Editing Chesterton, Indiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = 
| official_name      = Chesterton, Indiana
| settlement_type    = Town
| image_blank_emblem = ChestertonINlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
| nickname           = 
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| image_skyline      = Main Street Bldg Chesterton IN 2012.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Calumet Ave, Downtown
| image_map          = File:Porter County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Chesterton Highlighted 1812412.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Chesterton in Porter County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| area_note          = 
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = [[Indiana]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Porter County, Indiana|Porter]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Townships]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana|Westchester]], [[Jackson Township, Porter County, Indiana|Jackson]], [[Liberty Township, Porter County, Indiana|Liberty]], [[Pine Township, Porter County, Indiana|Pine]]
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1833
| established_title1 = {{nowrap|[[Platted]]}}
| established_date1  = 1852
| established_title2 = {{nowrap|[[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]] (town)}}
| established_date2  = May 4, 1899
| government_type    = Town Council<ref>{{cite web |title=Town Council |url=http://www.chestertonin.org/217/Town-Council |website=Town of Chesterton, IN |access-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-date=May 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512225620/http://www.chestertonin.org/217/Town-Council |url-status=live }}</ref>
| leader_title       = President
| leader_name        = Sharon Darnell ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 4th)<ref name="chestertonin.org">{{cite web |url=http://chestertonin.org/217/Town-Council |title=Town Council &#124; Chesterton, IN - Official Website |access-date=June 18, 2020 |archive-date=June 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621200905/http://chestertonin.org/217/Town-Council |url-status=live }}</ref>
| leader_title1      = Council Members
| leader_name1       = James G. Ton([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 1st)<br/>Erin Collins ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 2nd)<br/>Dane Lafata ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 3rd)<br/>Jennifer Fisher ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 5th)<ref name="chestertonin.org"/>
| leader_title2      = Clerk-Treasurer
| leader_name2       = Courtney Udvare ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://chestertonin.org/138/Clerk-Treasurer |title=Clerk-Treasurer &#124; Chesterton, IN - Official Website }}</ref>
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 14241
| population_density_sq_mi = 1517.91
| population_density_km2 = 586.09
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_land_km2      = 24.30
| area_water_km2     = 0.29
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web |title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 16, 2022 |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318023320/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 24.59
| area_total_sq_mi   = 9.49
| area_land_sq_mi    = 9.38
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.11
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 643
| coordinates        = {{Wikidatacoord|Q3292506|region:US-IN_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 46304
| area_code          = [[Area code 219|219]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-12412<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=August 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807192146/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2396642<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396642 }}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| website            = {{URL|http://www.chestertonin.org/}}
}}
'''Chesterton''' is a town in [[Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana|Westchester]], [[Jackson Township, Porter County, Indiana|Jackson]] and [[Liberty Township, Porter County, Indiana|Liberty]] townships in [[Porter County, Indiana|Porter County]], in the U.S. state of [[Indiana]].<ref name=gnis/> The population was 14,241 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]]. The three towns of Chesterton, [[Burns Harbor, Indiana|Burns Harbor]], and [[Porter, Indiana|Porter]] are known as the [[Indiana Dunes|Duneland]] area.<ref>The cultural impact of a museum in a small community: The Hour Glass of Ogden Dunes. ''The Shouth Shore Journal'', 2, pp.&nbsp;16–28.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://southshorejournal.org/index.php/issues/volume-2-2007/82-journals/vol-2-2007/104-the-cultural-impact-of-a-museum-in-a-small-community-the-hour-glass-in-ogend-dunes |title=South Shore Journal - the Cultural Impact of a Museum in a Small Community: The Hour Glass in Ogden Dunes |access-date=July 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714172935/http://southshorejournal.org/index.php/issues/volume-2-2007/82-journals/vol-2-2007/104-the-cultural-impact-of-a-museum-in-a-small-community-the-hour-glass-in-ogend-dunes |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}</ref><ref>D. Smith, S. & Mark, S. (2006). Alice Gray, Dorothy Buell, and Naomi Svihla:Preservationists of Ogden Dunes. The South Shore Journal, 1, 15-21</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southshorejournal.org/index.php/issues/volume-1-2006/78-journals/vol-1-2006/117-alice-gray-dorothy-buell-and-naomi-svihla-preservationists-of-ogden-dunes |title=South Shore Journal - Alice Gray, Dorothy Buell, and Naomi Svihla: Preservationists of Ogden Dunes |access-date=June 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913013557/http://www.southshorejournal.org/index.php/issues/volume-1-2006/78-journals/vol-1-2006/117-alice-gray-dorothy-buell-and-naomi-svihla-preservationists-of-ogden-dunes |archive-date=September 13, 2012 }}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name Chesterton comes from [[Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana|its township]], with Chester deriving from Westchester and the -ton suffix denoting it as a town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Westchester Township History Museum |url=https://wpl.lib.in.us/westchester-township-history-museum/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=Westchester Public Library |date=June 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518222650/https://wpl.lib.in.us/westchester-township-history-museum/ |archive-date=May 18, 2020 }}</ref>

