NORTHWEST INDIANA
PORTER COUNTY, IN
County Offices
155 Indiana Avenue
Valparaiso, IN 219-465-3400
www.porterco.org
Chamber of Commerce
162 West Lincolnway
Valparaiso, IN 219-462-1105
www.valpochamber.org
Beautiful Porter County is brimming over with charm and character, anchored by the leading city of Valparaiso. The impressive variety of cultural, economic, geographic, and educational advantages that highlight this area ensure a progressive atmosphere that is rich in resources and opportunity. Porter County is well-connected to thriving business and commercial centers by interstate freeways and major highways as well as rail and air. This region is less than an hour’s drive from Chicago and only two hours from Indianapolis and Milwaukee. Three international airports—Chicago’s O’Hare, Midway, and the Gary-Chicago Airport—are all within easy access, and the South Shore Line provides the commuting convenience of passenger rail into Chicago. Major highways include Interstates 80-90 and 94 as well as US Highways 6, 12, 20, 30 and 231.
Services
Residents of Porter County enjoy advanced care in state-of-the-art facilities. Since 1939, Porter Memorial Health System has grown and matured from a single hospital into a network of healthcare facilities that stretch across Porter County into Jasper County. The system provides an impressive array of diagnostic and treatment services that include open-heart surgery, angioplasty, magnetic resonance imaging, laser surgery, lithotripsy, and comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. Among the other specialties are cardiology, a joint replacement center, birthing center, oncology, pediatrics, spine care, and skilled nursing. Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso is a leading birthing center in Northwest Indiana, although Portage Community Hospital also offers a full-service maternity unit.
Porter County residents are committed to supporting a quality educational system, evidenced by the caliber of public and private schools that serve the area. Nationally recognized educational institutions from elementary school through the university level are available close to home. Ivy Tech State College campuses are conveniently located in Gary, East Chicago, Michigan City, and locally in Valparaiso. The latter is also home to the private institution of Valparaiso University, serving nearly 4,000 students on its beautiful 310-acre campus. U.S. News & World Report regularly cites Valparaiso as one of the best comprehensive universities in the Midwest, and U.S. News ranks it among the “best college values.” The university boasts a respected engineering program, a graduate division, and a law school.
Lifestyle
Cradled in the panoramic region known as the “Casual Coast,” Porter County boasts a national lakeshore beaches and a popular state park. Miles of beaches, sand dunes, bog, wetlands, and woodland forests are complemented by treasures from yesterday that include a French Canadian homestead from the 1830s and a working 1900-era farm. This melding of natural and historic features preserves and showcases a truly unique residential setting. Dr. Henry Cowles conducted his landmark ecological studies in the Indiana Dunes, ranked seventh among national parks for native plant diversity. Natural wonders harmonize with quaint communities, first-class shopping districts, delicious dining experiences, and some of the “best fests in the Midwest.”
Hoosier hospitality abounds throughout Porter County, home to antique malls, fascinating museums, historical sites, arboretums and wineries, and small towns that feature audience-pleasing performing arts. The county seat of Valparaiso is home to countless lush parks and hosts art exhibits and concerts throughout the calendar year. Indoors or outside under the sunshine, Porter County invites residents to relax and exercise on courts, fields, tracks, golf courses, and green space. Recreational areas combine regional and neighborhood parks to provide a wealth of facilities and services. The beautiful Sunset Hill Farm County Park offers 235 acres of rolling prairie and wooded hiking trails, while the front of the park hosts special events and festivals.
Landmarks in Porter County are as unique as the terrain, including the 1893 structure built by the Grand Army of the Republic—a living memorial to the county’s Civil War Veterans. The recently renovated Memorial Opera House has long been a venue for the performing arts, welcoming to the stage such legendary names as John Philip Sousa and the Marx Brothers. With its wonderful “hometown” communities and exceptional quality of life, Porter County is a home for all reasons.
