Between the twin saucer domes of Lake County Courthouse and Gary City Hall, the “Fusion” sculpture commemorates Gary’s hundredth year in Northwest Indiana. It’s just one of many reminders of the Steel City’s legacy as the capital of domestic steel industry production. Named for Elbert Gary, the founder of U.S. Steel, the city’s population and economy rose and dipped alongside this principal sector, which powered much of the nation’s infrastructure from tunnels to skyscrapers. The Gary Works still operates and is the second largest steel manufacturer in the country; plumes are visible from Lake Front Beach, one of the Lake Michigan access points in the city that draw residents and tourists year-round. “Most people living in Gary work in the mill or right outside the city,” says Mark Keene, managing broker at BS Realty Services Indiana and Northwest Indiana native. “It's been sold a couple of times, but if you just say ‘the steel mill’ people know what you mean.”
Steel industry aside, Gary’s residential streets hold more history—from the 670-square foot childhood home of the Jackson 5 to the city’s deserted churches, commercial buildings and homes. Almost 180,000 called Gary home in the 1960s, a far cry from the current population of about 67,000. The city’s next mission is to diversify and create opportunities for residents, putting Gary on the map as a viable option for Chicago commuters on the South Shore Line and businesses looking to plant roots.
In summer 2024, the city announced a partnership with Notre Dame School of Architecture’s Housing and Community Regeneration Initiative to develop a 100-year vision for downtown Gary and a 10-year action plan to revitalize the area, scheduling listening sessions and public urban planning meetings throughout the process. “They’ve already had a couple of meetings with the community and invited them to see what’s going on and what needs to be done,” Keene says.
The “Fusion” sculpture commemorates Gary’s hundredth year in Northwest Indiana.
Historic abandoned churches show how the once prosperous city has changed through the years.
US Steel sits along Lake Michigan in Gary.
Gary's current population is 67,000, far less from 180,000 in the 1970's.
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Home ownership opportunities in Gary
Gridded streets of American Foursquares, Cape Cods, minimal traditional cottages and brick multiplexes create the landscape of many Gary neighborhoods, though Aetna’s winding streets and Black Oak’s remote gravel lanes break this mold. The median home price in Gary is about $95,000, well below the national average of $416,700—save for Miller Beach, where the median home price is $279,000. Many of the properties for sale currently are in need of either repairs or complete renovations before residents can move in. Recent neighborhood stabilization projects led by the Gary Redevelopment Commission aim to demolish blight in the most heavily affected areas, creating vacant lots for new homes. Most Gary neighborhoods have a renter majority. The city’s Hoosier Homes program works in collaboration with the Indianapolis Housing Agency to provide down payment assistance grants for prospective homebuyers.
Split level homes sit on large lots in Miller.
Cape Cod-style homes in Aetna feature detached garages.
American Foursquare homes sit beside ranch homes in Gary.
Bungalows are a well represented home style in Gary.
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From Marquette Park and Miller Beach to RailCats games
Marquette Park has a long history extending back to Gary’s settlement in 1865, when parasailers and biplanes would glide over the dunes. Today the park is home to a historic ballroom, statue garden, forest preserve, playground and beachfront access. West Beach, a portion of far-reaching Indiana Dunes National Park, and Lake Street Beach provide more points of entry to Lake Michigan’s sandy shoreline. Farther inland, the city’s Minor League Baseball team, the Gary SouthShore RailCats, at U.S. Steel Yard. The Gary Civic Symphony Orchestra has been a fixture in the city for over 60 years, performing their annual Christmas concert at Indiana University Northwest Main Stage Theatre.
Marquette Park in Miller is famous for its annual air and water show.
Steel Yard Baseball Stadium hosts the RailCats team.
Indiana Dunes National Park features expansive beaches near Gary, IN.
Marquette Park features winding paths connecting the park pavilion to the beach in Gary.
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A school system changing hands
After seven years of state control, the Gary Community School Corporation, which scores a D-plus from Niche, ended its distressed status in 2024. Management returned from an appointed council to a city-elected board. Though the state takeover increased the district’s bottom line, it also resulted in the closure of several public schools. This and other longstanding factors contribute to Gary’s high number of charter school options, and about half of the students in Gary attend them, according to the Department of Education. The city also maintains several adult education facilities. Students can become certified in trades like cosmetology, graphic design, and radio production at the Gary Area Career Center. Local organizations aim to enrich Gary’s arts education, like the Gary Historical and Cultural Society’s music program established in 2024.
Indiana University Northwest anchors south Gary, earning Glen Park neighborhood its alternative name, “University Park.” The 4-year institution also includes an Ivy Tech Community College campus, where students can jumpstart programs from nursing to cloud technologies and cybersecurity. IU medical students complete clinicals at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus, Community Hospital or St. Catherine Hospital, three facilities serving Gary.
Gary Middle School is home to 355 students and has a D rating on Niche.
21st Century Charter School is a public K-12 Charter School in Gary.
Williams Elementary offers STEM Instruction for Students K-5 in Gary.
West Side Leadership Academy is a public school in Gary, IN.
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South Shore Line stops along Lake Michigan
Like many neighboring Northwest Indiana cities, Gary's gridded street pattern is easy to navigate. Broadway is the central artery of the city with streets west of it named for presidents and streets to the east named for states. Gary Public Transportation Corp (GPTC) provides public transit with city buses running 11 routes, five within Gary limits and the rest to surrounding municipalities. The South Shore Line provides direct rail connections to Chicagoland with three stops near Gary. Drivers take the Indiana Toll Road to cross the state line, passing Gary/Chicago International Airport on the way. This small terminal has three gates and serves many domestic and international destinations. Chicago Midway International Airport is the next-closest option, about 35 miles away.
Mom-and-pops, diners, and local shopping options in Gary
Grocery stores can be found at each corner of Gary. The Miller Beach neighborhood contains the highest number of walkable shops and restaurants in Gary, which are highly trafficked by residents and visitors to the dunes. “You’ve got Flamingo Pizza of Miller and other laid-back places,” Keen says. “They’re mostly local establishments, your mom-and-pops.” Multiple retail centers break up the offerings into distinct areas, from the artist and small business collective at the historic Miller School to the Lake Front Shopping District. Hard Rock Casino includes a gamut of restaurants, some with live entertainment on the schedule. But the majority of Gary’s commercial scene remains no-frills, with counter-serve restaurants, convenience stores and vehicle repair centers along major routes. Some, like Great Lakes Cafe, open early in the morning for steelworkers heading to the mill. As more vacant spaces pop up, the city hopes to attract the interest of developers to create new businesses and attract attention to longstanding ones.
Sit outside and play backyard games at The Brass Idol.
The Brass Idol is a locally owned American diner in Miller.
Grab an iced coffee and walk to the beach from Tiny's Coffee.
Js Breakfast Club is a local favorite in Tolleston near Gary.
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Crime statistics in Gary
The Gary Police Department reported an increase in violent and property crimes from 2022 to 2023. However, the city has seen an overall downward trend in both violent and property crimes over the past 4 decades, with the highest numbers in the mid-1990s dipping drastically in the 2000s and 2010s.
On average, homes in Gary, IN sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Gary, IN over the last 12 months is $103,000, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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