==History==
Chesterton was first settled under the name Coffee Creek in 1833, with its post office being established in 1835. The post office would eventually be renamed to Calumet in 1850, as which the town was [[plat]]ted when the railroad was extended to that point in 1852. Due to a town on the same railroad also being named Calumet, the name would finally be changed to Chesterton in 1870<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chesterton History |url=https://www.chestertonin.org/234/Chesterton-History |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=chestertonin.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220074326/http://www.chestertonin.org:80/234/Chesterton-History |archive-date=February 20, 2015 }}</ref> and it was reincorporated as a town in 1899 after a failed incorporation in 1869,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofporterc01lewi#page/376/mode/2up |title=History of Porter County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests |publisher=Lewis Publishing Company |year=1912 |page=189 }}</ref> with its population of 788 being the second-largest in Porter County at the time.<ref>{{cite book |author=Kenneth J. Schoon |title=Calumet Beginnings: Ancient Shorelines and Settlements at the South End of Lake Michigan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TFYOkm6OIGIC&pg=PA189 |year=2003 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=0-253-34218-X |page=189 }}</ref>

In 1933, a [[United Airlines NC13304]] flight became the first known, proven case of sabotage in an aircraft. It was downed by a nitroglycerine bomb above Chesterton on October 10, 1933. All 7 people aboard the aircraft—four passengers and a crew of three—were killed in the crash.<ref>{{Cite news |title=1933 Crash of United Airlines Trip 23 Boeing 247 NC13304 Part 01 of 01 |language=en-us |work=FBI |url=https://vault.fbi.gov/1993-crash-of-united-airlines-trip-23-boeing-247-nc13304/1933%20Crash%20of%20United%20Airlines%20Trip%2023%20Boeing%20247%20NC13304%20Part%2001%20of%2001/view |access-date=December 21, 2017 |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051631/https://vault.fbi.gov/1993-crash-of-united-airlines-trip-23-boeing-247-nc13304/1933%20Crash%20of%20United%20Airlines%20Trip%2023%20Boeing%20247%20NC13304%20Part%2001%20of%2001/view |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1962, [[United Tractor]] moved to the town.<ref>{{cite news |title=Facts Given on Porter, Chesterton |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/333435715 |access-date=July 23, 2021 |work=Vidette-Messenger |date=March 30, 1962 |page=31 |archive-date=July 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725011114/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/333435715/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
Just north of the town is [[Indiana Dunes State Park]] and [[Indiana Dunes National Park]]. Most of the town is flat. However, going south into the city on the Route 49 overpass, one can see the [[Valparaiso Moraine]] in the distance.