Beverly Shores, The Pines
Municipal Offices
Beverly Shores
219-872-0046
Town of The Pines
219-874-2853
Chamber of Commerce
219-926-5513
www.dunelandchamber.org
The small but charming towns of Beverly Shores and The Pines are nestled in panoramic Pine Township, each one providing an intimate residential atmosphere for less than a thousand residents. The physical features of this area vary from high barren sand-hills at the north to fertile fields at the south. Although this area was heavily timbered at one time in its history, most of the quality timber has been harvested. Beverly Shores offers the popular attraction of the Depot of Beverly Shores, combining a museum with an art gallery in the quaint, historic South Shore Line Passenger Depot. This area also preserves the legacy of the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair Century of Progress Exhibition in a cluster of unique homes. These vintage dwellings represent yesterday’s vision of the future, standing proudly along the Lake Michigan dunes as monuments to American ingenuity and modern technology.
Chesterton, Burns Harbor, Dune Acres
Municipal Offices
Chesterton
219-926-1641
www.chestertonin.org
Burns Harbor
219-787-9413
www.burnsharbor-in.gov
Dune Acres
219-787-1900
www.duneacres.org
Chamber of Commerce
219-926-5513
www.dunelandchamber.org
The collective “Duneland” communities create an idyllic hometown atmosphere for residents who enjoy a location along the southern shore of beautiful Lake Michigan. Close proximity to Chicago and access to major highways attract businesses and residents to a suburban setting that offers every modern convenience. The Chesterton Medical Center of Porter Memorial Hospital provides efficient care for routine healthcare needs and many advanced services. The local artists studio and gallery enables talented individuals to display and market their creations to the public, including jewelry, dyed silk, paintings, photography, sculpture, and stained glass. Often called the “Gateway to the Dunes,” these communities are home to antique shops, impressive galleries and museums, historic sites, and tranquil neighborhoods. Recreational opportunities are some of America’s finest in state and federal preserves. Closer to home, the Duneland YMCA provides fitness opportunities, a daycare learning center, after-school care, preschool activities, sports leagues, swimming, teen programs, and martial arts. The Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve is a 167-acre paradise in Chesterton that invites visitors to explore and appreciate nature. Chesterton is also home to an art gallery that showcases the work of more than 100 local artists.
Hebron
Municipal Offices
219-996-4641
https://hebronindiana.org
Chamber of Commerce
219-996-5678
Nestled in Boone Township, the historical Town of Hebron offers a variety of housing options—the first significant development being Crest Knoll that appeared after World War II in the mid 1900s. Not long after that time, the Fairlane subdivision sprang up on the southwestern side of the community. Progress continued through the decades, and the Ganz development sprawled over the western side. Park Place, the largest of the residential villages in Hebron soon followed. New construction continues, evidenced by the Brookwood development to the northeast and Rivers Edge on the southeast. The community center and a thriving industrial park are evidence of the slow but steady maturity of this welcoming community. Residents of Hebron enjoy a tranquil lifestyle in close proximity to Valparaiso amenities and conveniences including a major fine arts gallery, performing arts, and cultural enrichment.
Kouts
Municipal Offices
219-766-3035
Chamber of Commerce
219-766-2867
The small town of Kouts combines quiet neighborhoods with a scattering of establishments that are designed to add convenience to a rural lifestyle. The close-knit spirit that prevails in Kouts is evidenced by the slogan that visitors see upon entering the city limits: “Kouts, the Town with a heart.” The surrounding Pleasant Township adds a number of amenities and advantages, while the rolling Kankakee River serves as a scenic backdrop and a recreational site. Kouts was named after the Barnhardt Kouts family by railroad workers who dubbed it as Kouts Station. The natural disasters—including tornadoes and fires—that the small community has endured and survived over the decades has only reinforced the proud, unconquerable spirit that continues to make Kouts a warm and welcoming hometown for new residents. The “Plan for the Future” unifies schools, churches and other community organizations with civic leadership to ensure that Kouts will emerge as a model community for the new millennium.
