|
Hammond
Boundaries and Major Infrastructure
- Hammond contains many neighborhoods that are widely recognized by residents, including Robertsdale, North Hammond, Central Hammond, Woodmar and Hessville. Because Hammond is such a comparatively large field site, we concentrated our efforts around the Wolf Lake area and in downtown. This includes the residential area of the town of Whiting, due to its close cultural ties to Robertsdale.
- Click on the map to explore Whiting/Robertsdale and North Hammond.
- Lake Michigan borders Hammond to the north. The town has three eastern borders: Atchison, White Oak, and Cline. The Little Calumet River is Hammond's southern boundary and State Line Road is on the west.
Biodiversity
- Wolf Lake has been drawing attention from botanists for over a century for its rare wetland vegetation.
- The 804 acre lake and the parks surrounding its shores are known to harbor migrant birds, several rare fish and several rare plants.
- Gibson Woods Nature Preserve contains a long strip of wooded sand dunes and small wetlands. This area was once part of an extensive sand dune ecosystem that was carved out by the water and wind along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Gibson Woods is home to several rare insects as well as the endangered Franklin's ground squirrel.
Important Facts
- Settled in 1838, Hammond is referred to as the 'oldest city in Calumet.' However, Hammond's development has been inextricably linked to Chicago's growth and the arrival of rail in the region.
- The relationship between Hammond and Chicago is still strong today. For many Chicagoans, Hammond is a desirable place to live due to lower taxes, comparatively low cost of living and what residents describe as an improved quality of life.
- Hammond's industries include the Northern Indiana Power Supply Company (NIPSCO), Shell, Crerestar, Standard Railway Equipment, Commonwealth Edison's State Line Generating Plant, and Unilever Corp. It's also home to the Horseshoe Casino.
Contemporary Demographics
2000 Total Population: 83,048
According the 2000 Census, Whiting and Robertsdale are predominantly White, with a strong Latino presence: 25% in Whiting and 15% Latino in Robertsdale. North Hammond is 37% Latino and 4% African American. Including downtown, Central Hammond has a population of 16,853 in 2000 and is ethnically diverse: 41% African American, 20% Hispanic and the rest white.
|
|
|