According to the 2010 census, Chesterton has a total area of {{convert|9.44|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|9.33|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 98.83%) is land and {{convert|0.11|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 1.17%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1812412 |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1 |access-date=July 14, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213054726/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1812412 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Chesterton, Indiana ([[Indiana Dunes State Park]]) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1989–present
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 66
| Feb record high F = 72
| Mar record high F = 85
| Apr record high F = 88
| May record high F = 95
| Jun record high F = 98
| Jul record high F = 102
| Aug record high F = 98
| Sep record high F = 96
| Oct record high F = 89
| Nov record high F = 77
| Dec record high F = 69
| year record high F = 102
| Jan high F = 32.1
| Feb high F = 35.5
| Mar high F = 45.6
| Apr high F = 57.2
| May high F = 68.4
| Jun high F = 77.5
| Jul high F = 81.6
| Aug high F = 80.0
| Sep high F = 74.3
| Oct high F = 62.3
| Nov high F = 48.7
| Dec high F = 37.4
| year high F = 58.4
| Jan mean F = 24.9
| Feb mean F = 28.3
| Mar mean F = 37.7
| Apr mean F = 48.4
| May mean F = 59.0
| Jun mean F = 68.5
| Jul mean F = 73.0
| Aug mean F = 71.6
| Sep mean F = 65.3
| Oct mean F = 53.5
| Nov mean F = 41.5
| Dec mean F = 30.8
| year mean F = 50.2
| Jan low F = 17.8
| Feb low F = 21.1
| Mar low F = 29.8
| Apr low F = 39.5
| May low F = 49.6
| Jun low F = 59.5
| Jul low F = 64.3
| Aug low F = 63.1
| Sep low F = 56.3
| Oct low F = 44.7
| Nov low F = 34.2
| Dec low F = 24.1
| year low F = 42.0
| Jan record low F = −22
| Feb record low F = −15
| Mar record low F = −4
| Apr record low F = 18
| May record low F = 31
| Jun record low F = 37
| Jul record low F = 45
| Aug record low F = 46
| Sep record low F = 35
| Oct record low F = 25
| Nov record low F = 9
| Dec record low F = −19
| year record low F = −22
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.21
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.97
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.34
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.55
| May precipitation inch = 4.27
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.31
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.98
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.08
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.65
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.75
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.76
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.29
| year precipitation inch = 39.16
| Jan snow inch = 16.0
| Feb snow inch = 9.7
| Mar snow inch = 6.0
| Apr snow inch = 0.6
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.7
| Dec snow inch = 7.3
| year snow inch = 40.3
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 12.6
| Feb precipitation days = 9.0
| Mar precipitation days = 10.9
| Apr precipitation days = 11.3
| May precipitation days = 12.3
| Jun precipitation days = 11.7
| Jul precipitation days = 9.7
| Aug precipitation days = 9.9
| Sep precipitation days = 9.6
| Oct precipitation days = 11.5
| Nov precipitation days = 10.6
| Dec precipitation days = 11.9
| year precipitation days = 131.0
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 8.4
| Feb snow days = 5.6
| Mar snow days = 3.4
| Apr snow days = 0.6
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.0
| Dec snow days = 5.7
| year snow days = 24.7
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=nws>{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lot |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-date=November 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040544/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lot |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=NCEI>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00124244&format=pdf |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Station: Indian Dunes NL, IN |work=U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212621/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00124244&format=pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Chesterton Indiana Indian Boundary Development.JPG|thumb|right|Indian Boundary, where [[Indiana State Road 49|SR 49]] and [[Interstate 94 in Indiana|I-94]] meet]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 488
|1890= 931
|1900= 788
|1910= 1400
|1920= 1604
|1930= 2231
|1940= 2470
|1950= 3175
|1960= 4335
|1970= 6177
|1980= 8531
|1990= 9124
|2000= 10488
|2010= 13068
|2020= 14241
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 6, 2013 |archive-date=April 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the census<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 11, 2012 |archive-date=August 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807192146/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> of 2010, there were 13,068 people, 5,029 households, and 3,554 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1400.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,354 housing units at an average density of {{convert|573.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 92.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.8% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.9% of the population.

There were 5,029 households, of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.3% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age in the town was 37.8 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2"/> of 2000, there were 10,488 people, 4,039 households, and 2,879 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,232.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,212 housing units at an average density of {{convert|494.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.29% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.44% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.21% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.37% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.51% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.16% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.31% of the population.

There were 4,039 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,530, and the median income for a family was $66,239. Males had a median income of $50,599 versus $28,300 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,539. About 3.1% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[Chesterton High School]], or CHS, serves the tri-town area. Chesterton High School operates Chesterton's only local radio station, [[WDSO]] 88.3.

Two private schools also operate in Chesterton: St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School and Fairhaven Baptist Academy.

In Chesterton, there are 5 public elementary schools. These are Liberty Elementary School, Bailly Elementary School, Yost Elementary School, Jackson Elementary School, and Brummitt Elementary School. These schools serve grades K-4. After 4th grade, students from Jackson and Liberty will move to Liberty Intermediate School for 5th and 6th grade. Students from Bailly, Yost, and Brummitt will move to Westchester Intermediate School for 5th and 6th grades.
After the 6th grade, all students from Liberty and Westchester will go to Chesterton Middle School for 7th and 8th grades. After 8th, students will move to Chesterton High School for their Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years.

