| Northwest Indiana, also known as The Calumet | | | | region. |
| Region, or just The Region, is comprised of | | | | |
| Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, and Jasper | | | | Four major universities are located in the |
| counties in Indiana. This region neighbors | | | | region: Valparaiso University in Valparaiso |
| Chicago, Illinois and Lake Michigan, and is | | | | (the largest private Lutheran University in |
| also the Indiana component of Chicagoland and | | | | the United States), Indiana University |
| the Chicago Combined Statistical Area. Not | | | | Northwest (IUN) in Gary, Purdue University |
| only does the region include a large group of | | | | Calumet in Hammond, and Purdue University |
| Chicago suburbs, such as Crown Point, | | | | North Central in Westville. Along with |
| Merrillville, Highland, Munster, Griffith, | | | | several smaller colleges and universities in |
| Schererville, and Dyer but also a number of | | | | Northwest Indiana, these institutions offer a |
| cities whose economies are only loosely | | | | variety of degree programs in areas including |
| linked to Chicago's. The largest city in the | | | | business administration, engineering and |
| region is Gary; other notable cities in the | | | | engineering technology, law, education, |
| region include Hammond, Hobart, Portage, East | | | | computing and information technology, and the |
| Chicago, Valparaiso, and Michigan City. | | | | liberal arts. Additionally, Northwest Indiana |
| | | | is proximate to numerous other universities |
| Three counties, Lake, Porter, and LaPorte, | | | | elsewhere in Indiana and in Chicagoland. |
| are served by the Northwestern Indiana | | | | |
| Regional Planning Commission [1], an | | | | LaPorte County is a county located in the |
| organization that coordinates economic and | | | | U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the |
| infrastructure development in the region. A | | | | population was 110,106. The county seat is |
| number of the suburbs serve as bedroom | | | | LaPorte6. This county is part of Chicagoland |
| communities for both the major cities in the | | | | and Michiana. It is included in the Michigan |
| region and for Chicago. The northern portion | | | | City, Indiana-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan |
| of the region is noted for its heavy | | | | Statistical Area. |
| industry. Gary, Portage, Burns Harbor and | | | | |
| East Chicago are home to major steel mills, | | | | LaPorte County was formed in 1832. The name |
| including the secondary location of U.S. | | | | means "the door" or "the port" in French, as |
| Steel. The region is also the home of other | | | | travelers here left the forests of the east |
| metals industries, chemical refineries, and | | | | for the prairieland of the west. |
| heavy manufacturing. | | | | |
| | | | Lake County is a county located in the U.S. |
| Since the 1990s, casino gambling has become a | | | | state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population |
| notable component of the region's economy. | | | | was 484,564, making it Indiana's second most |
| Four casino boats with approximately 6,500 | | | | populous county. The county seat is Crown |
| slots and 250 table games are located in Lake | | | | Point6. This county is part of Northwest |
| County. An additional 1,724 slots and forty | | | | Indiana and Chicagoland. |
| nine table games are in Michigan City. | | | | |
| | | | Lake County was formed in 1837. It was named |
| The Lake Michigan shore is a major | | | | for its location on Lake Michigan. |
| attraction. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, | | | | |
| which stretches from Gary to Michigan City, | | | | Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. |
| is a well-preserved stretch of sand dunes, | | | | state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population |
| beaches, grasslands, and forests, as well as | | | | was 30,043. The county seat is Rensselaer6. |
| several historical homes and buildings. The | | | | This county is part of Chicagoland. |
| five counties of Lake, Porter, Jasper, | | | | |
| Newton, and LaPorte are included in the | | | | Jasper County was formed in 1838. It was |
| Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City Combined | | | | named for Sgt. William Jasper, a famous scout |
| Statistical Area, the broadest of the census | | | | for the Continental Army during the |
| defined Metropolitan definitions. Unlike the | | | | Revolutionary War. Jasper became famous in |
| majority of Indiana, which operates on | | | | 1776, during the bombardment of Fort |
| Eastern Standard Time, these five counties | | | | Moultrie, for erecting a new flagstaff under |
| are among seven in Northwestern Indiana that | | | | fire after the American flag had been shot |
| are in the Central Time zone, the other two | | | | down. Jasper was killed during the Siege of |
| being Starke and Pulaski. This reflects their | | | | Savannah in 1779. |
| close economic integration in the Chicagoland | | | | |