Gary [gair-ee, gar-ee]

Gary

[gair-ee, gar-ee]
Cooper, Gary, 1901-61, American film actor, b. Helena, Mont., as Frank James Cooper. His first important starring role in A Farewell to Arms (1933) was followed by such films as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Pride of the Yankees (1942), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943), and Saratoga Trunk (1944). Best known to his public as the shy, lanky man of the West, he won Academy Awards for his performances in Sergeant York (1941) and High Noon (1952), in which his portrayal of the strong, silent sheriff became emblematic of the Western hero. His later films include Vera Cruz (1954), Friendly Persuasion (1956), and They Came to Cordura (1959).

See biography by J. Meyers (1998).

Becker, Gary, 1930-, American economist. A professor at the Univ. of Chicago, he was awarded the 1992 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for extending the scope of microeconomic analysis. Sociology, demography, criminology, and other areas of market and nonmarket behavior are included in his work.
Gary, Elbert Henry, 1846-1927, American lawyer and industrialist, b. near Wheaton, Ill., grad. Union College of Law, Chicago, 1868. Rising rapidly as a corporation lawyer, he became mayor of Wheaton and served two terms as county judge—afterward he was always known as Judge Gary. His able organization of the American Steel and Wire Company prepared the way for J. Pierpont Morgan to entrust him with the organization of the Federal Steel Company in 1898 and in 1901 with the organization of the U.S. Steel Corp. As chairman of the board of directors, Gary was the dominant personality in the corporation until his death. He closely directed its physical expansion and aided in founding the steel town, Gary, Ind. (named for him). He adopted a policy of management cooperation in the industry, and out of his noted "Gary dinners," where policy was discussed and informal agreements were reached, grew the American Iron and Steel Institute. In 1919 the Supreme Court ended the efforts of the U.S. government to dissolve the corporation as a monopoly. Gary believed in high wages, promoted welfare and safety measures for employees, and introduced a scheme of employee stock ownership. He was, however, adamantly opposed to recognizing labor unions and insisted on the open shop. This policy and the notoriously long hours in the steel industry helped to bring on the bitter steel strike of 1919. It failed, but Gary later, under pressure of public opinion, shortened the working hours.

See biography by I. Tarbell (1925, repr. 1969).

Gary, Romain, 1914-80, French novelist, b. Vilna, of Russian parentage. Gary's original name was Romain Kacev. In France after 1928, he fought in World War II and later entered the diplomatic service. He won acclaim for L'Éducation européenne (1945, tr. 1960), concerning the pain of war. The Roots of Heaven (1956, tr. 1958) reflects his passion for wildlife conservation. His other works include The Talent Scout (1960, tr. 1961), the autobiographical Promise at Dawn (1960, tr. 1961), and White Dog (1970, tr. 1972). In his last novel, King Solomon (1980, tr. 1983), written under the pseudonym Emile Agar, the despair evident in much of his work is unleavened by his usual wit. A year after the suicide of his actress wife, Jean Seberg, he himself committed suicide.
Gary, city (1990 pop. 116,646), Lake co., NW Ind., a port of entry on Lake Michigan; inc. 1909. Gary was founded by the U.S. Steel Corporation, which purchased the land in 1905 and landscaped it for a city. In 1908 the first blast furnace was lit to begin the vast lakefront steel complex that was to dominate U.S. steel production and become one of the world's greatest steel centers. Gary steelworkers were especially active in the nationwide steel strike of 1919, when federal troops occupied the city for several months. In the 1970s and 80s the city's steel industry declined dramatically, leading to large-scale plant closings and high unemployment. There is still some iron and steel processing, Manufactures also include tin, steel, and paper products; beverages; medical supplies; consumer and dairy goods; and apparel. Indiana Univ. Northwest is in Gary. The city has an airport and a civic center, and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is nearby (see National Parks and Monuments (table)).
Snyder, Gary, 1930-, American poet, b. San Francisco. Associated with the beat generation of the 1950s, he lived (1956-68) in Japan, where he trained as a Zen monk. His poetry, influenced by Zen Buddhism and by Native American culture, celebrates the peace found in nature and decries its destruction; volumes include Myths and Texts (1960), Turtle Island (1974; Pulitzer Prize), Axe Handles (1983), No Nature: New and Selected Poems (1992), the epic Mountains and Rivers without End (1996, repr. 2008), and Danger on Peaks (2004). Snyder has written numerous essays, and his influential treatise Four Changes (1969) is an early expression of the environmental movement. He taught (1986-2001) at the Univ. of California, Davis.

