Gary IN Moving Companies

Gary, Indiana

If you are moving to Gary, Indiana, you will be pleasantly surprised to discover that the city has grown from a rough-edged manufacturing town into an exciting center for arts and entertainment. Before you pack your bags and start looking for Gary moving companies, read a little bit further to learn more about why relocating to Gary, Indiana might be a great idea.

Economy:
The most important part of Gary’s economy is its proximity to the Port of Indiana. Located on the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan, this port allows goods to be carried from the lake through the Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway System and out to the Atlantic Ocean. This means that items can be imported to Gary and sent into the U.S. heartland, or manufactured in Gary and shipped out to the world.

In fact, manufacturing has comprised a large segment of the Gary economy since the town was built. Steel mills have been particularly important, and they retain their central role in the local economy despite the overall decline of employment in the steel industry. In the wake of the decline, locals have turned their efforts to lighter manufacturing, such as rubber, chemicals, paper products and food processing. Tourism has also become an important source of revenue, as residents of Chicago and other cities escape to Gary on the weekends to gamble on the casino riverboats.

History:
In 1904, the United States Steel Corporation began a search for a place to build their steel mill. They did not find a suitable town, so they dredged a sandy swamp on the shores of Lake Michigan, and in 1906 they founded a town. They named it Gary, after their founding chairman, Elbert H. Gary.

U.S. Steel created a subsidiary called the Gary Land Company, which built the first subdivision in the town. The subdivision soon filled up, and new ones were built, as the town’s population soared from 300 residents in 1906 to 55,378 in 1920. The town’s fortunes faltered as the steel manufacturing business declined in the 1960s and 1790s, and for a time, Gary was notorious for its crime and poverty. Fortunately, the city has recently gained a new reputation as a revitalized center for arts and entertainment.

Tourism:
Many visitors to Gary begin their tour on one of the two Majestic Star riverboat casinos, which are docked at a spacious waterfront pavilion that also houses restaurants and retail establishments. The gambling centers aren’t the only glitzy part of Gary. The eclectic Lake Street area is home to many fine restaurants and cafés. Looking for something more low-key? Tour the Indiana Dunes, which poet Carl Sandburg said were "to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona and Yosemite is to California. They constitute a signature of time and eternity." The U.S. Congress declared the dunes’ miles of sandy beaches and woodland trails to be an American national treasure. Located within the dune area are Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead, which offer examples of pre-industrial farming. Gary’s west side also includes the Brunswick Park Savanna, a 49-acre preserve which is home to rare species such as black oak, prairie sunflowers and blue joint grass.

Colleges/Universities:

• Indiana University Northwest
• Ivy Tech Community College
• Brown Mackie College

Interesting Facts:

• In Gary, local law prohibits persons from riding a streetcar or attending a movie theater within four hours after they have eaten garlic.
• The famous Jackson family (including pop stars Michael and Janet) are from Gary.
• Actor Gary Cooper (famous for his role in the western “High Noon”) began his acting career with the name Frank Cooper. His agent renamed him after the agent’s home town, which was Gary, Indiana.
• The American author Gary Hoisington publishes his books and magazine articles under the pseudonym of Gary Indiana.