NW Indiana's ethnic groups (Gary, Michigan City: homes, high school, casino)

[WildWestDude]

NW Indiana is has a different ethnic mix than the rest of the state.
Many came a few decades ago for the steel jobs and many are still coming in.
I believe the original settlers asides from the Indian natives, were of germanic and english descent.
Just tell us which groups you are familiar with......


I can think of a few but it would be too early to mention as I don't want to spoil the fun.

some info here:

Christopher Center Library Resources: Bibliography-Ethnic Groups (http://www.valpo.edu/library/ethnic/bib.html - broken link)

[artemis]

I am of English/Scotch descent & German. My former Mother In Law is 100% Polish.
One of my best friends from childhood is Greek. 2 others were Hebrew & went to the Temple on 5th Avenue in the Horace Mann area.

I used to work in Glen Park back in the day. We used to grab lunch from Broncos sometimes. I think he was Serbian.

My Mom's friend married a man who was born in Spain, but raised in NW Indiana. Another one of her friends married a man who is Dutch.

Highland was mostly Dutch back then, I'm sure there are still a lot of Dutch still living in the Highland area.

[domergurl]

There is a big Slovak population too ... and the area is dotted with Orthodox churches for Serbians.

[rrah]

I recall some Serbians growing up. Seems like there were quite a few Poles in Whiting/Robertsdale area. Also seemed to be a scattered presence of Greeks. Of course in East Chicago there was a strong base of Hispanics--mainly Mexican I think. Based upon my high school work experience (a few decades ago) there was also a sizable group of Italians in Munster. Today I understand there are quite a few Indian families there.

Odd thing is I don't recall a specific area with an Irish population. Given the proximity to Chicago I would have expected that. It very well could be that I don't recall it. Maybe everyone was Irish???(I myself am part Irish, part Polish, and a mix of a lot of other things.)

[WildWestDude]

here's a nice map of ancestry in Indiana

http://www.indiana.edu/~libgeol/InAn...cestry2000.pdf


world map:

http://www.indiana.edu/~libgeol/InAn...inancestry.pdf

[Capt. Dan]

East Glen Park--Irish and Scottish and alot of Tennesseeans
West Glen Park- Greek, Russian. Serbian [and the Russians and Serbs didnt always get along], Polish and German.
Miller- Jewish and Italian
Black Oak- Hispanics and US Southerners.
Midtown, Tolleston,Tarreytown and Downtown- Black and elderly Southerners
This is my recall of the 50's and 60's

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by Capt. Dan

East Glen Park--Irish and Scottish and alot of Tennesseeans
West Glen Park- Greek, Russian. Serbian [and the Russians and Serbs didnt always get along], Polish and German.
Miller- Jewish and Italian
Black Oak- Hispanics and US Southerners.
Midtown, Tolleston,Tarreytown and Downtown- Black and elderly Southerners
This is my recall of the 50's and 60's

And as a side note. In the 60's most Irish Catholics went to Andrean [even if they lived in Gary] and most Irish Protestants went to Lew Wallace

[Patricia King]

Originally Posted by WildWestDude

NW Indiana is has a different ethnic mix than the rest of the state.
Many came a few decades ago for the steel jobs and many are still coming in.
I believe the original settlers asides from the Indian natives, were of germanic and english descent.
Just tell us which groups you are familiar with......


I can think of a few but it would be too early to mention as I don't want to spoil the fun.

some info here:

Christopher Center Library Resources: Bibliography-Ethnic Groups (http://www.valpo.edu/library/ethnic/bib.html - broken link)

I think there are and were a lot of Polish people. There is an area of Michigan City which is called Canada. It's where the Blue Chip Casino is now.
My uncle who lived there was Hungarian and my aunt was polish. At one time that area was quite charming with all the well kept homes on the boulevard, called Union Street. It was a great place to hang out as a kid. Not far from Washington Park, the amusement rides, the zoo & the beach. There was a small bar on the north side of Union Street where men would go to have a beer & talk. A small store called '3 Sister's' on the old U.S.12, by the lift bridge. Across from the old Pioneer Lumber Company.