Lake County Indiana History Related to Chicago, Illinois

The appearance of some of the towns in Lake County, IN are far from what the vision of those towns were when they were developed in the late 1800 and early 1900.

Lake County's history span several decades. Its history is surpassed only by Chicago who is fifty years older.

Lake County, though only 43 miles east of Chicago has its own unique history.

The county's originial inhabitants were from the Indian tribes' Potawatomi and Miami. Hence, the name of some streets in Miller area of Gary. In addition, Miller was a tow back then, but more on that later.

Consequently, all Native Americans were invited to resettle west of the MIssissippi in 1833 by President Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson. Evidentially, the invite became a "forced" resettlement. That "forced" resettlement was completed in 1838. Most of those Native Americans settled in Lake County, IN.

American settlers followed the Indians shortly thereafter settling in the northern half of the county.

The county, however, wasnot formed or organized until 1837.

Many moved to Indiana and settled in different area outside of the Lake County settlement. Areas included:

• St. Johns Township
• Hanover Township

There was so much settlement from so many different nationality that in 1925 English was a consider a second language in Lake County and all other surrounding settlements.

During Lake County's first forty years, agriculture was the only industry.

With the first railroad reaching to Chicago in 1850, Lake County became prime real estate. As a result fo the railroad and a vision, George W Clarke started purchasing thousands of arces fo land . At the time this land was considered swamp land.

After the Civil War, Chicago's population grew to 300,000, and Lake County's new industry was manufacturing instead of farming due to the railroad.

The population of Lake County grew to 12,352 in 1870 due to the new manufacturing jobs.

The communities that are still in existing today from back then are:

• Hobart
• Lake Station
• St. John
• Whiting
• Crown Point (the county seat)

There were still other towns that got absorbed into other neighborhoods like:

• Ainsworth
• Black Oak
• Cook
• Deep River
• Gibson
• Lottaville
• Liverpool
• Miller
• Robertsdale

That's right everyone, Miller was a town at one time. Some of those other towns are just neighborhoods as is Miller today.

There are other towns' name that disappeared entirely:

• Cassello
• Cassville
• Centreville
• Farmsdale
• Fatout
• Hanover
• Hickory Point
• Pine Station
• Toleston
• West Creek

Due to jobs and other resources Lake County's population grew to 37,892 by 1900.

Because of tits location between the iron ore mines and coal supplies, Lake County became the home of the largest steel mill in the world in 1906. Not only did Judge Elbert Gary build the mill, but he built a town around it. The town is called Gary, IN. By 1920, the City of Gay has a population of 55,000 people.

Porter County benefited from its location as well and a steel mill was erected there, as well. Following that Whiting was soon the home of an oil refinery. To complete the needs of the steel mill, rail car manufacturing was added, as well.

Agriculture was still pervantent in the area so food processing was a manufacturere in the area, too.

Despite the count providing the "strong backbone" to the nation through two world wars, the industries of the county had to modernized to labor saving equipment thereby eliminating a lot of jobs.

The downsize forced several workers to leave the area in search of work. Those jobs were evidentially replaced by service jobs like"

• healthcare
• banking
• education

The county has great history, but so does each its twenty plus cities. Visit Lake County and you will love its great history and diversity. Live in Lake County and you will enjoy a historical abundance, many opportunities, and small town neighborly feeling.