A Brief History -

Here is a quick summary of the city's history. Located in the extreme northwest corner of Indiana, the city of Hammond is bounded by Lake Michigan to the north, the Little Calumet river to the south, the Illinois state line to the west, and on the east by the cities of Whiting, East Chicago and Gary. It has a population of 84,236 (1990 census) and has a highly industrialized and diversified economy. First settled in 1851 it was incorporated as a city in 1884. The early settlement was first know as Hohman (named after an early settler), and then as State Line (named after its proximity to the Illinois border). In 1869 the Detroit butcher George H. Hammond built a slaughterhouse, which sparked the growth of other industry, and then the city was renamed in his honor.

For a more in depth background on the city itself, please go to the City of Hammond History.

Or view the Hammond 1990 Census of population and housing general characteristics profile.