Gary is the largest city in Lake County, Indiana, USA. The city is located in the southeastern portion of Chicago metropolitan area and is approximately 25 miles from downtown Chicago. As of the 2006 census, the city had a total population of 97,715 and is the largest Indiana city that is not a county seat. It borders Lake Michigan and is known for its large steel mills and high crime rate. 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