Climate

The highest recorded temperature was 104 °F (40 °C) in 1953. The lowest recorded temperature was −23 °F (−31 °C) in 1994.^[7]

The city has a usual weather pattern for a temperate region, with thunderstorms in the summer and snow during winter. Summers are often warm and humid. Due to its location next to Lake Michigan the city frequently experiences lake-effect snows and rain showers.

2010 census

As of the census^[8] of 2010, there were 31,479 people, 12,136 households, and 7,147 families living in the city. The population density was 1,606.9 inhabitants per square mile (620.4/km²). There were 14,435 housing units at an average density of 736.9 per square mile (284.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.9% White, 28.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.9% of the population.

There were 12,136 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 32,900 people, 12,550 households, and 7,906 families living in the city. The population density was 1,678.6 inhabitants per square mile (648.1/km²). There were 14,221 housing units at an average density of 725.6 per square mile (280.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.45% White, 26.31% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.15% of the population.

There were 12,550 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,732, and the median income for a family was $39,520. Males had a median income of $32,194 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,995. About 10.4% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

Michigan City East Light on Lake Michigan, one of the few remaining lighthouses in Indiana.

Blue Chip is Indiana's largest riverboat casino.

Michigan City is the home of the Old Michigan City Light; and the newer currently functioning one which is Indiana's only lighthouse.

The Pullman-Standard rail car plant was located in Michigan City.

Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets mall, opened in 1987 on the city's North end, is an outdoor mall.^[9] Marquette Mall, constructed in 1965, was Michigan City's sole indoor shopping mall.

Franciscan Health Michigan City is Michigan City's main hospital, located just off of the 94 highway.^[10]

Michigan City also houses a zoo, and art center, and also is the home of the Indiana State Prison.^[11]

Michigan City also has one of the nation's oldest active municipal bands. Free concerts are performed for the public every Thursday evening at the Guy F. Foreman Amphitheatre located in Washington Park.

The eastern edge of Indiana Dunes National Park is also located in Michigan City. Features include Mount Baldy, a large wandering dune. A larger dune, Hoosier Slide, sat at the site of the current electrical generating station.^[12] This dune was mined for its sand in the late 19th century. The sand found on the beaches in and near Michigan City is nicknamed "singing sand" because of the sound it produces.^[13][14]

Michigan City Power Plant lies along the shore of Lake Michigan west of the downtown core. The cooling tower of the coal burning plant is visible for miles around and is often mistaken for a nuclear power plant.

Michigan City is home to the largest riverboat casino in Indiana, the Blue Chip Casino. In 2009, the Blue Chip complex added a 22-story hotel, which is the biggest building in northwest Indiana.^[15] Michigan City has also added a new skatepark at Pullman Field to its tourism offerings.^[11]

In the 2000s and 2010s, Michigan City has been working on revitalizing much of its north end, which contains the oldest portions of the city. One plan that has been discussed is the Andrews Plan,^[16][17] which won the 2008 CNU Charter Award of Excellence.^[18] Most of the discussion centers on maintaining and expanding open and accessible park areas on Lake Michigan and along Trail Creek.

The Barker House, John H. Barker Mansion, Elston Grove Historic District, First Congregational Church of Michigan City, Franklin Street Commercial Historic District, Garrettson-Baine-Bartholomew House, Haskell and Barker Historic District, Michigan City East Pierhead Light Tower and Elevated Walk, Old Michigan City Light, Michigan City Post Office, SS Muskegan Shipwreck Site, and Washington Park are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.^{[19][20][21][22]}

Newspaper

The La Porte County Herald-Dispatch is Michigan City's only subscription newspaper, covering the city and the surrounding municipalities in LaPorte and Porter counties.^[25] The Beacher is a Michigan City-based weekly newspaper that covers Beverly Shores, Michigan City, Long Beach, LaPorte, Michiana and New Buffalo.

Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and South Bend Tribune are distributed throughout Michigan City. Off the Water, a free weekly art and entertainment newspaper published by Niles, Michigan-based Leader Publications, primarily focuses on Niles-Benton Harbor Metropolitan Statistical Area, but it is distributed in downtown Michigan City.

Broadcast

Michigan City is in Chicago's Area of Dominant Influence. Radio and television broadcasts from both Chicago and South Bend reach most of the population.

Transportation

Rail

See also: Michigan City (Amtrak station) and South Shore Line

A South Shore train passes Cedar Street at 11th.

Michigan City is a major stop along the South Shore Line, one of the last interurban rail lines in the U.S. The train runs directly through on 11th Street (it has no separate right-of-way, and shares the street with automobiles and other road traffic), making two stops in Michigan City's downtown area (11th Street and Carroll Avenue). A third stop, at Willard Avenue and 10th Street, closed in 1994. This rail line connects Michigan City with downtown Chicago westward as well as the South Bend Regional Airport to the east.

Prior to April 4, 2022, Amtrak served the city with Wolverine trains, which ran from Chicago to Detroit, and Pontiac three times a day in each direction, filling in several gaps in South Shore Line's weekday service and augmenting weekend service. While Wolverine trains were faster than South Shore Line trains, the South Shore Line was cheaper and ran more frequently. Currently, Amtrak trains pass through Michigan City without stopping and the nearest Amtrak station is New Buffalo, Michigan, about ten miles away.

Actors

• Charles Arnt, actor
• Anne Baxter, Academy Award-winning actress
• Rati Gupta, dancer and actress known for her recurring role as Anu, the fiancée of Raj Koothrappali in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

Journalist/Writers

• Alvera Mickelsen, writer, journalism professor, advocate of Christian feminism, and co-founder of Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE)^[33]
• Achy Obejas, writer and journalist
• Amy Spindler, fashion critic and style editor of The New York Times Magazine
• Ted Thorne, Chicago news anchor, local radio host

Politicians

• Naomi Anderson, a black suffragist
• Richard G. Hatcher, mayor of Gary, Indiana
• John Huppenthal, Republican State senator in the Arizona State Legislature
• David E. Lilienthal, Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority 1941–1946; Chairman, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 1947–1949
• Zeola Hershey Misener, suffragist and one of the first women elected to the Indiana General Assembly
• Scott Pelath, former Indiana House of Representatives member
• John L. Sieb, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, barber

Sports

• Abe Gibron, Chicago Bears football player and head coach
• Anita King, racecar driver, actress, and thoroughbred racehorse owner
• Mike LaRocco, professional Supercross and Motocross racer
• Don Larsen, Major League Baseball pitcher
• John Parry, former National Football League official
• Donnie Thomas, former linebacker for the New England Patriots

Artists

• Charles Freeman Lee, jazz trumpeter in the 1950s and 1960s, taught Science at Krueger School in Michigan City after retiring from music