Editing Calumet City, Illinois (section)

==History==
Calumet City (commonly referred to locally as "Cal City") was founded in 1893 when the villages of Schrumville and Sobieski Park merged under the name of West Hammond, since it lies on the west side of the Illinois-[[Indiana]] line from [[Hammond, Indiana]].<ref name="incorp"/>

In 1916, when alcohol was prohibited in [[Indiana]], West Hammond became a preferred location for drinkers coming from northwest Indiana.<ref name="keating-2008-120">{{cite book |last1=Keating |first1=Ann Durkin |title=Chicago Neighborhoods and Suburbs: A Historical Guide |date=2008 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago, IL |isbn=978-0226428833 |pages=120–121}}</ref> [[Rum-running|Bootlegger]]s including [[Al Capone]] built on this basis once the [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition era]] arrived, and West Hammond gained the nickname of "[[Sin City (description)|Sin City]]".<ref name="keating-2008-120"/>

West Hammond became known for illegal alcohol consumption, [[gambling]], and [[prostitution]].<ref name="keating-2008-120"/> In 1923, residents wishing to rid the city of its reputation voted to change the name from West Hammond to Calumet City.<ref name="keating-2008-120"/><ref name=Centennial/>

[[Frankie LaPorte|Frank LaPorte]] is believed to have been the member of the [[Chicago Outfit]] who was most responsible for developing and maintaining the "Sin Strip" area of Calumet City.<ref name="lombardo-2013-183">{{cite book |last1=Lombardo |first1=Robert M. |title=Organized Crime in Chicago: Beyond the Mafia |date=2013 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0252094484 |pages=183–184}}</ref> Police avoided Sin Strip and risked violence if they tried to make an arrest.<ref name="enquirer-1962-06-17">{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1962-06-17 |title=Glitter Fades: Calumet City's Sin Strip Loses to Suburban Respectability |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/46584091/calumet_city_1962/ |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date=2023-09-06 |quote=Everything was on sale in 'Sin Strip' and policemen stayed away from the row. Any officer who tried to make an arrest was generally asking for a beating up.}}</ref>

In 1959, the state of Illinois conducted a [[police raid]] that resulted in 98 arrests and the seizure of business records.<ref name="luzi-2012-79">{{cite book |last1=Luzi |first1=Matthew J. |title=The Boys in Chicago Heights: The Forgotten Crew of the Chicago Outfit |date=2012 |publisher=The History Press |location=Charleston, SC |isbn=978-1609497330 |page=79}}</ref> An article published in ''[[Chicago Daily News]]'' on June 2, 1959, exposed LaPorte as being instrumental in the illegal activities in Calumet City.<ref name="luzi-2012-79"/>

In 1995, the city began demolishing bars and taverns in the "Sin Strip" area.<ref name="tribune-1995-07-18">{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1995-07-18 |title=Redemption is Near for Calumet City's 'Sin Strip' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-07-18-9507180124-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, IL |access-date=2023-09-02}}</ref><ref name="tribune-1995-09-12">{{cite news |last1=Penn |first1=Mary Sue |date=1995-09-12 |title=City Levels Tavern in 'Sin Strip' Area |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-09-12-9509120122-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, IL |access-date=2023-09-02}}</ref>