| Michigan City is a city in LaPorte County, | | | | the land for the city was first purchased by |
| Indiana, USA and is located in what is known | | | | Issac C. Elston. |
| as Northwest Indiana which includes Lake | | | | |
| County, Porter County, Jasper County, and | | | | The city became incorporated in 1836, by |
| Newton County. Michigan City is part of what | | | | which point Michigan City had 1500 residents, |
| is known as Chicagoland. It is also part of | | | | along with a post office, a newspaper, a |
| what is known as Michiana. It is | | | | church, and a commercial district. |
| approximately 50 miles east of Chicago and 40 | | | | |
| miles west of South Bend, Indiana. The | | | | Points of interest |
| population was 32,900 at the 2000 census. It | | | | |
| is one of two principal cities of and is | | | | On clear days, it is possible to see the |
| included in the Michigan City-La Porte, | | | | Chicago skyline across Lake Michigan. In |
| Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which | | | | 1991, Democrat Mayor Sheila Brillson |
| is included in the | | | | introduced a new logo for Michigan City, |
| Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City Combined | | | | which featured the Chicago Skyline. Many |
| Statistical Area. | | | | residents rebelled at this proposal, so the |
| | | | official logo was changed. |
| Michigan City is noted for both its proximity | | | | |
| to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore | | | | Michigan City Area Schools, the city's public |
| national park and for its bordering Lake | | | | school system, includes one high school |
| Michigan; because of this, Michigan City | | | | (Michigan City High School), three middle |
| receives a fair amount of tourism during the | | | | schools, and nine elementary schools. |
| summer months, especially by residents of | | | | Michigan City also contains two parochial |
| Chicago and parts of Indiana. | | | | high schools - Marquette and Duneland |
| | | | Lutheran - but Marquette is also the oldest |
| Geography | | | | school in the city. There are several |
| | | | parochial elementary schools in the city to |
| Michigan City is located at 41°42'34?N, | | | | include St. Stanislaus Kostka School, Queen |
| 86°53'13?W (41.709389, -86.886928).GR1 | | | | Of All Saints, and Notre Dame Catholic |
| | | | School. At one time Michigan City had two |
| According to the United States Census Bureau, | | | | public high schools, M.C. Elston High School |
| the city has a total area of 59.9 km² | | | | (Red Devils)(Elston is now the name of one of |
| (23.1 mi²). 50.8 km² (19.6 mi²) of | | | | the middle schools located in the city and is |
| it is land and 9.1 km² (3.5 mi²) of it | | | | located at the former Elston High School), |
| (15.22%) is water. | | | | and M.C. Rogers High School (Raiders). Both |
| | | | schools combined after the 1994-1995 school |
| Demographics | | | | year and is now the present day Michigan City |
| | | | High School. The school is located at the |
| As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were | | | | former Rogers High School site. |
| 32,900 people, 12,550 households, and 7,906 | | | | |
| families residing in the city. The population | | | | Michigan City contains two major shopping |
| density was 648.1/km² (1,678.6/mi²). | | | | centers - Lighthouse Place Outlet Mall, which |
| There were 14,221 housing units at an average | | | | was built in the mid 1980s, and Marquette |
| density of 280.1/km² (725.6/mi²). The | | | | Mall, which was constructed in 1965. St. |
| racial makeup of the city was 69.45% White, | | | | Anthony Memorial Health Center is Michigan |
| 26.31% African American, 0.26% Native | | | | City's sole hospital. |
| American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific | | | | |
| Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 2.36% | | | | In terms of media, Michigan City has one |
| from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of | | | | daily newspaper, The News-Dispatch. It also |
| any race were 3.15% of the population. | | | | has one FM radio station, WEFM, one AM radio |
| | | | station, WIMS, and one government access |
| There were 12,550 households out of which | | | | cable TV station, Access LaPorte County. |
| 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living | | | | Michigan City is in Chicago's Area of |
| with them, 40.0% were married couples living | | | | Dominant Influence. Radio and Television |
| together, 18.1% had a female householder with | | | | broadcasts from both Chicago and South Bend |
| no husband present, and 37.0% were | | | | reach most of the population. |
| non-families. 30.9% of all households were | | | | |
| made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone | | | | Michigan City also houses a zoo, and features |
| living alone who was 65 years of age or | | | | on its outskirts the Indiana State Prison. |
| older. The average household size was 2.41 | | | | |
| and the average family size was 3.02. | | | | Known for its many talented musicians, |
| | | | Michigan City also has one of the nations |
| In the city the population was spread out | | | | oldest active municipal bands. Free concerts |
| with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 | | | | are performed for the public every Thursday |
| to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to | | | | evening at the Guy F. Foreman Ampitheatre |
| 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or | | | | located in Washington Park. |
| older. The median age was 35 years. For every | | | | |
| 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every | | | | The eastern edge of the Indiana Dunes |
| 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 | | | | National Lakeshore is also located in |
| males. | | | | Michigan City. Features include Mount Baldy, |
| | | | a large wandering dune. A larger dune, |
| The median income for a household in the city | | | | Hoosier Slide, sat at the site of the current |
| was $33,732, and the median income for a | | | | electrical generating station. This dune was |
| family was $39,520. Males had a median income | | | | mined for its sand in the late 19th century. |
| of $32,194 versus $23,125 for females. The | | | | The sand found on the beaches in and near |
| per capita income for the city was $16,995. | | | | Michigan City is nicknamed "singing sand" |
| About 10.4% of families and 13.3% of the | | | | because of the sound it produces. |
| population were below the poverty line, | | | | |
| including 20.2% of those under age 18 and | | | | In recent years, Michigan City has added a |
| 9.5% of those age 65 or over. | | | | riverboat, The Blue Chip Casino. This casino |
| | | | is the largest riverboat in Indiana. Michigan |
| History | | | | City has also added a new skatepark at |
| | | | Pullman Field to its tourism offerings. |
| Michigan City's origins began in 1830, when | | | | |