| 1850 |
Early census records show that 97 residents call North Township home. A stagecoach stop named "The Gibson Inn" opens on the Michigan Central Railroad, that site will later become one of the nation's largest railroad freight yards. |
| 1851 |
Ernest and Caroline Hohman purchase 39 acres of land along the north bank of the Grand Calumet River, which included a cabin and toll bridge. The cost $262.50. |
| 1853 |
William and Louisa Sohl migrate north from Crown Point to land on the south side of the Grand Calumet River near the Hohmans. Michigan Central Railroad's tracks now reach the city of Chicago. Just south of "Gibson" a grocery store/post office is opened by Joseph Hess. |
| 1854 |
A Chicago civil engineer named George W. Clark starts buying land in Lake County. Before his death in 1866 he acquires almost 20,000 acres. Jacob Rimbach moves to Hammond and starts working for the Michigan Central Railroad, he invests in real estate and makes his fortune. |
| 1858 |
Gottlieb Muenich sells the property he owns in the Chicago Loop and moves to what is now the Hessville section of the city. |
| 1863 |
Early settlers open the city's first school located near the Hohman Inn. |
| 1869 |
A group of businessmen, George H. Hammond, Marcus Towle, George Plummer, and Caleb Ives form the G. H. Hammond Company and then open the State Line Slaughter House. The Plant is situated on 42 acres along the Grand Calumet River between the state line and Calumet Avenue. A log cabin school in "Hessville" is replaced by "The Little Red School House". |
| 1872 |
Thomas Hammond, George Hammond's brother arrives and begins to manage the sausage and tripe production line at the packing plant. |
| 1873 |
At the flip of a coin the unincorporated area known as "State Line" officially becomes known as Hammond. The northeast corner of Hohman and State is now home to the area's first bakery. |
| 1874 |
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built. |
| 1875 |
The city's first major structure "Centennial Hall" is built at the corner of Hohman Avenue and Plummer Street. A two room schoolhouse at Hohman Avenue and Truman Streets opens to 2 teachers and 68 students. |
| 1878 |
Pennsylvania Railroad built. |
| 1879 |
The first successful shipment of dressed beef from the G. H. Hammond Packing Plant to Great Britain, opens up a new major maker for it's products. Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church is built on land donated by Caroline Hohman. |
| 1880 |
Federal census records report that 699 residents now reside in the area. Hohman & State Line Avenues, Fayette, Douglas and Ogden Street are platted out. Hammond's first newspaper the "Western Indiana Tribune" later to become "The Times" is founded. The Erie Railroad now passes through Hammond. |
| 1881 |
Hohman Opera House opens for business. The "Western Indiana Tribune" is sold and renamed the "Hammond Tribune". The six room Central School opens at Hohman Avenue and Fayette Street. |
1882 |
P. H. Mueller & Sons opens a hardware store on Hohman Avenue. Saint Paul's Lutheran Church and the First Methodist Church both open. New York, Chicago & Saint Louis Railroad (renamed the Nickel Plate) now pass through the city. |
1883 |
The town of Hammond is born in December. |
1884 |
Residents incorporate the town. On April 21st, it's official, the city of Hammond is born. Marcus Towle becomes the city's first mayor. Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railway (later to become the Monon) make their way through the city. Hammond High School opens in the former Central School Building. |
| 1885 |
Each week 3,000 head of cattle are processed at the Hammond plant. The ever growing company now owns more than 800 refrigerator and freight cars. The Hammond Dairy opens, later purchased in 1930 by the Borden Company. A watch repair & jewelry shop is opened on Hohman Avenue by Alvah Curtis Roebuck. |
| 1886 |
George H. Hammond dies at the young age of 48. The city first bank "The First National Bank" opens. The city's first cemetery "Oakhill Cemetery" is founded, the burial place for many of the city's first settlers. |
| 1887 |
Central Park purchased by the city. Hammond issues it's first city bonds to help fund a municipal well. Alvah Roebuck leaves the city, answering an ad for Richard Sears, who is in need of a watch repairman. Later they form the Sears & Roebuck Company. Lincoln School opens. The First Baptist Church is founded. |
| 1888 |
A shipping channel project is started along the Grand Calumet River, but because of silt and packinghouse wastes it is quickly abandoned in 1895. Thomas Hammond is elected the city's second mayor. The First Congregational Church on Hohman Avenue opens. The First Christian Church is built on Indiana Street. |
| 1890 |
Hammond now has 5,248 citizens. Edward C. Minas, a clerk at Marcus Towle's general store, opens his own hardware store. The city's attempt to become the county seat is blocked by south Lake County and LaPorte County legislators. Saint Casimir's Catholic Church is founded. Riverside School opens at Calumet Avenue and Truman Street. Lafayette School (East Side School) opens at the corner of Calumet Avenue and Sibley Street. |
| 1891 |
50 plus daily passenger trains via 8 railroads make stops in the city. A new state law formally recognizes Hammond as a municipal corporation. |
| 1892 |
Hammond Electric Railway Company is granted a city franchise. Wabash Railroad Established. |
| 1893 |
Hammond Electric Railway merges to form the Hammond, Whiting & East Chicago Railway. In an effort to help alleviate inadequate water supplies, Hammond tries and fails to annex land between Whiting's Crossing and the state line. |
| 1894 |
