Merrillville (IPA: [ˈmɛ.ɹəlˌvɪl]) is a town in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 30,560 at the 2000 census.
Merrillville is located in the east-central portion of Lake County.
Geography
Merrillville is located at 41°29′8″N, 87°20′7″W (41.485669,
-87.335390)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area
of 86.3 km² (33.3 mi²). 86.2 km² (33.3 mi²) of it
is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.09%) is water.
The town is centered around the intersection of US 30 and Interstate 65. The Lincoln Highway runs through Merrillville. The
original alignment of Lincoln Highway is known as 73rd Avenue in Merrillville, while the current Lincoln Highway
(US Highway 30) is known as 81st Avenue. State
Road 53 (Broadway) and State Road 55 (Taft Street) traverse the town from
north to south.
History
Merrillville is located on what used to be woodland that belonged to the Potawatomi
Indians, a peace-loving nation of hunters and fishermen. In 1834, a clearing was created for ceremonial purposes and was called
McGwinn Village. A year later, a white man by the name of Jeremiah Wiggins settled in the place; McGwinn Village thus gave way to
Wiggins Point.[1]
Under the name Wiggins Point, the place became a well-known stop for wagon trains heading to Joliet, Illinois. At one time, 16 trails radiated outward from Wiggins Point. In 1838, Wiggins died.
Sometime afterwards, local settlers renamed the place Centerville. Later still, it was renamed Merrillville after the brothers
Dudley and William Merrill.[2] Dudley Merrill operated a hotel and store in Centerville, and his son John P. Merrill was a Township Trustee.
[3]
Nearby, in the same former hunting grounds of the Potawatomi Indians, other settlements had sprung up. Near Deep River creek
was a settlement named Deep River; near Turkey Creek was another settlement with that creek's name. Other settlements included
Ainsworth, Lottaville, and Rexville. At one time, the post office for the area was named Lottaville.
In 1848, all of these settlements, including Merrillville (that is, the old McGwinn Village) were collected into one and
called Ross Township. As time went by, bits and pieces of Ross Township were taken by Hobart and Crown Point when those towns incorporated.
In 1971, the area officially became Merrillville (which now includes the old Merrillville as well as other settlements nearby)
and was incorporated as a town under Indiana law.[4] At one time, Merrillville was known as the Largest Town in the US, with that
distinction now going to Gilbert, Arizona.
In 1993, a large unincorporated area of Lake County along US 30, east of Mississippi St and west of Indiana 51 was annexed by
the neighboring city of Hobart. The residents of this area, although living in
unincorporated Ross Township, associated themselves with Merrillville. This is due to the fact that they were served by
Merrillville schools and Post Office. As the area continues to be served by the Merrillville post office, local residents and
businesses continue to identify themselves as being in Merrillville rather than Hobart.
Purdue Technology Center at Ameriplex at the Crossroads in Merrillville
Economy
Merrillville is a hub for retail trade in Northwest Indiana. The US 30 corridor
between Taft Street and Colorado Street harbors a large concentration of big-box
retailers, hotels, restaurants, and automobile dealerships. Westfield Southlake, one
of the largest shopping malls in Indiana, is located in this area in nearby Hobart,
Indiana.
Ameriplex at the Crossroads, an industrial and technology park, opened at Broadway between 93rd Avenue and 101st Avenue in
2005. The development is designated an Indiana Certified Technology Park and includes two Purdue University related facilities: Purdue University
Calumet's Academic Learning Center and a business incubator/technology center operated by the Purdue Research
Foundation.
Heavy industry such as steelmaking and
petroleum refining that characterizes the economy of northern Lake County does not have a
significant presence in Merrillville.
The town is home to the corporate headquarters of NiSource, a Fortune 500 company.
Merrillville's nearest commercial airport is Gary/Chicago International
Airport in Gary.
Merrillville is also protected by one of Indiana's largest volunteer fire departments, the Ross Township Fire Service.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 30,560 people, 11,678 households, and 8,127 families
residing in the town. The population density was 354.5/km² (918.2/mi²). There were
12,303 housing units at an average density of 142.7/km² (369.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 69.65% White, 22.86% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.39% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.65% of the population.
There were 11,678 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were
non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from
45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,545, and the median income for a family was $56,355. Males had a median
income of $41,820 versus $29,005 for females. The per capita income for the town was
$22,293. About 2.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable People from Merrillville
External links
Coordinates:
41.485669° N 87.33539°
W
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