Whiting, Indiana | |
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 Whiting's business district on 119th Street | |
 Flag  Logo | |
 Location of Whiting inLake County,Indiana. | |
| Coordinates:41°40′23″N87°29′03″W / 41.67306°N 87.48417°W /41.67306; -87.48417 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| County | Lake |
| Township | North |
| Founded | 1889 |
| Incorporated (town) | 1895 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1903 |
| Named after | Herbert L. "Pop" Whiting |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| • Mayor | Steven Spebar (D) |
| • Councilmembers | Chris Sarvanidis Tom Michniewicz Rebeca Michko Mark Harbin Shawn M. Turpin |
| • City Clerk | John T. Haynes |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.807 sq mi (4.679 km2) |
| • Land | 1.807 sq mi (4.679 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.000 km2) |
| Elevation | 590 ft (180 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 4,559 |
• Estimate (2023)[5] | 4,506 |
| • Density | 2,490/sq mi (963/km2) |
| Standard of living (2018-22) | |
| • Median household income | $59,740 |
| • Median home value | $188,200 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 46394 |
| Area code | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-84122 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397304[3] |
| U.S. andState Routes |     |
| Waterway | Lake Michigan |
| Amtrak station | Hammond-Whiting |
| Sales tax | 7.0%[6] |
| Website | whitingindiana.com |
Whiting (/ˈwaɪtɪŋ/WYTE-ing) is a city located in theChicago Metropolitan Area inLake County, Indiana, which was founded in 1889. The city is located on the southern shore ofLake Michigan. It is roughly 16 miles from theChicago Loop and two miles from Chicago'sSouth Side. Whiting is home toWhiting Refinery, the largest oil refinery in theMidwest. The population was 4,559 at the2020 census.[4]
A post office was first established at Whiting in 1871.[7] Whiting was incorporated as a town in 1895.[8] It was named after a trainman who was killed in a crash there.[9] Whiting was incorporated as a city in 1903.[10]
TheHoosier Theater Building,Henry and Caroline Schrage House, andWhiting Memorial Community House are listed in theNational Register of Historic Places.[11]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.807 square miles (4.68 km2), all land.[2]
The Whiting post office (46394) serves not only the city of Whiting, but also the adjacentHammond neighborhood ofRobertsdale, immediately to the west. Addresses in this Hammond neighborhood show “Whiting, Indiana.” While not legally a part of the city of Whiting, locally the area has long been informally considered to be a culturally integrated part of Whiting. References to Whiting businesses or residents often include those technically from Hammond's Robertsdale.[12][13][14]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 115 | — | |
| 1890 | 200 | 73.9% | |
| 1900 | 3,983 | 1,891.5% | |
| 1910 | 6,587 | 65.4% | |
| 1920 | 10,145 | 54.0% | |
| 1930 | 10,880 | 7.2% | |
| 1940 | 10,307 | −5.3% | |
| 1950 | 9,669 | −6.2% | |
| 1960 | 8,137 | −15.8% | |
| 1970 | 7,054 | −13.3% | |
| 1980 | 5,630 | −20.2% | |
| 1990 | 5,155 | −8.4% | |
| 2000 | 5,137 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 4,997 | −2.7% | |
| 2020 | 4,559 | −8.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 4,506 | [5] | −1.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 2020 Census[4] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,715 | 2,733 | 2,027 | 72.32% | 54.69% | 44.46% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 25 | 141 | 144 | 0.49% | 2.82% | 3.16% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.14% | 0.18% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 32 | 29 | 23 | 0.62% | 0.58% | 0.50% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 2 | 13 | 0.02% | 0.04% | 0.29% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 44 | 47 | 112 | 0.86% | 0.94% | 2.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,313 | 2,036 | 2,238 | 25.56% | 40.74% | 49.09% |
| Total | 5,137 | 4,997 | 4,559 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 4,559 people, 1,859 households, 1,106 families residing in the city.[19] Thepopulation density was 2,536.6 inhabitants per square mile (979.4/km2). There were 2,094 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 59.6%White, 3.5%African American, 1.7%Native American, 0.6%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 17.1% fromsome other races and 17.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 49.1% of the population.[20]
As of the2010 census, there were 4,997 people, 1,899 households, and 1,210 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,776.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,071.9/km2). There were 2,197 housing units at an average density of 1,220.6 inhabitants per square mile (471.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.3%White, 3.5%African American, 0.7%Native American, 0.7%Asian, 15.7% fromother races, and 3.2% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.7% of the population.
There were 1,899 households, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% weremarried couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.3% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.32.
The median age in the city was 34.4 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.
Whiting is home to five parks. Whiting Park, located on theLake Michigan shoreline, is the most well known. It is a popular picnic spot for residents ofLake County, theSouth Side of Chicago, andSouthland. Whihala Beach is located next to Whiting Park between Whiting and neighboringHammond.
School City of Whiting serves all of Whiting.[21]Whiting High School is the sole public high school serving Whiting.
The city is also home to a historicCarnegie Library, built in 1905.[22] Whiting Public Library is located at 1735 Oliver Street.[23]Calumet College of St. Joseph is aprivate college affiliated with theRoman Catholic Church through theMissionaries of the Precious Blood. Its main campus is in Whiting, Indiana, with additional campuses located inChicago, Illinois, andMerrillville, Indiana. The college was founded in 1951 as an extension of the now defunctSaint Joseph's College inRensselaer, Indiana and currently enrolls 1,262 students.[24]
Amtrak'sWolverine stops atHammond-Whiting station in nearby Hammond.
Airports serving Whiting areChicago'sO'Hare International Airport,Midway International Airport, andGary/Chicago International Airport located inGary, Indiana.
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Pierogi Fest founded in 1994 is held each year on 119th Street in downtown Whiting to honor the venerablepierogi dumpling. Spanning three days on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the last full weekend of July, the event draws in crowds from around theCalumet Region with guests coming from all over the globe.
The city was featured in an episode of MTV'sHigh School Stories.[25]
Scenes from the movieRudy, starringSean Astin, as well as the 1981 dramaFour Friends, were shot in Whiting.[26][27]
Standard Oil of Indiana, laterAmoco, was founded and headquartered here.
TheMascot Hall of Fame, honoring costumed characters from college and professional sports, is located in Whiting.
Municipalities and communities ofLake 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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