Ogden Dunes
Municipal Offices
219-762-4125
http://ogdendunes.in.gov
Chamber of Commerce
219-885-7407
www.garychamber.com
The small Lake Michigan beach community of Ogden Dunes is characterized as a residential haven that excels in recreational amenities. The town is closely associated with a well-known hermit who lived in the area in the 1920s and was dubbed “Diana of the Dunes” by the Chicago Press. In the early 1900s, Ogden Dunes claimed the highest ski jump in the nation. In fact, a marker still points out the site of the 30-story-high jump at Ski-Hill. The Hour Glass Museum and Gallery serves as a showcase for the area’s rich history and artistic legacy, set in a 1933 house that features a two-story fireplace built from stones gathered around the world. Although Ogden Dunes had its genesis as a tiny resort community, the original plans for a golf course, posh hotel, and clubhouse were dropped. The community has always been determined to preserve its serene nature by limiting commercial and business development. Over the decades, the homes have slowly shifted from summer cottages to permanent residences. Approximately 20 percent of “the Dunes” is private or public parkland, adding to the natural beauty.
Porter
Municipal Offices
219-926-2771
Chamber of Commerce
219-926-5513
www.dunelandchamber.org
The rapidly growing community of Porter experienced phenomenal expansion during the 1990s, welcoming many new residents and families to vibrant residential developments. Newcomers will discover beautiful subdivisions such as Porter Cove where families enjoy wonderful recreational amenities like Porter Cove Park with its unique community-designed play area. As one of the leading “Duneland” communities, the Porter area features attractions that include Dune Ridge Winery, antique shopping, a water park, and an active YMCA. Porter was once the home of eight thriving brickyards that supplied the material for many of the town’s stately, historic homes. At one time, Porter attracted tourists to its natural mineral-water spa. The community contributed 1,200 acres of prime land in the formation of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore—an indication of the natural beauty that surrounds the neighborhoods. Among the historic sites is Chellberg Farm, an 80-acre working farm that was originally established by Swedish immigrants in 1874. Beautifully preserved, the farm offers educational and entertainment programs.
Portage
Municipal Offices
219-762-5424
https://www.portagein.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
219-762-3300
www.portageinchamber.com
The bustling Portage community had its genesis as an industrial city and still supports an impressive number of companies and businesses including major steel operations. Portage Community Hospital meets the need for advanced healthcare close to home for local residents and those in Portage Township or surrounding small communities. Compared to many of the cities in Northwest Indiana, Portage is relatively young. The community became a town in 1958 and incorporated as a city in 1968. The Countryside Museum celebrates the history of Portage Township in a turn-of-the-century farmhouse operated by the Portage Community Historical Society. True to the name “Portage,” this area provides several marinas, boat launch facilities, and landings that provide access to Lake Michigan. Local parks, the Portage gazebo, sports courts, and a community center are just a few of the local attractions. The city is unique within the region as a self-contained community—not a suburb of a larger metropolitan center. The small-town atmosphere that prevails creates a feeling of pride and belonging, attributes that attract newcomers to a family-oriented lifestyle.
Valparaiso
Municipal Offices
219-462-1161
www.ci.valparaiso.in.us
Chamber of Commerce
219-462-1105
www.valpochamber.org
Serving as the county seat and a hub for healthcare, education, and culture, Valparaiso bears a name that means “Vale of Paradise.” Incorporated in 1850, the city provides a small-town atmosphere and quaint historic downtown district. This commercial center harmonizes antique shops, boutiques, and restaurants with a courthouse square surrounded by elegant historic homes for a charming cityscape. One of the state’s finest public school systems combines with the influence of the nationally acclaimed Valparaiso University to enrich the community both intellectually and culturally. A regional highlight is the Brauer Museum of Art in the magnificent Center for the Arts at Valparaiso University, presenting a nationally recognized collection of 19th and 20th century American art. The university also houses a major performing arts center that draws a regional audience. Valparaiso provides a wide selection of attractive and affordable housing, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, and passenger rail service to Chicago and South Bend. Residents enjoy a finely balanced community just 15 miles south of Lake Michigan recreational opportunities. The city enjoys easy access to Interstates 94, 80/90, and 65 via Indiana Bypass 49 and U.S. Highway 30.
