Michigan City, Indiana | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Interactive map of Michigan City, Indiana | |
  Michigan City  Michigan City | |
| Coordinates:41°44′04″N86°52′23″W / 41.73444°N 86.87306°W /41.73444; -86.87306 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| County | LaPorte |
| Townships | Michigan,Coolspring |
| Settled | 1830 |
| Incorporated | 1836 |
| Founded by | Isaac C. Elston |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Angie Nelson Deuitch (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 20.59 sq mi (53.33 km2) |
| • Land | 20.41 sq mi (52.85 km2) |
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.48 km2) |
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 32,075 |
| • Density | 1,571.8/sq mi (606.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 46360-46361 |
| Area code | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-48798[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395110[2] |
| Website | emichigancity |
Michigan City is a city inLaPorte County, Indiana, United States. It had a population of 32,075 at the2020 census. Located alongLake Michigan in theMichiana region, the city is about 45 miles (72 km) east of Chicago and is 40 miles (64 km) west ofSouth Bend.
Michigan City is noted for both its proximity toIndiana Dunes National Park and for bordering Lake Michigan. It receives a fair amount of tourism during the summer, especially by residents of Chicago and nearby cities in Northern Indiana. It is connected to Chicago via theSouth Shore Line passenger train.
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston, a real estate speculator who had made his fortune inCrawfordsville, Indiana. He paid about $200 total for 160 acres (65 ha) of land. The now-closed Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, was named after the founder.[citation needed]
The city was incorporated in 1836,[4] by which point it had 1,500 residents, along with a post office, a newspaper, a church, a commercial district and ten hotels. In these six years the town had grown to a size of 15 square miles (39 km2). That same year, theState Bank of Indiana opened a branch in town.
The adjacent incorporated town ofLakeland was annexed into Michigan City on January 4, 1960. This added about7+1⁄2 square miles (19 km2) and 3,000 residents to Michigan City.[5]
Michigan City hosted thesailing competitions of the1987 Pan American Games on Lake Michigan.Indianapolis, roughly 150 miles (240 km) southeast, was the host city.[6]
According to the 2010 census, Michigan City has an area of 22.855 square miles (59.19 km2), of which 19.59 square miles (50.74 km2) (or 85.71%) is land and 3.265 square miles (8.46 km2) (or 14.29%) is water.[7]
Michigan City is home toTrail Creek, which flows intoLake Michigan.
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The highest recorded temperature was 104 °F (40 °C) in 1953. The lowest recorded temperature was −23 °F (−31 °C) in 1994.[8]
The city has a usual weather pattern for atemperate region, with four distinct seasons. Summers are often warm and humid with frequent thunderstorms. Winters are cold and snowy. Due to its location next toLake Michigan the city frequently experienceslake-effect snows and rain showers.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 999 | — | |
| 1860 | 3,320 | 232.3% | |
| 1870 | 3,985 | 20.0% | |
| 1880 | 7,366 | 84.8% | |
| 1890 | 10,773 | 46.3% | |
| 1900 | 14,850 | 37.8% | |
| 1910 | 19,027 | 28.1% | |
| 1920 | 19,457 | 2.3% | |
| 1930 | 26,735 | 37.4% | |
| 1940 | 26,476 | −1.0% | |
| 1950 | 28,395 | 7.2% | |
| 1960 | 36,653 | 29.1% | |
| 1970 | 39,369 | 7.4% | |
| 1980 | 36,850 | −6.4% | |
| 1990 | 33,822 | −8.2% | |
| 2000 | 32,900 | −2.7% | |
| 2010 | 31,479 | −4.3% | |
| 2020 | 32,075 | 1.9% | |
| Source: US Census Bureau | |||
As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 31,479 people, 12,136 households, and 7,147 families living in the city. The population density was 1,606.9 inhabitants per square mile (620.4/km2). There were 14,435 housing units at an average density of 736.9 per square mile (284.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.9%White, 28.1%African American, 0.4%Native American, 0.7%Asian, 2.1% fromother races, and 3.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 5.9% of the population.
