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Miller Beach

Miller Beach
Neighborhood
A man and woman talking on a beach under a blue sky with white clouds, with crowds of beach-goers in the background.
The Lake Street Beach in Northwestern Miller Beach.
Location within the city of Gary
Location within the city of Gary
Coordinates (Miller Town Hall): 41°36′04″N 87°15′40″W / 41.601°N 87.261°W / 41.601; -87.261Coordinates: 41°36′04″N 87°15′40″W / 41.601°N 87.261°W / 41.601; -87.261
Country  United States
State  Indiana
County Lake County
City Gary
First settled 1851
Incorporated 1907
Annexed by Gary 1918
Area
 • Land 15.17 km2 (5.86 sq mi)
 • Water 4.45 km2 (1.72 sq mi)
Population (2000)
 • Total 9,900
Demonym(s)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 46403
Area code(s) 219

Miller Beach (also commonly known as Miller) is a neighborhood of Gary, Indiana on the southernmost shore of Lake Michigan. First settled in 1851, Miller Beach was originally an independent town. However, the "Town of Miller" was eventually annexed by the then flourishing city of Gary in 1918. Located in the northeastern corner of Lake County, Indiana, the former town is now known as "The Miller Beach Community." Miller Beach borders Lake Michigan to the north, Porter County to the east, and is largely surrounded by protected lands, including the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Miller Beach is also the closest beach/resort community to Chicago, and has been a popular vacation spot since the early 20th century. As of the 2000 US census, it had a population of 9,900.

Home to some of the world's most threatened ecosystems, Miller Beach contains a high proportion of legally protected land. Miller encompasses the westernmost part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the United States National Park system., which includes the Miller Woods and Long Lake areas. The Indiana Dunes' West Beach area lies immediately to the east of Miller Beach. The entire shoreline of Miller is public beachfront. Miller's large lakefront park, Marquette Park, is a national landmark containing architecturally significant and historic structures, two bronze sculptures and the location of early experiments in aviation which predate the Wright Brothers flights. Less than an hour from downtown Chicago by car, Miller Beach has attracted Chicagoans as tourists and residents for more than a century. The most affluent area within the municipal boundaries of Gary, Miller Beach contains multiple business districts,Including the Miller Beach Arts and Creative District, a robust civil society, and numerous public and charter schools. The community is within a mile of exits on four major interstates, and is also served by South Shore Line commuter trains. Having defied regional trends toward racial polarization and environmental degradation, Miller Beach exhibits extraordinary socioeconomic, racial and bio diversity. The community has been described as "an island of integration and natural beauty".


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Wikipedia

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