Comprehensive Regional Plan - Northwestern Indiana Regional ...

2040 CRP Summary / Growth and Conservation
FACING REALITY / GROWTH AND CONSERVATION
While our vision for the future embraces renewal, the fact
remains today that our core urban communities, such as
Gary, Hammond, East Chicago and Michigan City, continue to
lose population and jobs. A historical trend of high vacancy
rates in our core downtown districts continues to hinder
revitalization. An urgent need remains to counter this trend
and spark investor confidence where it once flourished.
10.0%
9.0%
8.0%
7.0%
6.0%
5.0%
4.0%
Growth in Population and Total Housing Units
by Decade 1990-2010
9.4%
4.2% 4.1%
8.4%
People
Total Units
14
Historical growth patterns indicate that, without action,
the unincorporated areas of the region will continue to lose
their rural character and further the spread of unsustainable
sprawl. More than 20 percent of the region’s population
resides in unincorporated areas. In Porter and LaPorte
counties, approximately 40 percent of the population
resides in unincorporated areas. Between 1992 and 2006,
total land developed in the unincorporated areas of the
region grew by 125 percent. Besides this, present trends
forecast that job centers will remain in the urbanized areas
of the region.
3.0%
2.0%
1.0%
0.0%
1980
751,413
1990-2000 2000-2010
2010
771,815
2040
941,815
Unless we are able to keep development close to
our existing population centers, we will continue
to consume valuable natural resources, open
space and agricultural land and further degrade
our quality of life.
1950
485,036
Northwest Indiana Population Change
1900 - 2040
1920
230,656