See his Look Out: A Selection of Writings (2002); studies by K. White (1975), B. Steuding (1976), B. Almon (1979), C. Molesworth (1983), T. Dean (1991), P. D. Murphy, ed. (1990) and as author (1991 and 2000), R. Schuler (1994), and T. Gray (2006).

Kasparov, Gary, 1963-, Armenian chess player, b. Azerbaijan (then in the USSR) as Garri Kimovich Wainshtein. He became the world junior champion at the age of 16 and was International Chess Federation (FIDE) champion from 1985 to 1993. His first title match (Sept., 1984-Feb., 1985) against Anatoly Karpov was the longest in chess history. After 48 games, the psychological and physical strain on Karpov, who was leading but appeared likely to lose, caused chess authorities to end the match inconclusively amid controversy. Kasparov won a rematch six months later, becoming the youngest world champion ever. He defended his title against Karpov in 1986, 1987, and 1990.

In 1993 Kasparov broke with FIDE and formed the rival Professional Chess Association, becoming its champion. In 1996 he became the first world champion to lose to a computer in a game played with time controls, but he won the match. In 1997, however, the computer, IBM's "Deep Blue," defeated him in a rematch (see also artificial intelligence). In 2000, Kasparov lost a match and his widely recognized status as the world's best chess master to his onetime protégé, the 25-year-old Russian Vladimir Kramnik, but he subsequently was again regarded as the world's top player. A 2003 match with the chess program "Deep Junior" ended in a tie. One of the game's greatest players, Kasparov retired from professional chess in 2005 and has since devoted himself to political activities related to promoting democracy in Russia. He became a candidate for the Russian presidency in 2007 but was barred from running because he had not been nominated by a registered political party; he subsequently withdrew, suggesting that attempts to meet the alternative requirements were frustrated by government interference. In 2008 he joined with other liberal opposition leaders to form the Solidarity party.

See his autobiography, World of Change (1987).

(born May 8, 1930, San Francisco, Calif., U.S.) U.S. poet. Snyder worked as a forest ranger, logger, and seaman and studied Zen Buddhism in Japan (1958–66). His poetry, early identified with the Beat movement, is rooted in ancient, natural, and mythic experience. It initially contained images drawn from his outdoor work in the Pacific Northwest and later reflected his interest in Eastern philosophies. His volumes include Turtle Island (1974, Pulitzer Prize), Mountains and Rivers Without End (1996, Bollingen Prize), and Danger on Peaks (2004). From the late 1960s he was an important spokesman for communal living and ecological activism.

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(born Oct. 8, 1846, near Wheaton, Ill., U.S.—died Aug. 15, 1927, New York, N.Y.) U.S. businessman, chief organizer of the U.S. Steel Corp. He began practicing law in 1871, becoming an authority on corporate law, and he served as judge of DuPage County, Ill. (1882–90). In 1898 he became president of Federal Steel Co.; when Federal merged with other companies to become U.S. Steel Corp. in 1901, Gary was elected chairman of the board of directors. As chief executive officer for 26 years, he presided over its growth and development. He promoted profit sharing, higher wages, and better working conditions, but he was a firm opponent of unions. Gary, Ind., named in his honour, was laid out in 1906 by U.S. Steel.

