Mark Town Park (neighborhood between Whiting & East Chicago) (power lines, homes)

[malachai23]

Hi, does anyone here know anything about the tiny and completely isolated neighborhood between Whiting and East Chicago, off Hwy 912? This little neighborhood is partially surrounded by a park called "Mark Town Park". So maybe this is "Mark Town"? A good majority of the neighborhood appears to be boarded up and abandoned. It's surrounded by all kinds of high voltage looking power lines. The neighborhood looks historic. There is NOTHING anywhere around it. Does anyone know the history of this place or anything about it? Thanks!

Even though this is technically Indiana, I wonder if it's still considered a Chicago suburb area? If not, Moderators please feel free to move this post to the Indiana forum.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by malachai23

Hi, does anyone here know anything about the tiny and completely isolated neighborhood between Whiting and East Chicago, off Hwy 912? This little neighborhood is partially surrounded by a park called "Mark Town Park". So maybe this is "Mark Town"? A good majority of the neighborhood appears to be boarded up and abandoned. It's surrounded by all kinds of high voltage looking power lines. The neighborhood looks historic. There is NOTHING anywhere around it. Does anyone know the history of this place or anything about it? Thanks!

It was built when the factory was know as "Mark Steel" for the foremen to have a place to live close to the mills. In those days, most folks walked or rode buses to their jobs and did not worry that much about air pollution. with the growth of the steel mills, the industry came to surround the homes.

It has always been a ethnic Eastern European neighborhood but has seen some recent new inhabitants who are Hispanic. In the seventies, it was the home of the 'Marktown Raiders', highschoolers who would break into the cars at night of the workers at the Youngstown Sheet & Tube works, which the mill was then called. It later became J&L Steel, then LTV Steel and is now Mittal Steel, and bankrupt again!

Originally Posted by malachai23

Even though this is technically Indiana, I wonder if it's still considered a Chicago suburb area? If not, Moderators please feel free to move this post to the Indiana forum.

Believe me, its in Indiana! Check it out!

Marktown Historic District - East Chicago, Indiana

The East Chicago historian, Paul Myers, is a native of Marktown and used to own several of the homes there.

[malachai23]

WOW! Thank you SOOOOO much!! I haven't begun to check out all the pics & links on the website but I will and I just wanted to thank you first!!! Wow. I couldn't find ANY info about it at all. I really appreciate it. Thanks again!!!!

[arnsb]

Does anybody know what the exact streets are that border Marktown? I believe it is Broad St., Pine Ave., Riley Rd., Dickey St. but am not positive. Also- anyone know the neighborhood's population?