Lake County, Indiana

Allman, Walter, House American Sheet and Tin Mill Apartment Building Bailey, Louis J., Branch Library-Gary International Institute Brannon, James, House Buckley Homestead Clark, Wellington A., House Combs Addition Historic District Crawford-Winslow House Crown Point Courthouse Square Historic District Crown Point Courthouse Square Historic District (Boundary Adjustment) Crown Point Courthouse Square Historic District (Boundary Increase II) Dell Plain, Morse, House and Garden Emerson, Ralph Waldo, School Eskilson Historic District First Unitarian Church of Hobart Forest-Ivanhoe Residential Historic District Forest-Moraine Residential Historic District Forest-Southview Residential Historic District Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium Gary City Center Historic District Gary Land Company Building Gary Public Schools Memorial Auditorium Gary Union Station Glendale Park Historic District Griffith E.J. and E. Interlocking Tower Griffith Grand Trunk Depot Griffith State Bank Halsted, Melvin A., House Hansen Branch-Hammond Public Library Hobart Carnegie Library Hobart Commercial District Hobart First Methodist Episcopal Church Hohman Avenue Commercial Historic District Hoosier Theater Building Horace Mann Historic District Ibach House Indi-Illi Park Historic District Indiana Harbor Public Library Jackson-Monroe Terraces Historic District Jefferson Street Historic District Keilman, Francis P. House Kingsbury-Doak Farmhouse Knights of Columbus Building Lake County Courthouse Lake County Sheriff's House and Jail Lake County Tuberculosis Sanatorium Nurses Home and Superintendent's House Lake County Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Nurse's Home and Superintendent's House (Boundary Increase) Lassen Hotel Lincoln Street Historic District Lowell Commercial Historic District Maack, Albert, House Marktown Historic District Meyer, Joseph Ernest, House Miller Town Hall Monon Park Dancing Pavillion Monroe Terrace Historic District Morgan-Skinner-Boyd Homestead Morningside Historic District Nichols, Charles E., House Northern States Life Insurance Company Pennsylvania Railroad Station Polk Street Concrete Cottage Historic District Polk Street Terraces Historic District Pullman-Standard Historic District Roosevelt, Theodore, High School Roselawn-Forest Heights Historic District Ross, John, Farm Rumsey, J. Claude, House Sablotny, Barney, House Schrage, Henry and Caroline, House Southmoor Apartment Hotel SS CLIPPER St. Augustine's Episcopal Church St. John's Lutheran Church and School Stallbohm Barn-Kaske House State Bank of Hammond Building State Street Commercial Historic District Van Buren Terrace Historic District West Fifth Avenue Apartments Historic District Whitaker, William, Landscape and House Whiting Memorial Community House Wolf, George John, House Wood, John, Old Mill

Lake County, Indiana, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. The region was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, such as the Miami and Potawatomi, who lived off the land and utilized the resources in the area. European exploration and settlement arrived in the late 1600s, with French fur traders establishing relationships with the Native American tribes.

In the early 1800s, the area that is now Lake County was part of the Indiana Territory, and in 1833, Lake County was officially organized as a separate county. The region experienced rapid growth in the mid-1800s, with the development of industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation. The construction of the Erie Canal, which connected Lake Erie to the Ohio River, further facilitated economic growth and trade in the area.

The discovery of large amounts of oil in the late 19th century brought significant prosperity to Lake County. Companies such as Standard Oil, founded by John D. Rockefeller, established refineries and fueled the local economy. The county's population grew throughout the 20th century, as people were drawn to the job opportunities and amenities the area offered.

Lake County is known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse communities. Over time, waves of immigrants, including Polish, Irish, German, and Mexican, have settled in the county, leaving a lasting impact on its culture and traditions. Today, Lake County continues to thrive as a major economic hub in the state of Indiana, with a strong manufacturing sector, vibrant arts and culture scene, and a dedication to preserving its historical legacy.
Brief timeline of the history of Lake County, Indiana:

  • 1803 - Treaty of Greenville results in the cession of the land that would become Lake County.
  • 1834 - Lake County is officially established by the Indiana General Assembly.
  • 1837 - The town of Crown Point is designated as the county seat.
  • 1851 - The Lake County Courthouse is completed in Crown Point.
  • 1906 - The Standard Steel Car Company, later known as the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, is founded in Hammond.
  • 1926 - The first section of the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway in the United States, is completed in Lake County.
  • 1929 - The infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre takes place in Chicago, just across the county line.
  • 1943 - The construction of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore begins, preserving a portion of Lake County's shoreline.
  • 1966 - The city of Gary reaches its peak population of over 178,000 people.
  • 1971 - The Lake County government center is completed in Crown Point, consolidating various county offices.
  • 2009 - The Cabela's retail store opens in Hammond, becoming a popular attraction in Lake County.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Lake County, Indiana.