Learn more about Gary, Elbert H(enry) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born May 8, 1930, San Francisco, Calif., U.S.) U.S. poet. Snyder worked as a forest ranger, logger, and seaman and studied Zen Buddhism in Japan (1958–66). His poetry, early identified with the Beat movement, is rooted in ancient, natural, and mythic experience. It initially contained images drawn from his outdoor work in the Pacific Northwest and later reflected his interest in Eastern philosophies. His volumes include Turtle Island (1974, Pulitzer Prize), Mountains and Rivers Without End (1996, Bollingen Prize), and Danger on Peaks (2004). From the late 1960s he was an important spokesman for communal living and ecological activism.

Learn more about Snyder, Gary (Sherman) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Frank James Cooper

(born May 7, 1901, Helena, Mont., U.S.—died May 13, 1961, Los Angeles, Calif.) U.S. film actor. He moved to Hollywood in 1924 and played minor roles in low-budget westerns before becoming a star with The Virginian (1929). Lanky and handsome, he played the strong, soft-spoken man of action in films such as A Farewell to Arms (1932), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Beau Geste (1939), Meet John Doe (1941), Sergeant York (1941, Academy Award), and The Fountainhead (1949). His performance in High Noon (1952, Academy Award) is considered his finest. His later films include Friendly Persuasion (1956) and Love in the Afternoon (1957).

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City (pop., 2000: 102,746), northwestern Indiana, U.S. Located at the southern end of Lake Michigan, it was laid out by the U.S. Steel Corp. in 1906. Gary prospered until a decline in the steel industry in the 1980s led to plant closings. City revitalization efforts were introduced in the 1990s. It was the scene, in the early 20th century, of a development in public education when William A. Wirt (b. 1874—d. 1938) established the work-study-play school, popularly known as the platoon school.

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(born Oct. 8, 1846, near Wheaton, Ill., U.S.—died Aug. 15, 1927, New York, N.Y.) U.S. businessman, chief organizer of the U.S. Steel Corp. He began practicing law in 1871, becoming an authority on corporate law, and he served as judge of DuPage County, Ill. (1882–90). In 1898 he became president of Federal Steel Co.; when Federal merged with other companies to become U.S. Steel Corp. in 1901, Gary was elected chairman of the board of directors. As chief executive officer for 26 years, he presided over its growth and development. He promoted profit sharing, higher wages, and better working conditions, but he was a firm opponent of unions. Gary, Ind., named in his honour, was laid out in 1906 by U.S. Steel.

Learn more about Gary, Elbert H(enry) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Frank James Cooper

(born May 7, 1901, Helena, Mont., U.S.—died May 13, 1961, Los Angeles, Calif.) U.S. film actor. He moved to Hollywood in 1924 and played minor roles in low-budget westerns before becoming a star with The Virginian (1929). Lanky and handsome, he played the strong, soft-spoken man of action in films such as A Farewell to Arms (1932), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Beau Geste (1939), Meet John Doe (1941), Sergeant York (1941, Academy Award), and The Fountainhead (1949). His performance in High Noon (1952, Academy Award) is considered his finest. His later films include Friendly Persuasion (1956) and Love in the Afternoon (1957).

Learn more about Cooper, Gary with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Gary is the largest city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is located in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is approximately 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population was 102,746 at the 2000 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state and the largest city statewide that was not a county seat. Gary was once the second largest city in Indiana, a position now relinquished to Fort Wayne. It borders Lake Michigan and is known for its large steel mills, high crime rate, and liberal political leaning, with one study rating it the second-most liberal city in the United States.

History

The city was founded in 1906 by the United States Steel Corporation as the home for its new plant. The city was named after the chairman of U.S. Steel, Elbert H. Gary.

