Michigan City is a city in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States. It had a population of 32,075 at the 2020 census. Located along Lake Michigan in the Michiana region, the city is about east of Chicago and is west of South Bend.
Michigan City is noted for both its proximity to Indiana 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 the South Shore Line passenger train.
History 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 in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He paid about $200 total for of land. The now-closed Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, was named after the founder.
The city was incorporated in 1836, 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 . That same year, the State Bank of Indiana opened a branch in town.
The adjacent incorporated town of Lakeland was annexed into Michigan City on January 4, 1960. This added about and 3,000 residents to Michigan City.
Michigan City hosted the sailing competitions of the 1987 Pan American Games on Lake Michigan. Indianapolis, roughly southeast, was the host city.
Geography According to the 2010 census, Michigan City has an area of , of which (or 85.71%) is land and (or 14.29%) is water.
Michigan City is home to Trail Creek, which flows into Lake Michigan.
Climate
The highest recorded temperature was in 1953. The lowest recorded temperature was in 1994.
The city has a usual weather pattern for a temperate region, with four distinct seasons. Summers are often warm and humid with frequent thunderstorms. Winters are cold and snowy. Due to its location next to Lake Michigan the city frequently experiences lake-effect snows and rain showers.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Michigan City city, Indiana – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)22,30919,59518,41067.81%62.25%57.40%Black or African American alone (NH)8,5768,7418,78726.07%27.77%27.40%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)8097850.24%0.31%0.27%Asian alone (NH)1622262850.49%0.72%0.89%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)6350.02%0.01%0.02%Other race alone (NH)63421670.19%0.13%0.52%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)6699321,8662.03%2.96%5.82%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,0351,8432,4703.15%5.85%7.70%Total32,90031,47932,075 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Michigan City had a population of 32,075. The median age was 39.0 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 107.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 108.6 males age 18 and over.
99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 12,795 households in Michigan City, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 29.3% were married-couple households, 24.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 15,002 housing units, of which 14.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 18,997 59.2% Black or African American 8,931 27.8% American Indian and Alaska Native 141 0.4% Asian 287 0.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 6 0.0% Some other race 1,089 3.4% Two or more races 2,624 8.2%
2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 31,479 people, 12,136 households, and 7,147 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 14,435 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 64.9% White, 28.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 32,900 people, 12,550 households, and 7,906 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 14,221 housing units at an average density of . 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% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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.
The median 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.
Arts and culture Points of interest
Michigan City is the home of the Old Michigan City Light; and the newer currently functioning one which is Indiana's only lighthouse.
The Pullman-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.
Marquette Mall was Michigan City's sole indoor shopping mall. Opened in 1967, it was anchored by Sears, Carson's and JCPenney. The interior of the mall closed in 2017 after JCPenney shuttered, while the property and attached office tower later remained the subject of redevelopment efforts.
Franciscan Health Michigan City is Michigan City's main hospital, located just off of the 94 highway.State of Indiana, Indiana 2009 Travel Guide. Indianapolis, Indiana; 2009.
Michigan City also houses a zoo, and art center, and also is the home of the Indiana State Prison.Indiana 2009 Travel Guide
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 in Washington Park.
The eastern edge of Indiana Dunes National Park is also located in Michigan City. Features include Mount Baldy, a large wandering dune. A larger dune, Hoosier Slide, sat at the site of the current electrical generating station. 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.
Michigan City Power Plant lies along the shore of Lake Michigan west of the downtown core. The cooling tower of the coal burning plant is visible for miles around and is often mistaken for a nuclear power plant.
Michigan City is home to the largest riverboat casino in Indiana, the Blue Chip Casino. In 2009, the Blue Chip complex added a 22-story hotel, which is the biggest building in northwest Indiana.Casino and Hotel Michigan City has also added a new skatepark at Pullman Field to its tourism offerings.
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,Contact information which won the 2008 CNU Charter Award of Excellence. Most of the discussion centers on maintaining and expanding open and accessible park areas on Lake Michigan and along Trail Creek.
The Barker 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, SS Muskegan Shipwreck Site, and Washington Park are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Government
Michigan City is administered under a mayor-council government. 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.
Education Michigan City Area Schools, the school district covering all of the city limits, - Text list 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 day Michigan City High School (Wolves). The school is located at the former Rogers High School site. Elston Middle School, along with elementary school Niemann, closed at the end of the 2013/2014 school year.
Michigan City previously also had three parochial 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. 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.
Michigan City has a lending library, the Michigan City Public Library. In addition, the La Porte County Public Library operates the Coolspring branch library just outside Michigan City city limits.
Media The La Porte County Herald-Dispatch is Michigan City's only subscription newspaper, covering the city and the surrounding municipalities in LaPorte and Porter counties. The Beacher is a Michigan City-based weekly newspaper that covers the city and its vicinity. Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and South Bend Tribune are distributed throughout Michigan City. Off the Water, a free weekly art and entertainment newspaper published by Niles, Michigan-based Leader Publications, primarily focuses on the Niles-Benton Harbor metropolitan area, but it is distributed in downtown Michigan City.