The town has a lending library, the Westchester Public Library.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf |title=Indiana public library directory |publisher=Indiana State Library |access-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218220414/http://in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Media==
Chesterton has a local newspaper, the ''[[Chesterton Tribune]]'', which was first established in 1882 before shortly going out of business and later being resurrected in 1884. It had been published daily since 1961 before ceasing operations on December 30, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pete |first=Joseph S. |date=December 16, 2020 |title=Chesterton Tribune to Cease Print Newspaper After 136 Years |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/chesterton-tribune-to-cease-print-newspaper-after-136-years/article_a483054f-765e-5e99-a25d-f55f03cd1356.html |work=NWI Times |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219005826/https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/chesterton-tribune-to-cease-print-newspaper-after-136-years/article_a483054f-765e-5e99-a25d-f55f03cd1356.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, it was purchased by Hometown Media Inc. on March, 10th, 2021, becoming a twice-weekly, full color paper.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pete |first=Joseph S. |title=New owner to revive the 137-year-old Chesterton Tribune |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/new-owner-to-revive-the-137-year-old-chesterton-tribune/article_98ed5f87-8f89-5e75-9da4-4694026d446d.html |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=nwitimes.com |date=March 10, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320221823/https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/new-owner-to-revive-the-137-year-old-chesterton-tribune/article_98ed5f87-8f89-5e75-9da4-4694026d446d.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The town also is serviced by Chesterton's high school radio station, [[WDSO]], which provides local news in addition to its regular music programming.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chestertontribune.com/Local%20History/46119%20going_daily_citizenship_and_comm.htm |title=Going Daily Citizenship and community delivered every day |publisher=Chestertontribune.com |access-date=April 13, 2019 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718235840/http://chestertontribune.com/Local%20History/46119%20going_daily_citizenship_and_comm.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Transportation==
The [[South Shore Line (NICTD)|South Shore Line]], operated by the Northwest Indiana Commuter Transportation District, is headquartered in Chesterton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact |url=https://www.mysouthshoreline.com/contact |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=South Shore Line |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912174028/http://www.mysouthshoreline.com:80/contact |archive-date=September 12, 2016 }}</ref> The South Shore Line stops north of Chesterton at the [[Dune Park (NICTD)|Dune Park station]] with multiple trains per day to Chicago and South Bend. [[V-Line (bus)|V-Line]]'s Orange Line route stops near the South Shore station, indirectly connecting Chesterton to [[Valparaiso University]] on weekends.

==Culture==

===Festivals===
Chesterton was home to the annual [[Wizard of Oz festival|Wizard of Oz Festival]], established in 1982, which is the largest and most famous of its kind.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ozfestivalchesterton.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 17, 2009 |archive-date=April 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423025908/http://www.ozfestivalchesterton.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2006, former organizers Lakeshore Festivals and Events moved the event to the Porter County Expo Center in [[Valparaiso, Indiana]]. After 3 years, LFE discontinued the festival and it was brought home to Chesterton by the Duneland Business Initiative Group in 2009. The Duneland Business Initiative later rescinded their support of the festival in 2013.

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Chesterton, Indiana}}
* [[Jim Gaffigan]], standup comedian and actor
* [[Ron Kittle]], former Major League Baseball player
* [[Mitch McGary]], former professional basketball player
* [[Mickey Morandini]], former Major League Baseball player
* [[Zack Novak]], former NCAA (University of Michigan) and professional basketball player
* [[Matt Nover]], former professional basketball player and actor
* [[Blake Pieroni]], Gold medalist swimmer and current Indiana University swimmer
* [[Eddie Wineland]], professional MMA fighter (Bantamweight)
* [[Taylor Zakhar Perez]], actor

==Environmental amenities==

===Parkland===
Chesterton's park system includes several large public parks downtown and sports fields. The town is also served by the Porter County Park District and the nearby [[Indiana Dunes State Park]]. Several trails connect Chesterton with [[Porter, Indiana|Porter]] and [[Indiana Dunes National Park]] (which is connected to Indiana Dunes State Park).

===Coffee Creek===
Coffee Creek flows through an area that includes downtown Chesterton. The Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve includes a restored section of the creek and its associated wetland.

==Historic Preservation==
* [[Chesterton Commercial Historic District]]
* [[Chesterton Residential Historic District]]
* [[George Brown Mansion]]
* [[Norris and Harriet Coambs Lustron House]]
* [[New York Central Railroad Passenger Depot, Chesterton, Indiana]]
* [[Martin Young House]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chesterton, Indiana}}
* [http://www.chestertonin.org/ Town of Chesterton, Indiana website]

{{Porter County, Indiana}}
{{Chicagoland}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chicago metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Northwest Indiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Indiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Porter County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1833]]
[[Category:1852 establishments in Indiana]]