Among U.S. cities with a population of 100,000 or more, Gary has the highest percentage of African-American residents (as of the 2000 U.S. census). Gary had one of the nation's first African-American mayors, Richard G. Hatcher, and hosted the ground-breaking 1972 National Black Political Convention. At the same time, Gary suffered from many affluent and middle-class residents leaving Gary and relocating to the surrounding towns and cities. Because of the loss of jobs in the city, many people left the area altogether for regions with employment.

Gary's fortunes have risen and fallen with those of the steel industry. In the 1960s, like many other American urban centers, Gary entered a downward spiral of decline. Gary's decline was brought on by the growing competitiveness in the steel industry, which had caused U.S. Steel to layoff many workers from the Gary area. Crime increased, including use and trade in illegal drugs.

U.S. Steel continues to be a major steel producer, but with only a fraction of its former level of employment. While Gary has failed to re-establish a manufacturing base since its population peak, two casinos opened along the Gary lakeshore in the 1990s. Today, Gary faces numerous difficulties, including unemployment, major economic problems, and a high rate of crime, though the city has made some progress in addressing these issues since the 1990s.

Meredith Willson's 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man featured the song, Gary, Indiana, describing Gary Conservatory as the alleged alma mater of lead character Professor Harold Hill ("Gary Music Conservatory, Class of '05!"). The joke in Hill's claim, of course, is that the City of Gary wasn't founded until 1906. Wilson's musical, set in 1912, later was the basis of a theatrical film (1962) and a made-for-television film (2003).

Recent history

Three-term Democratic Mayor Scott King resigned from office in March, 2006, citing a desire to return to private law practice, and the financial rewards involved therein. Then-deputy mayor and former Calumet Township Trustee Dozier T. Allen Jr. became acting mayor, pending a formal election by local Democratic party officials. On April 4, 2006, local officials chose former Lake County Commissioner and King rival Rudolph Clay to fill the remaining 21 months of King's term.

After celebrating its 100th year in 2006, the city of Gary finally shows evidence of rebound from years of economic depression. Many buildings that have been left vacant for years are now finally slated for demolition and development. Many new homes have been built through the HOPE VI grant from HUD.

The Gary Chicago International Airport has recently secured nearly 100 million dollars in grants and private donations. The FAA approved GYY's master plan which includes the expansion of runways, land acquistition for a larger terminal, an integrated transportation center, and provision for a third runway. The first part of the plan requires that the EJ&E line, which runs at the end of the runway, be relocated.

After being at the top (or very near the top) of the list a few times, Gary was rated the 17th most dangerous city in the United States according to Morgan Quitno's 2007 analysis of crime rates (City Crime Rankings, 14th Edition), down from 10th highest in the 2006 edition. This is indicative of the progress Gary has made in reducing crime since the 1990s. The city recorded 51 homicides in 2006, a 13.5 percent decrease from the previous year. In 2007, Gary had 71 homicides — almost a 40 percent increase over 2006.

Dallas-based HomeVestors of America released their "Top 10 Markets for Real Estate Investing" list on 9 December, 2006. Gary earned the number one position on this list, which represents activity of investors who purchase homes below market and then sell. Also, Forbes Magazine recently listed Gary 39th on their Top 100 Best Cities for Jobs in 2008. The ranking was up from 89th in 2006 and 84th in 2007.

In March, 2008 the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief and a police sergeant were all indicted by the federal court for violating the civil rights of a Gary resident.

Geography

Gary is located at (41.580786, -87.345449). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 57.2 square miles (148.3 km²), of which, 50.2 square miles (130.1 km²) of it is land and 7.0 square miles (18.2 km²) of it (12.25%) is water. The city sits on the southern end of the former lake bed of the prehistoric Lake Chicago, and the current Lake Michigan. Most of the city's soil nearly one foot below the surface is pure sand. The sand beneath Gary, and on its beaches, is of such high quality that in years past it was mined for the manufacture of glass.

Gary is "T" shaped, with its northern border on Lake Michigan. At the Northwesternmost section Gary borders Hammond and East Chicago. The town of Miller Beach, considered by Gary to be its easternmost neighborhood, borders Lake Station and Portage. Gary's southernmost section borders Hobart and Merrillville.

