Whiting, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whiting, Indiana
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Whiting's business district on 119th Street
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Location of Whiting in Lake County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Lake |
| Township | North |
| Founded | 1889 |
| Incorporated (town) | 1895 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1903 |
| Named for | Herbert L. "Pop" Whiting |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.807 sq mi (4.679 km2) |
| • Land | 1.807 sq mi (4.679 km2) |
| • Water | 0.000 sq mi (0.000 km2) |
| Elevation | 591 ft (180 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,559 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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4,506 |
| • Density | 2,494/sq mi (963.0/km2) |
| Standard of living (2018-22) | |
| • Median household income | $59,740 |
| • Median home value | $188,200 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
46394
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| Area code(s) | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-84122 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397304 |
| U.S. and State Routes |     |
| Waterway | Lake Michigan |
| Amtrak station | Hammond-Whiting |
| Sales tax | 7.0% |
Whiting (pronounced WYTE-ing) is a city in Lake County, Indiana. It is part of the larger Chicago Metropolitan Area, which is a big region around Chicago. Whiting was founded in 1889.
The city is located right on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. It's about 16 miles from downtown Chicago and just two miles from Chicago's South Side. Whiting is also home to the Whiting Refinery, which is the largest oil refinery in the Midwest. In 2020, the city had a population of 4,559 people.
Contents
History of Whiting
When Was Whiting Founded?
Whiting first got a post office in 1871. It officially became a town in 1895. The city was named after a trainman who sadly died in a train crash there. Later, in 1903, Whiting became an official city.
Historic Buildings in Whiting
Several buildings in Whiting are very old and important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Hoosier Theater Building, the Henry and Caroline Schrage House, and the Whiting Memorial Community House.
Geography of Whiting
How Big is Whiting?
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Whiting covers a total area of about 1.807 square miles (4.679 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Whiting's Neighboring Areas
The Whiting post office (ZIP code 46394) serves more than just the city itself. It also covers the nearby Hammond neighborhood called Robertsdale. Even though Robertsdale is legally part of Hammond, people in the area often think of it as part of Whiting. So, when you hear about businesses or people from Whiting, they might actually be from Robertsdale.
Population and People of Whiting
How Many People Live in Whiting?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 115 | — | |
| 1890 | 200 | 73.9% | |
| 1900 | 3,983 | 1,891.5% | |
| 1910 | 6,587 | 65.4% | |
| 1920 | 10,145 | 54.0% | |
| 1930 | 10,880 | 7.2% | |
| 1940 | 10,307 | −5.3% | |
| 1950 | 9,669 | −6.2% | |
| 1960 | 8,137 | −15.8% | |
| 1970 | 7,054 | −13.3% | |
| 1980 | 5,630 | −20.2% | |
| 1990 | 5,155 | −8.4% | |
| 2000 | 5,137 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 4,997 | −2.7% | |
| 2020 | 4,559 | −8.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 4,506 | −9.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Whiting's population has changed over the years. In 1880, only 115 people lived there. The population grew a lot in the early 1900s, reaching over 10,000 people by the 1920s and 1930s. Since then, the number of residents has slowly decreased. In 2020, there were 4,559 people living in Whiting.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,715 | 2,733 | 2,027 | 72.32% | 54.69% | 44.46% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 25 | 141 | 144 | 0.49% | 2.82% | 3.16% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.14% | 0.18% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 32 | 29 | 23 | 0.62% | 0.58% | 0.50% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 2 | 13 | 0.02% | 0.04% | 0.29% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 44 | 47 | 112 | 0.86% | 0.94% | 2.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,313 | 2,036 | 2,238 | 25.56% | 40.74% | 49.09% |
| Total | 5,137 | 4,997 | 4,559 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Who Lives in Whiting? (2020 Census)
In 2020, Whiting had 4,559 people living in 1,859 households. About 1,106 of these were families. The city had 2,094 housing units.
The people living in Whiting come from many different backgrounds. About 59.6% of residents were White, 3.5% African American, and 0.6% Asian. People who identify as Hispanic or Latino made up 49.1% of the population.
Who Lives in Whiting? (2010 Census)
In 2010, there were 4,997 people in Whiting. They lived in 1,899 households, and 1,210 of these were families.
About 37.1% of households had children under 18. Many households were married couples living together (38.1%). The average household had 2.63 people. The average family had 3.32 people.
The median age in Whiting was 34.4 years old. This means half the people were younger than 34.4, and half were older. About 26.9% of residents were under 18. About 11.6% were 65 years or older.
Parks and Recreation in Whiting
Whiting has five parks for people to enjoy. The most famous is Whiting Park, which is right on the shore of Lake Michigan. It's a popular place for picnics for people from all over Lake County and the Chicago area.
Next to Whiting Park, between Whiting and Hammond, is Whihala Beach. It's a great spot for swimming and enjoying the lake.
Education in Whiting
Public Schools
The School City of Whiting manages all the public schools in the city. Whiting High School is the only public high school that serves students from Whiting.
Libraries and Colleges
Whiting is also home to a historic Carnegie Library. This library was built in 1905 and is called the Whiting Public Library. You can find it at 1735 Oliver Street.
There's also a college in Whiting called Calumet College of St. Joseph. It's a private college connected to the Roman Catholic Church. The main campus is in Whiting, but it also has campuses in Chicago and Merrillville, Indiana. The college started in 1951 and currently has over 1,200 students.
Transportation in Whiting
Train Travel
If you want to travel by train, Amtrak's Wolverine line stops at the Hammond–Whiting station. This station is located in nearby Hammond.
Air Travel
For air travel, people in Whiting can use several airports. These include Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. There's also the Gary/Chicago International Airport located in Gary, Indiana.
Famous People from Whiting
Many interesting people have connections to Whiting, Indiana. Here are a few:
- George Buksar – A football player.
- George Burman – Another football player.
- William Merriam Burton – He worked at the Standard Oil refinery in Whiting and later became its president.
- Mary-Lou Daniels – A junior world champion tennis player.
- Richard Dufallo – A talented clarinet player, author, and conductor.
- John M. Ford – A science fiction and fantasy writer, game designer, and poet who grew up in Whiting.
- Joe Kopcha – A football player.
- Steve Kraly – A baseball player.
- Ferid Murad – He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998!
- James J. Nejdl – A State Senator who helped create Indiana's Old-Age Pension Legislation. He also served on the city council and school board.
- Al Pilarcik – A baseball player.
- Patrick Lucien Price – A video game designer and editor, known for his work on the Dungeons & Dragons game.
- Irene Purcell – An actress.
- Joe Sotak – A basketball player.
- David Wagoner – A poet.
Images for kids
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Whiting's business district on 119th Street
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Location of Whiting in Lake County, Indiana.
See also
In Spanish: Whiting (Indiana) para niños