Hammond City School Board is formed and takes responsibility for public education within the city limits. Again the city tries and fails to annex land between Whiting's Crossing and the state line. A new Central High School is built at the same location of the old one. One person is killed in the violent Pullman Strike which originated in Illinois. |
| 1895 |
Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties are now served by the newly formed Superior Court District located in Hammond. |
| 1896 |
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad begins operation. All Saints Roman Catholic Church building opens for services.With 3 letter carriers, home mail delivery begins in the city. |
| 1897 |
Saint John's Roman Catholic Church opens. |
| 1898 |
Harrison Park purchased by the city. Saint Margaret Hospital opens on Clinton Street. W. B. Conkey Printing Company, in its day one of the largest book manufacturers locates within the city. It employs 1,000 workers. A new Lafayette School building at the same location. |
| 1899 |
Post #485 Hammond Elks Lodge opens on May 26th. |
| 1900 |
First natural gas turned on in the city. Douglas Park purchased by the city. Washington School building opens on Williams Street. Census records show that the city now has a population of 12,376. An increase of 128% in just 10 years. |
| 1901 |
A fire destroys the Hammond Packing House leaving 1,800 workers unemployed. Construction begins on the Chicago & Indiana Air Line Railway (now the South Shore Line) but service doesn't begin until 1908. |
| 1902 |
Franklin School opens to teachers and students. Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad joins the cities railways. |
| 1903 |
The city's Lake Front Park is dedicated. Water from Lake Michigan is now pumped into city homes. Horse-drawn steam pumpers now equip all 4 of the city's fire stations. Hohman Avenue and Rimbach Street is now home to the new Superior Court House. |
| 1905 |
The Carnegie Foundation builds an impressive public library building in Central Park (Michigan Street and Hohman Avenue). Edward C. Minas Department Store opens on State Street. |
| 1906 | The city's first large office building "The Hammond Building" is constructed in the downtown. Wilson School opens. Masonic Temple opens a majestic building on the corner of Muenich Court and Ann Street. "Hammond Times" founded. |
| 1907 |
Federal building constructed at State Street and Oakley Avenue at a cost of $160,000. |
| 1908 |
South Shore Railroad service begins. |
| 1910 |
The city's population now stands at 20,925. The city purchases 118 acres of land for use as Morris Park (Now known as Columbia Park). Annexation fever breaks out, as the city of East Chicago absorbs the city of Hammond, which is then absorbed by the city of Gary, all this ends in a draw. |
| 1912 |
Hammond Country Club incorporated. Morton Elementary School opens. Saint Mary's Catholic Church opens. The Hammond Chamber of commerce is founded. |
| 1915 |
Columbia School at 1238 Michigan Street opens to students. Carmelite School for boys is founded. |
| 1916 |
Hammond Industrial School (Now Hammond High School) is built. |
| 1918 |
The deadliest circus train wreck in history involving the "Hagenbeck-Wallace" circus train kills 86 passengers and performers. Deadly Influenza virus kills scores of residents. Classes begin at the new Maywood School. |
| 1919 |
Brooks House opens. Classes begin at the new Kenwood School. Hammond Technical Vocational High School is established in the old Central School building on Hohman Avenue. Saint Margaret's School of Nursing is formed. |
| 1920 |
Hammond's population climbs to 36,004. Classes begin at the new Edison School. The Hammond Rotary Club is formed. |
| 1921 |
Parthenon Theatre on Hohman Avenue in the Downtown Section opens to patrons. The Hammond Kiwanis Club is formed. |
| 1922 |
Turner Recreation Field established. Classes begin at 3 new schools West Park, Gibson & Catholic Central (Now Bishop Noll). |
| 1923 |
A new Linclon School is rebuilt to replace the one destroyed by fire. A group of 4 Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad employees invent an automatic freight car retarder (used in switching. It is then used nationwide.) Hammond annexes the Hessville, Gibson, and Saxony settlements. A group of realtors develop "Woodmar" the city's largest subdivision (1,000 acres). Hammond reaches to the sky, with "The First Trust & Savings Building" (Now the Calumet National Bank Building) and the "Lloyd Building" (Now the NIPSCO Annex) the city's first skyscrapers being erected. |
| 1924 |
Harding School now replaces Gibson School. Old "Tech" High School building is moved to Russell Street. Radio station WJOB 1230am (originally called WWAE) goes on the air. A group of businessmen form "The Hammond Professionals" a National Football League franchise, they later move and are renamed "The Chicago Bears". |
| 1925 |
The city's building boom comes to an end, with many major new buildings under construction. The State Theatre "A Movie Palace" opens on State Street in Downtown. |
| 1926 |
Hammond now has 9 city parks. |
| 1927 |
Within the city limits are now an estimated 9 banks, 6 hospitals, 49 churches, and 6,750 stores. A new Maywood School opens. |
| 1928 |
There are now an estimated 115 different industries located in Hammond. |
| 1929 |
Classes begin at the new Porter School. State Line Generating Company, opens the largest power plant in the world on the city's lake front. |
| 1930 |
The city's population now soars to 65,559, a jump of almost 80% since 1920. The "Great Depression" hits and Hammond in not spared, by the end of the year nearly every bank in the city fails. The Hammond YWCA is formed.