Climate

Gary, like Chicago, has a variable climate. In July and August, the warmest months, high temperatures average 84 °F (29 °C) and peak just above 100 °F (38 °C) and low temperatures average 63 °F (17 °C). In January and February, the coldest months, high temperatures average around 29 °F (-2 °C) and low temperatures average 13 °F (-11 °C), with at least a few days of temperatures dipping below 0 °F (-18 °C). The weather of Gary is greatly regulated by its proximity to Lake Michigan, as it sits at the lake's southernmost point. Weather varies yearly. Tornadoes strike annually, though the city has generally avoided major damage. In summer months Gary is quite humid. The city's yearly precipitation averages about 40 inches. Summer is the rainiest season, with rainfall of short duration and very loud, drawn-out thunderstorms. Winters vary but are predominantly snowy with regular blizzards. Snowfall in Gary can average 24 to 36 inches per winter, but sometimes large blizzards hit because of "lake effect snow," a phenomenon wherein large amounts of water evaporated from the lake deposits onto the shoreline areas inordinate amounts of snow.

Climate Chart

Demographics

City of Gary
Population by year
1900 N/A
1910 15,802
1920 55,378
1930 100,666
1940 111,719
1950 133,911
1960 178,320
1970 175,415
1980 144,953
1990 116,646
2000 102,746
2006 97,715

As of the census of 2000, there were 102,746 people, 38,244 households, and 25,623 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,045.5 people per square mile (789.8/km²). There were 43,630 housing units at an average density of 868.6/sq mi (335.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.03% African American, 11.92% White, 0.21% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.97% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. 4.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 38,244 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.2% were married couples living together, 30.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,195, and the median income for a family was $32,205. Males had a median income of $34,992 versus $24,432 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,383. About 22.2% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.9% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Neighborhoods

Aetna is located on Gary's far east side along the Dunes Highway. Aetna was developed in the 1930s and is home to an impressive collection of art deco architecture. The eastern edge of Aetna is marked by wilderness and borders Miller Beach and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Ambridge is located on Gary's near west side along 5th Avenue. Ambridge was developed for workers at the nearby steel plant in the 1910s and 1920's, and is named after the American Bridge Works, which was a subsidiary of U.S. Steel. The neighborhood is home to a huge stock of prairie style and art deco homes. The Gary Masonic Temple is located in the neighborhood along with the Ambassador Apartment building. Located just south of Interstate 90, the neighborhood can be seen while passing Buchanan Street.

Black Oak is located on the far southwest side of Gary, in the vicinity of the Burr Street exit to the Borman Expressway. It was annexed in the 1970s. Prior to that was associated with Hammond, and the area has Hammond telephone numbers. The community was convinced by Mayor Hatcher that they would benefit from better services provided by the city, than those through the county.

Brunswick is located on Gary's far west side. The neighborhood is located just south of Interstate 90 and can be seen from the expressway. The Brunswick area includes the old Tri-City Plaza shopping center on West 5th Avenue (U.S. 20). The area is located just south of the Gary Chicago International Airport.

Downtown is the heart of Gary and is home to a number of office buildings. Interstate 90 divides downtown Gary from the United States Steel Plant. Downtown Gary was developed in the 1920s and houses several pieces of impressive architecture, including several structures designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. A new office building was constructed in the downtown in recent years, as was a new baseball stadium for the Gary SouthShore RailCats. A significant number of older structures have been demolished in recent years, but a number of abandoned buildings remain in the downtown area, including historic structures like Gary's Union Station and City Methodist Church.

Glen Park is located on Gary's south side, made up mostly of mid-twentieth century houses. Glen Park is divided from the remainder of the city by the Borman Expressway. The northern portion of Glen Park is home to Gary's Gleason Park Golf Course and the campus of Indiana University Northwest. The far western portion of Glen Park is home to the Village Shopping Center.