There were 12,136 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.05.
The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 32,900 people, 12,550 households, and 7,906 families living in the city. The population density was 1,678.6 inhabitants per square mile (648.1/km2). There were 14,221 housing units at an average density of 725.6 per square mile (280.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 69.45%White, 26.31%African American, 0.26%Native American, 0.51%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.10% fromother races, and 2.36% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.15% of the population.
There were 12,550 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
Themedian income for a household in the city was $33,732, and the median income for a family was $39,520. Males had a median income of $32,194 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,995. About 10.4% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Michigan City is the home of theOld Michigan City Light; and the newer currently functioning one which is Indiana's onlylighthouse.
ThePullman-Standard rail car plant was located in Michigan City.
Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets mall, opened in 1987 on the city's North end, is an outdoor mall.[10] Marquette Mall, constructed in 1965, was Michigan City's sole indoor shopping mall.
Franciscan Health Michigan City is Michigan City's main hospital, located just off of the 94 highway.[11]
Michigan City also houses azoo, andart center, and also is the home of theIndiana State Prison.[12]
Michigan City also has one of the nation's oldest active municipal bands. Free concerts are performed for the public every Thursday evening at the Guy F. Foreman Amphitheatre located inWashington Park.
The eastern edge ofIndiana Dunes National Park is also located in Michigan City. Features includeMount Baldy, a largewandering dune. A larger dune,Hoosier Slide, sat at the site of the current electrical generating station.[13] This dune was mined for its sand in the late 19th century. The sand found on the beaches in and near Michigan City is nicknamed "singing sand" because of the sound it produces.[14][15]
Michigan City Power Plant lies along the shore of Lake Michigan west of the downtown core. Thecooling tower of the coal burning plant is visible for miles around and is often mistaken for anuclear power plant.
Michigan City is home to the largest riverboat casino in Indiana, theBlue Chip Casino. In 2009, the Blue Chip complex added a 22-story hotel, which is the biggest building in northwest Indiana.[16] Michigan City has also added a newskatepark atPullman Field to its tourism offerings.[12]
In the 2000s and 2010s, Michigan City has been working on revitalizing much of its north end, which contains the oldest portions of the city. One plan that has been discussed is the Andrews Plan,[17][18] which won the 2008 CNU Charter Award of Excellence.[19] Most of the discussion centers on maintaining and expanding open and accessible park areas on Lake Michigan and along Trail Creek.
TheBarker House,John H. Barker Mansion,Elston Grove Historic District,First Congregational Church of Michigan City,Franklin Street Commercial Historic District,Garrettson-Baine-Bartholomew House,Haskell and Barker Historic District,Michigan City East Pierhead Light Tower and Elevated Walk,Old Michigan City Light,Michigan City Post Office,SSMuskegan Shipwreck Site, andWashington Park are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[20][21][22][23]
Michigan City is administered under a mayor-council government.[24] The city council is the legislative body and consists of nine members. Six members are elected from six wards, and three are elected at-large.
Michigan City Area Schools, theschool district covering all of the city limits,[25] includes one high school (Michigan City High School), two middle schools, and eight elementary schools.
