Aetna (Gary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aetna
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Neighborhood
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The former downtown area of Aetna
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Location within the city of Gary
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| County | Lake County |
| City | Gary |
| First settled | 1881 |
| Incorporated | 1907 |
| Annexed by Gary | 1928 |
| Population | |
| • Total | 4,942 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
46403
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| Area code(s) | 219 |
Aetna is a neighborhood located in the city of Gary, Indiana. It's in the northeastern part of Gary. In the year 2000, about 4,942 people lived there.
Aetna is next to Miller Beach to the northeast. It is separated from other neighborhoods like Emerson and Pulaski by a busy industrial area. To the south and east, it's separated from Lake Station by the Little Calumet River. Aetna is divided from Miller Beach by Route 20.
Discovering Aetna
Homes and Community Life
Aetna is mostly made up of small, single-family homes. Most people who live here own their homes. The prices for houses in Aetna are generally lower than the average for Gary. This is different from nearby Miller Beach, where homes are usually more expensive.
Aetna shares a shopping area along U.S. Route 20 with Miller Beach. This is one of the main places to shop in Gary. The neighborhood also has its own park, Aetna Park, which is about 3.5 acres big.
Residents of Aetna can also easily visit the larger outdoor areas near Miller Beach. These include Marquette Park and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. A bus route from the Gary Public Transportation Corporation serves Aetna, connecting it to other parts of the city, including Miller Beach.
A Look Back: Aetna's History
Aetna started in 1881 as a "company town." This means it was built by a company for its workers. The company was called the Aetna Powder Company, and they made things like explosives. The company chose this location because it was quite remote and had rolling hills and wetlands. It was almost a mile away from the small town of Miller.
About 500 people worked at the factory. Most of them lived in Aetna, but some traveled from nearby towns. At first, the products had to be taken by cart to the train station in Miller. But in 1895, the Wabash Railroad built its own station in Aetna, making transport easier.
The factory sometimes had dangerous accidents, including explosions. For example, an explosion in 1912 caused six deaths. Another one in 1914 was so strong it broke windows all the way in downtown Gary. During World War I, the factory became very busy and employed 1,200 people. However, after the war ended, the factory closed down. Aetna's population then dropped to less than 100 people.
Aetna officially became a town in 1907. Later, between 1924 and 1928, it became part of the city of Gary.