Ivanhoe was a housing project located on Gary's west side along 11th Avenue west of Chase Street. Closed in the summer of 2007, the facility was "sealed off" by a chain link fence.

Marshalltown is a subdivision located on Gary's east side along Central Avenue and 21st Avenue to the east of Martin Luther King Drive. One of the newest neighborhoods in Gary, it was also one of the last to begin a conversion to subsidized residency.

Midtown is located to the south of Downtown Gary, along Broadway.

Miller Beach also known through the years as Miller Station or just simply as Miller, is a neighborhood on Gary's far east side. The original town of Miller predated the city of Gary by more than half a century. Miller developed around the old stagecoach stop and train station known, as early as the 1840s, as Miller's Junction. Miller Town Hall stands on the corner of Grand Boulevard and Miller Avenue at Old Hobart Road. The Historic Miller Schoolhouse, no longer used, still stands in Miller on Lake Street near the Miller South Shore train station.

Tarrytown is a subdivision located on Gary's west side between Whitcomb Street and Clark Road.

Tolleston is one of Gary's oldest neighborhoods, predating much of the rest of the city. It was named for an old settlement along the railroads of the area. The area is to the west of downtown Gary and south of the Ambridge area.

Westbrook is an apartment complex on the west side of the city between Taft and Chase Streets, adjacent to the old Pennsylvania Railroad tracks, and the neighborhood surrounding that complex. It lies just to the north of Tolleston.

Education

The city of Gary has had a checkered history when it comes to education. As a result, test scores have fallen well below the national average of late. In response, multiple charter schools have been founded throughout the city as an alternative to the public schools. Since that time student performance has improved and the Gary Community School Corporation has built new elementary schools.

Primary/secondary education

There are three school districts serving the city as well as multiple charter schools located within the city.

Most public schools in Gary are administered by the Gary Community School Corporation. The other public schools within the city are administered by Lake Ridge Schools Corporation. Some Gary residents in the outskirts attend schools administered by the River Forest Community School Corporation.

Charters:

Higher education

Gary is home to two regional state college campuses:

Media

  • Newspapers — Gary is served by two major newspapers based outside the city, as well as a Gary-based, largely African-American interest paper. These papers provide regional topics, and cover events in Gary.
    • Post-Tribune, which was originally located in Gary. Offices and facilities for the Post-Tribune are now based in Merrillville, a suburb of Gary.
    • The Times, previously known as the Hammond Times. Offices and facilities for The Times are in nearby Munster.
    • The Gary Crusader, based in Gary and largely focused on black or African-American interests and readership.
  • Broadcast — Gary is served by five local broadcasters plus government access and numerous Chicago area radio and Chicago TV stations, and by other nearby stations in Illinois and Indiana.
    • W18AT (Channel 18) a repeater of WHME of South Bend, a LeSEA affiliate.
    • WPWR (Channel 50) is the Chicago My Network TV affiliate, but is licensed to Gary. Studios and transmitters are co-located with WFLD's in Chicago, and like WFLD, WPWR is owned by Fox Television Stations.
    • WYIN (Channel 56) is a PBS affiliate licensed to Gary. Their studios are in Merrillville.
    • WGVE (FM 88.7) is owned by the Gary Community School Corporation, and is used primarily as a teaching facility. Programming is maintained by students in the broadcast program at the Gary Career Center. WGVE also carries limited NPR programming.
    • WLTH (AM 1370) carries syndicated talk programming, and is owned by Pluria Marshall Jr.
    • WWCA (AM 1270) is presently a Relevant Radio owned-and-operated radio station, carrying programming from the Catholic-oriented Relevant Radio network.

Sports

The following sports franchises are based in Gary:

Parks

Transportation

Notable people

Entertainment

Sports

Academic, science and technology

Politics and law

Other fields

Sister City

See also

Notes

External links

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