Gary, Indiana, is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States of America. It is Indiana's eleventh-most populous city. It is hard to fathom how a once-bustling city would be home to creepy buildings and eerie sights, a shadow of its former glory. Dubbed one of the most dangerous places in the United States of America, especially in the 90s, Gary has a story to tell.
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Gary, Indiana, is known for its steel mills and for being the birthplace of the late Michael Jackson. Before it was dubbed one of the most dangerous cities in America, it was known as The Magic City. The human population in this city is about 66,942. The population has been declining over the years at a rate of -0.76% annually.
Why is Gary, Indiana, so dangerous?
Today, the once-booming community of Gary, Indiana, is deserted. The human population has dwindled over the years.
Engineering marvels like theatre domes and buildings lie in decay and are empty. Find out why the city is considered dangerous.
What happened to Gary, Indiana?
Gary, Indiana, was once a thriving town, but a massive portion of its human population is gone. A combined series of unfortunate events persisting through the years led to this situation.
Gary, Indiana, is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States of America. The region has been chiefly dominated by massive industrial activity and is home to U.S. Steel’s Gary Works, North America's biggest steel mill complex.
The city lies in the southern end of Lake Michigan, east of Chicago. It was named after Elbert H. Gary, the chief organiser of the United States Steel Corporation.
According to the 2020 census, Gary's population was 69,093, making it Indiana’s ninth-largest city. The city was the scene of the early 20th-century development of public education when William Wirt created the work-study-play school, known as the platoon school. The institution was designed to attract underprivileged children.
As fate would have it, manufacturing in Gary reduced, and employment at the USX fell by more than 20,000, resulting in 7,500 at the 20th century's end. This resulted in a high poverty rate in the region.
Why is Gary, Indiana, dangerous?
Gary is deemed dangerous because of its high crime rate. In 1993, the city was dubbed the murder capital of the United States of America after the population of over 100,000 saw a record of 110 people killed. The rate was three times that of Chicago.
Gary's high crime rate was because many residents lived beneath the poverty line. Once the thriving steel manufacturing business went down, the city's businesses had to close down.
Consequently, many households had sufficient income to sustain them. Many people gradually became poor and resorted to crime.
In 1995, Gary had a population of 115,269. There were over 3,000 reported crimes that year. These included 129 murders, making it one of the most violent cities in the USA. Systemic racism, decline in industry, and economic challenges engendered conditions ripe for violence in the city.
In 2019, the average crime rate in Gary, Indiana, was 366.7 per 100,000 residents, and the national average for property crime was 2,109.9 per 100,000.
During this time, Gary’s crime rate was 554.31 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3,556.17 per 100,000 residents. Gary’s violent crime rate was 1.5 times the national average.
The crime in Gary, Indiana, in 2024 has lessened significantly after community leaders came together to address the situation. Residents are challenging the city's decades-long reputation for violence.
The city has new violence prevention programmes that are showing encouraging results. In 2023, the city recorded 52 homicides, a 13% from the previous year, according to the Gary Police Department.
Among the developments and programmes that have led to a reduced crime rate is the high-technology crime centre that was opened in the police station. Over 1,400 residents and 500 businesses share camera feeds with the police department through its Operation Safe Zone initiative.
The initiative allows the department to monitor police body cameras, license plate readers, shot detectors, and security cameras in real-time. As a result, officers have better monitoring capabilities and incident response times.
Other programmes like Gary for Life have assisted victims of violent crimes and suspected gang members with resources. These include therapy, job training, and education. These resources steer people away from crime and toward more positive and productive activities.
Why is Gary, Indiana, abandoned?
Gary, Indiana, was built on the back of the manufacturing industry. The city has ditched factories and buildings vacated years ago, and no one seems interested in reviving them.
Gary's heavy reliance on steel manufacturing was the city's ultimate downfall. Over time, importing steel became cheaper.
As s result, it was no longer economically sensible to produce steel in Gary. This made the city lose its glory. The the reduced steel production capacity resulting from low demand caused its decline.
At the height of the steel manufacturing industry in the 1970s, Gary employed over 30,000. However, the number had declined to around 6,000 by the 1990s and reduced to 5,100 by August 2015.
The job sector in the city has never recovered to date, and any attempts to regain the city's former glory have failed. The median household income in Gary, Indiana, is $31,936, and the median value of a home in the city is $66,100.
The poverty rate is three times the national average because of the rate of unemployment. When people lost their jobs in steel manufacturing, many turned to a life of crime, making the city unsafe.
Naturally, people want to live in areas with security and availability of jobs. People abandoned Gary, Indiana, due to insecurity and lack of sustainable job opportunities. Its human population continues to dwindle every year.
Why is the Demon House in Gary, Indiana, famous?
Gary's Demon House became particularly famous after Zak Bagans of Ghost Adventures read an IndyStar story about Latoya Ammons' allegations of demon possession inside a Demon House in the city.
Ammons claimed she and her three children had been possessed by spirits inside the rental home. The Gary Police Department and the Indiana Department of Child Services investigated the matter.
Ammons was ordered to relocate to a new house with no reports of demons. The case was closed in February 2013. Bagans created the 2018 documentary horror film titled Demon House, which is based on Ammons' story.
Is Gary, Indiana, a safe place to visit?
The city's safe to visit during the daytime, but you should know your surroundings. It would be best to remember that Gary still has a high crime rate. The risks of pickpocketing, and scam risks are medium in this mostly abandoned city.
You can visit Gary's Lake Street and County Line Road, where you can participate in numerous activities on the southernmost shores of Lake Michigan. People can also visit Marquette Park and Nature Preserve, five miles from the beach.
If you wish to visit Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5’s childhood home, it is essential to note that the house is in a regular neighbourhood. You may run into neighbours who are welcoming or frustrated with the crowds.
Where is Gary, Indiana?
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, USA. The city is located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, about 25 miles or 40 km southeast of downtown Chicago.
Is Gary, Indiana, a good place to live?
The answer to this question is challenging because people have different priorities when choosing residential areas. Even so, the city's livability rating is 68/100. The crime and poverty rates are quite high, but the cost of living and livability are manageable.
What state is Gary located in?
Gary is located in the state of Indiana. Indiana is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States.
The question, “Why is Gary, Indiana, so dangerous?” is quite common as people find it hard to understand how a once bubbly city became deserted. The city’s economic foundation fell, and everything came crumbling down, resulting in its current state.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not sponsored by any third party. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
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