) provide regularly scheduled major airline service, as does Michigan Airport in South Bend, 45 miles to the east.
Commuting: East Chicago residents still receive free bus & para-transit service.
Waterways:
Nearby Lakes: Lake Michigan
Rivers: (1) Grand Calumet
There are some outstanding incentives for business to expand existing facilities, or locate new operations in East Chicago.
The first is tax abatement. This incentive provides for abatement of all new taxes assessed on machinery and equipment as well as real estate improvements made by the owner for a period up to ten years. It is imperative that a statement of benefits be approved by the City of East Chicago via an abatement proposal prepared with the assistance of Business Development Department staff, prior to any purchase or construction.
A second important incentive is the newly established Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). This lending program can provide to eligible project applicants up to $75,000 per project. The funds come from a pool of funds provided by local banks and a grant from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Government. This Revolving Loan Program can work in conjunction with a private bank loan providing applicants meet guidelines and conditions of the RLF program.
A third incentive exists through the Northwest Indiana Business Development Corporation (NIBDC). This agency is serviced by Business Development Department staff who assist business owners to receive SBA 504 and 7A loans. These programs also work in conjunction with a private bank which participates in the loan package for applicant meeting guidelines set forth by the Small Business Administration . For more info click here: Planning & Business Development
East Chicago Schools: Elementary (K-6) - 7 Junior High (7-8) - 2 High School
(9-12) - 1 Parochial - 3
For more info about our schools: Click here
General Data: Total Enrollment - 6,442 Student/Teacher Ratio - 13.4 students per teacher
Colleges and Universities: East Chicago is served by three major higher institutions of learning and a two-year technical college including, Calumet College of St. Joseph, Hammond, Purdue University Calumet, Indiana University Northwest and Indiana Vocational Technical College-Northwest--Ivy Tech.
Library's
East Chicago has (2) libraries
No. of Volumes: 170,000 - East Chicago System
(635,818 available from Lake County Public Library System) - ECPL.org
A state park and a national park are located within 20 miles east of East Chicago.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore A 14,000 acre park that contains many different environments: clean, sandy beaches, huge sand dunes covered with trees and shrubs, bogs and marshes, and various animals and plants. A Visitor's Center includes a hard-surfaced nature trail. The National Lakeshore also has beaches, marked nature trails, picnic areas, the famous Bailly Homestead and Chelberg Farm, cross-country skiing, riding trails, and camping.
Indiana Dunes State Park Consists of 2,182 acres of historical and unique Hoosier landscape. The park occupies three miles of Lake Michigan lakefront with white sand dunes and beaches. About 1,800 acres are covered with densely forested hills with rare flowers and ferns. It has the famous shifting sand dunes, one of which has created the 192-foot Mount Tom. There are 17 miles of marked hiking trails, swimming, cross-country skiing, picnic facilities, campgrounds, nature center, and naturalist service.
Boating: There is one marina with 294 wet slips and 250 for dry storage. It also is home of the East Chicago Yacht Club and Indiana Harbor Boat Club. The marina facility has catering facilities a deli and a Mobile Marine Store.
City Park System: Includes more than 200 acres for respite and recreation. There are 20 parks that offer activities ranging from picnicking, golfing, swimming, and tennis, to exercise. The city also has (8) recreational centers with various activities happening during the year. The city-owned marina also provides an opportunity for considerable water activities including fishing. The parks range in size from as little as one acre to more than 36 acres.
Golf Courses: There is one golf course in East Chicago (Par 3, 9 Holes) - McArthur Park, and seven in close proximity to East Chicago: Briar Ridge Country Club, Broadmoor Country Club, Calumet Golf Club, Idlewild Country Club, Innsbrook Country Club, Wicker Park Country Club, and Woodmar Country Club.
There are over 57 different religious institutions of various denominations in our city.
Local Media
The following lists all forms of media that are relevant to the area. If you have other links to share with us, please e-Mail us.
Notable People from East Chicago
- 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
- Betsy Palmer Actress
- Phil Ponce Broadcast journalist
- 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
- Miguel Torres Top bantamweight mixed martial artist and WEC bantamweight champion
- Tim Stoddard Retired MLB Pitcher
Additions can be e-mails to the Webmaster.