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| 1931 |
"IOU's" and postdated checks are issued by the bankrupt city government to pay its bills. |
| 1932 |
The last 2 banks in the city fail, making Hammond the largest city in the country without a bank. West Park School is replaced by George Rogers Clark School. |
| 1933 |
Classes begin at the new Parrish School (later renamed Caldwell School). |
| 1935 |
A new City Hall Building is dedicated at the corner of Calumet Avenue and Highland Street. |
| 1936 |
The city's new water filtration plant on Lake Michigan opens. |
| 1937 |
Nine-Span Bridge on Indianapolis Boulevard over the IHB Gibson Yards opens to traffic, it is the longest bridge of its type over dry land in the world. |
| 1938 |
WPA project helps build the "Hammond Civic Center" located on Sohl Avenue. Newly rebuilt Irving & Edison School open. Classes open at the new Morton School. |
| 1939 |
A new Federal Office building opens on State Street. |
| 1940 |
The state basketball championship is won by Hammond Technical Vocational High School. City streetcar service comes to an end. Hammond is now home to 70,183 citizens. |
| 1942 |
War production has the city humming, and helps to draw in many more new residents. |
| 1946 |
Continued economic prosperity upon the end of WW II creates a new building boom in the city. Purdue University Calumet Campus is established. |
| 1947 |
"Hessville" is 100 years old. |
| 1949 |
Construction starts on the Indiana leg of the "Tri-State Expressway" (Now the Borman Expressway). |
| 1950 |
Hammond Tech High School moves into a new structure on Sohl Avenue. The city's population increases 25%, to reach 87,595. |
| 1951 |
Classes begin at the new Porter School. Construction begins on the first building, that will become Purdue University Calumet Campus. "The Gyte Building" becomes the cornerstone of the campus located on 165+ acres in the Woodmar section of the city. Hammond settlement centennial observed. |
| 1954 |
Classes begin at the new Riley School. After 10 days of heavy rains, the Little Calumet river over flows its banks and floods much of South Hammond. |
| 1955 |
Classes begin at the new Jefferson School. Hammond's first shopping mall "Woodmar Shopping Center" opens. |
| 1956 |
New LaFayette School building opens. New corporate headquarters for N.I.P.S.CO. are built in Downtown Hammond. |
| 1957 |
New Morton School building opens. The city adds "Wolf Lake Park" to its park system. |
| 1958 |
Hammond YMCA is founded. |
| 1960 |
Hammond's population reaches a record 111,698 an increase of over 25% since 1950. The "Hammond Historical Society" is established. Classes begin at the new Gavit Junior-Senior High School. |
| 1962 |
New Riverside School building opens. |
| 1963 |
The Cline Avenue Expressway and the Columbia Avenue overpass (over the IHB/ConRail tracks) are open to traffic. |
| 1965 |
Classes begin at the new Miller School. |
| 1966 |
Classes begin at the new Orchard Drive School. New Main branch of the Hammond Public Library opens in the Downtown section. |
| 1967 |
A record 26+ inch snowfall cripples the city for a week. 2 new schools open to students, Spohn Middle & Morton School (replaces an older structure). |
| 1970 |
107,983 citizens now reside in the city, the first population decrease ever recorded in the history of Hammond. |
| 1971 |
New Scott Middle School opens to students. |
| 1972 |
A new Superior Court House building opens on Russell Street. |
| 1973 |
Demolition begins on the old 1903 Superior Court House. New Eggers Middle School opens. City bus service comes to an end. |
| 1974 |
St. Joseph's Calumet College moves to Hammond from East Chicago. Calumet Overpass spanning the IHB/ConRail tracks opens to traffic. |
| 1980 |
The city's population now drops to around 91,985. |
| 1983 |
Hammond Technical Vocational High School closes and becomes "Area Career Center". |
| 1984 |
Hammond celebrates its city centennial. |
| 1990 |
The city's population now stands at 84,236. |
| 1992 |
Kennedy Avenue overpass spanning the IHB/ConRail tracks opens to traffic. |
| 1993 |
Residents vote and approve riverboat casino gambling. |
| 1995 |
New Hohman Avenue overpass at Downtown Hammond is dedicated in the fall. |
| 1996 |
Casino gambling comes to the city with the opening of the "Empress III Casino", located at the Hammond Marina on Lake Michigan. The city announces plans to build a new central police headquarters.
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| 1997 |
Construction is expected to begin on the new Federal Court House complex in Downtown Hammond. Construction is slated to begin on new and expanded recycling facilities. The city announces vigorous plans for the city streets and various community projects with revenues generated from casino gambling. |
| 1998 |
Construction finally begins on the much delayed and long awaited Federal Court House in Downtown Hammond, expected completion is Spring 2000. Driving around the city neighborhoods was a bit of a challenge as the city undertakes 50+ street and sidewalk repair and reconstruction projects. |
