Black Oak (Gary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Black Oak
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Neighborhood
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Location within the city of Gary
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| County | Lake County |
| City | Gary |
| Annexed by Gary | 1976 |
| Elevation | 182 m (597 ft) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 4,216 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
46408, 46406
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| Area code(s) | 219 |
Black Oak is a neighborhood in the city of Gary, Indiana. It is located on the far southwest side of Gary. In the year 2000, about 4,216 people lived there.
Black Oak joined the city of Gary in 1976. This happened when Richard Hatcher was the mayor. Before 1976, Black Oak was not part of any city. It was an "unincorporated" area. It was often linked with the nearby city of Hammond. Even today, Black Oak uses Hammond telephone numbers.
Contents
Where is Black Oak Located?
Black Oak is in the southwest part of Gary. It shares borders with other towns and areas:
- To the west, it touches the city of Hammond.
- To the south, it borders the town of Griffith. It also borders an unincorporated area called Calumet Township.
- Its northern edge is 15th Avenue, near Interstate 80.
- Its eastern edge is Burr Street and Clark Road.
Much of Black Oak is in the Little Calumet River floodplain. This means it is a low-lying area near the river.
Schools and Libraries
Because Black Oak used to be an unincorporated area, it has different services.
- Schools: Students in Black Oak go to schools in the Lake Ridge Schools Corporation. This is different from the Gary Community School Corporation.
- Libraries: Black Oak is the only neighborhood in Gary served by a branch of the Lake County Public Library. Other Gary neighborhoods use the Gary Public Library.
There are also private schools in Black Oak. These include Gary Academy and the Black Oak School for the Deaf. Both of these schools teach students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Homes in Black Oak
Most homes in Black Oak are single-family houses. There are also many mobile homes. Black Oak is the only neighborhood in Gary where mobile homes are a big part of the housing.
In 2000, about 88% of homes were lived in. About 70% of these homes were owned by the people living in them. Most of the homes in Black Oak were built before it became part of Gary. This is because it joined the city later than other areas.
Local Economy
A study in 2005 looked at how easy it was for people in Black Oak to buy healthy and affordable food. It found that residents faced similar challenges as other people in Gary.
Most of the shops and businesses in Black Oak are found along Burr Street. This area is near Interstate 80.
Nature and Environment
Black Oak has many natural areas. These include wetlands and undeveloped land near the Little Calumet River.
- Lake Etta County Park: This park is located entirely within Black Oak. It is the only county park found inside Gary.
- Bike Trail: A bike trail runs along the south side of the Little Calumet River.
However, there have been some environmental challenges. For example, there used to be a site called Lake Sandy Jo. This site was used for waste in the past. It was closed by a court order in 1975. The area was fenced off in 1986. A big cleanup of the site was finished in 1994 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