Local Newspapers - Daily, Weekly, and Monthly
Hammond Times, Lake County, INPost-Tribune, Lake County, IN
Local Television
WBBM - 2
WMAQ - 5
WLS - 7
WGN - 9
WTTW - 11
WFLD - 32
WCPX - 38
WYIN - 56
WJYS - 62
Local Radio
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Please note: This information is being checked for accuracy.
Please note: This information is being checked for accuracy.
History
A Brief History of the City of East Chicago
The City of East Chicago was incorporated in 1893, the same year as the great Columbian Exhibition on the south side of Chicago. Born of railroad and steel, East Chicago was one of northwest Indiana’s first truly industrial cities designed to meet the needs of workers and industry. The city was originally known as the Twin City, with the East Chicago (western section) separated from the Indiana Harbor section by a vast rail yard that served as the rail gateway to Chicago and the west.
During the peak of the great Industrial Revolution East Chicago was known as the most industrialized municipality and America’s ultimate melting pot where four out of five of its citizens were foreign-born. It was during this period in our city's history that more than seventy nationalities, each with it's own ethnic based church, neighborhoods and stores, lived, worked and flourished for generations.
During World War I East Chicago was known as the "Arsenal of America" and as the noted South-Shore Railroad poster proclaimed, it was the "Workshop of America." The history of this great city can best be defined through the images and definitions of the City Seal and the flag of East Chicago.
City Seal
The shield represents the national spirit of East Chicago and contains the historical past, present and future of this great city.
The canoe represents the mode of travel of the first explorers in this vicinity.
The waterway depicts the ship canal, which bisects the city and joins the Grand Calumet River to lake Michigan.
The beehive with sixty bees represents the activity of the industry generated by the many and varied industries that have made this city their home for generations.
The Latin inscription "INDUSTRIOUS" means, "abounding in Industry" a title most fitting this city.
The Jesuit Priest represents the influence of the Society of Jesus and the intrepid explorers who were the first white men the this vicinity, Pere Marquette, Louis Jolliet, Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur De la Salle, all of whom took Jesuit Orders.
St. George slaying the two-headed dragon symbolizes the efforts of East Chicago to combat pollution of both air and waters.
The Indiana Chief represents the first settlers of this area, the Miami, Potawatomi and Shawnee Indiana Tribes, their spectacular defeats of the white invaders and their own ultimate defeat.
The motto "PROGREDEMUR" means "We Progress."
1893 in the seal is the date of the incorporation of East Chicago as a City.
A large facsimile of the City Seal can be seen on the exterior West Wall of the Mayors Office Building located at 4527 Indianapolis Boulevard and in the lobby of the James Knight Public Safety Building at 2301 East Columbus Drive.
During the city's Diamond Jubilee in 1968, bronze coins were minted to commemorate the event. While they are vary rare and difficult to find, they are available on occasion through local antique stores.
Our City Flag
The official flag of East Chicago is white, quartered with a wide blue bar running though its center. The upper left and lower right depicts two crosses, which represent the intrepid Jesuit explorers, Marquette, Jolliet, and LaSalle. The beehives in the opposite corners represent the industrial nature of the residents and of industry. The blue band in the center represents the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal, which provides us access to the world markets via Lake Michigan.
While East Chicago was originally known as the Twin City due to the expansive rail yards that divided the two great halves of this city, the construction of an overpass on Columbus Drive in the early 1930’s brought all of East Chicago together. It was the time of the automobile and the beginning of a much more mobile society. East Chicago, like many cities and towns, is made up of unique neighborhoods, each with it's own distinct characteristics and needs. From Roxana on the south side, to the Marktown Historic District on the north side, East Chicago is home to 30,000 residents. The city boasts newly remodeled or totally new elementary schools in nearly every neighborhood, two junior high schools, and the outstanding Central High School. The city also has two full service libraries and more than twenty parks featuring everything from a nine hole golf course to two water parks.
For further information in reference to the history of the City of East Chicago we suggest you visit the East Chicago Room of the East Chicago Main Library at 2401 East Columbus Drive, just off of Cline Avenue, or visit the web site at www.ecpl.org.
Historical Preservation
Here you can download the 15 most historic structures and districts in the City of East Chicago.
Prepared by Paul A. Myers, Architectural Historian.
You can also visit http://www.marktown.org for information on one of our Historical Districts.