Griffith, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Griffith, Indiana
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| Nickname(s):
The Town That Came to the Tracks
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Location of Griffith in Lake County, Indiana.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| County | Lake |
| Townships | North and St. John |
| Founded | 1854 |
| Incorporated | 1904 |
| Named for | Benjamin Griffith |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town |
| • Body | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.77 sq mi (20.12 km2) |
| • Land | 7.77 sq mi (20.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 16,331 |
| • Density | 2,125.2/sq mi (5,504.24/km2) |
| Standard of living (2008-12) | |
| • Per capita income | $26,548 |
| • Median home value | $141,600 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) |
| ZIP code |
46319
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| Area code | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-30042 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396979 |
Griffith is a town located in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It's part of the larger Chicago metropolitan area. In 2020, about 16,420 people lived there. Griffith is known as "The Town That Came to the Tracks" because of its strong connection to railroads.
Contents
History of Griffith
Some important buildings in Griffith are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special and protected because of their history. These include the Griffith State Bank, the E.J. and E. Griffith Interlocking Tower, and the Griffith Grand Trunk Depot.
In 2018, the people of Griffith voted to leave Calumet Township. They joined North Township instead. This change happened because residents felt their property taxes were too high for the services they received from Calumet Township.
Geography and Location
Griffith is about 630 feet (192 meters) above sea level. The town's area includes parts of old shorelines from Lake Michigan. Griffith covers about 7.77 square miles (20.12 square kilometers) of land. There is no water within the town's official boundaries.
Griffith shares its borders with several other towns and cities. To the west, it borders Highland. To the northwest, it's next to Hammond. Gary is to the northeast, and Schererville is to the south.
Education in Griffith
Griffith Public Schools manages most of the public schools in the town. There are four public schools in total.
- Griffith Senior High School (for grades 9-12)
- Griffith Middle School (for grades 6-8)
- Beiriger Elementary School (for grades 3-5)
- Wadsworth Elementary School (for grades K-2)
There is also a private school, St. Mary Catholic Elementary & Junior High School, located in Griffith. Some residents in the southeastern part of town attend schools in the Lake Central School Corporation. Students from that area go to Lake Central High School.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 523 | — | |
| 1920 | 630 | 20.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,176 | 86.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,116 | 79.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,470 | 111.2% | |
| 1960 | 9,483 | 112.1% | |
| 1970 | 18,168 | 91.6% | |
| 1980 | 17,026 | −6.3% | |
| 1990 | 17,916 | 5.2% | |
| 2000 | 17,334 | −3.2% | |
| 2010 | 16,893 | −2.5% | |
| 2020 | 16,420 | −2.8% | |
| Source: US Census Bureau | |||
2020 Population Data
In 2020, Griffith had 16,420 people living in 6,791 households. The town's population density was about 2,123 people per square mile (820 people per square kilometer).
Most residents were White (69%), followed by African American (14.7%). About 14.9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. The average age in Griffith was 37.8 years. About 18.5% of the residents were under 18 years old.
2010 Population Data
The 2010 census showed 16,893 people living in Griffith. The population density was about 2,185 people per square mile (844 people per square kilometer).
The racial makeup was mostly White (75.8%) and African American (16.9%). About 13.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The median age was 39 years. Around 19.4% of residents were under 18 years old.
Transportation Around Griffith
Griffith has several ways to get around and connect to other places.
Airports
The closest large airport is Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary. Griffith also has its own smaller airport, the Griffith-Merrillville Airport, often called "Griffith Airport" by locals.
Roads and Highways
Major roads near Griffith include Cline Avenue, which goes north to East Chicago. Other important highways like Interstate 65, The Borman Expressway, The Indiana Toll Road, US 30, and US 41 are all a short drive away.
Broad Street is a main road that runs north and south through Griffith. It used to be called Indiana State Route 73. This road was once known for crossing many railroad tracks, making it one of the busiest railroad crossings in the country. SR 73 was the shortest state route in Indiana. It was removed from the state highway system in 1969 because it was mostly within one town.
Train Services
For train travel, the closest Amtrak station is in Dyer. The closest South Shore Line station, which is a commuter train, is in East Chicago.
See also
In Spanish: Griffith (Indiana) para niños