At one time Michigan City had two public high schools: M.C. Elston High School (Red Devils) (Elston was the name of one of the middle schools located in the city and was located at the former Elston High School), and M.C. Rogers High School (Raiders). The two schools combined after the 1994–1995 school year – the first graduating class was the Class of 1996 – and now constitute the present dayMichigan City High School (Wolves). The school is located at the former Rogers High School site.[citation needed] Elston Middle School, along with elementary school Niemann, closed at the end of the 2013/2014 school year.[26]
Michigan City previously also had threeparochial high schools –Marquette,La Lumiere, and Duneland Lutheran but, due to a lack of funds, Duneland Lutheran closed down at the end of the 2008/2009 school year.[citation needed] There are several parochial elementary schools in the city, including St.Stanislaus Kostka School, Queen Of All Saints School, and Notre Dame Catholic School. St. Paul Lutheran School closed down in the 2022–2023 school year.[27]
Michigan City has a lending library, the Michigan City Public Library.[28] In addition, the La Porte County Public Library operates the Coolspring branch library just outside Michigan City city limits.[29]
TheLa Porte County Herald-Dispatch is Michigan City's only subscription newspaper, covering the city and the surrounding municipalities in LaPorte and Porter counties.[30]The Beacher is a Michigan City-based weekly newspaper that covers the city and its vicinity.Chicago Tribune,Chicago Sun-Times andSouth Bend Tribune are distributed throughout Michigan City.Off the Water, a free weekly art and entertainment newspaper published byNiles, Michigan-based Leader Publications, primarily focuses on the Niles-Benton Harbor metropolitan area, but it is distributed in downtown Michigan City.
Michigan City is in Chicago'sArea of Dominant Influence. Radio and television broadcasts from both Chicago and South Bend reach most of the population. Michigan City also has oneFM radio station,WEFM FM 95.9 and oneAM radio station,WIMS AM 1420. (Which is also heard onFM translator W236BD 95.1 FM).[31] The city has oneGovernment-access television (GATV) station, Access LaPorte County,[32] as well as one channel operated by the local school system (MCAS).[33]
Michigan City is a major stop along theSouth Shore Line, one of the lastinterurban rail lines in the U.S. Until 2021, the train ran directly through on 11th Street (it had no separate right-of-way, and shared the street with automobiles and other road traffic), making two stops in Michigan City's downtown area (11th Street andCarroll Avenue). Athird stop, at Willard Avenue and 10th Street, closed in 1994. This rail line connects Michigan City with downtown Chicago westward as well as the South Bend Regional Airport to the east.
Prior to April 4, 2022,Amtrak served the city withWolverine trains, which ran from Chicago to Detroit, andPontiac three times a day in each direction, filling in several gaps in South Shore Line's weekday service and augmenting weekend service. While Wolverine trains were faster than South Shore Line trains, the South Shore Line was cheaper and ran more frequently. Currently, Amtrak trains pass through Michigan City without stopping and the nearest Amtrak station isNew Buffalo, Michigan, about ten miles away.
Michigan City operates a bus service.[34] Officially known asMichigan City Transit, it is made up of four routes that run on Monday-Saturday. All routes originate at Michigan City Public Library and travel around the city in (largely mono-directional) loops until they return to the library. Route 3 connects to Carroll Avenue South Shore Line station, while other routes connect to the 11th street station. In addition, Route 1 passes near the Amtrak station on the way to Washington Park. Michigan City also operates a Dial-a-Bus service.
Public transportation in Michigan City has been free since December 2025.[35]
Coach USA's Indiana Airport SuperSaver service between TheUniversity of Notre Dame andO'Hare airport stopped at Michigan City at the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau at Marquette Mall (4073 S. Franklin St).[36] The service made stops at Notre Dame, South Bend, Portage, Highland, Crestwood and O'Hare and Midway airports. Buses ran from 4:10 am – 1:10 am (US Central Time). Buses ran once every hour in both direction between Michigan City and O'Hare and Midway and once every two hours between Michigan City and Notre Dame. On December 10, 2019, Coach USA announced it will cease operations of its Indiana Airport SuperSaver service effective January 1, 2020.[37]
Michigan City Municipal Airport has a 4,100 foot asphalt runway and averages 118 operations per week. Options for commercial air service include theSouth Bend International Airport in South Bend. The South Shore Line terminates at the South Bend airport, while there is a train stop serving the Gary airport.
Municipalities and communities ofLaPorte County, Indiana,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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