The Calumet Region is rich in history. The Region was shaped by glaciers. The glaciers receded and formed the shorelines of Lake Michigan. The population of the Region started with settlers that came from the south and east during the 1830's.
The Native Americans were the first to arrive followed by the French Explorers, and then the British. In the early days, the land was difficult to travel upon. It consisted of marshlands and wide flood plains. The shorelines turned into sandy highways which connected the east and the west. This was the high ground that the stagecoaches traveled upon. Stagecoaches traveled the Region in the 1830's but the railroads took over in the 1850's. The railroads brought wealth to the Region and employed hundreds of residents. (Schoon, pg. 45)
The Railways changed the shape of the landscape in the Region. Also, logging changed the look of sections in Hammond. The moraines and sand ridges at one time were forested. Also, sand mining became popular by scraping sand from the tops of the ridge. The farmers then built their homes after the sand removal. The sand was used to fill in nearby marshlands. Wholesale sand mining contributed to the biggest change in the landscape. (Schoon pgs. 96, 97)
Since the 1960's the development of residential neighborhoods in the Calumet Region has changed. In the past, neighborhoods were created on land that was leveled off and the wetlands were eliminated. It has become popular to develop neighborhoods on natural slopes and have included water in their landscapes. Lakes of the Four Seasons, was the first of the developments to create their landscape in this manner. (Schoon, pg. 102)
Lake Michigan is a highly valued resource because of its' use for recreation, the dependence upon it from the nearby industries for travel and as a water source for the Region. Industries that have been attracted to the Region are brickmaking, steel mills, oil refineries, lead foundries and gravel and stone mining.
The Calumet Area is also known for its' prairies, bogs, fens, lakes, hills and lowlands. We must do everything that we can to protect and preserve these areas. They are habitats for ducks, wading birds, shorebirds, beavers, vegetation, sedges and flowering plants to name a few. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitats-of_the_Indiana_Dunes
The Calumet Region has evolved over the past hundreds of years. It's landscape has changed due to natural causes but also due to man made creations. The industries that have been built up over the years have provided resources for America and jobs for its' residents. The downside is that these same industries have been responsible for a great deal of water pollution in the rivers and in the lakes of the Calumet Area.
We, as residents must do our part in preserving the beauty of the Calumet Region. When you look at its' history, we need to value how the Region became what it is today and to protect and preserve the natural habitats and environment.
References:
E.C. Pielou/Fresh Water
Kenneth J. Schoon/Calumet Beginnings
Inland Steel, now known as Arcelor Mittal Steel. It is located
on Lake Michigan in the Indiana Harbor of East Chicago.
Lakes of the Four Seasons, IN
Located on the border of Lake County and Porter County
BP Oil Refinery spill along Lake Michigan in Whiting IN.
Reference: g.com/images/search?q=bp+whiting+indiana
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