Area Code 219

Where Is Area Code 219?

As the hometown of the famous Jackson 5, including the now deceased Michael Jackson, this small town has a fairly big spot in American history. Tourists can actually visit the home where Michael Jackson was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. The 219 area code that covers Gary and Hammond, Indiana also has a long history in the region. Created in 1948, the 219 area code was a split from the original 317 area code. Phone numbers with the 219 area code were steadily exhausted as more people moved to the Chicago metropolitan area. As a result, area code 219 was split again in 2002 and the 574 and 260 area codes were added. It was pure luck that the cities of Gary and Hammond were able to retain the 219 area code, although it is fitting that history is preserved as much as possible in Michael Jackson’s hometown.

In the late 1940s, Michael Jackson’s parents moved to the Gary Indiana area code, securing it a place in history. The couple lived in a humble home and quickly added to their family. Their most famous child, Michael Jackson would go on to place the 219 area code on the international radar. Furthermore, the Jackson 5 revamped the music industry and made the musical dream a reality for their many fans. After Michael Jackson’s death, flowers and stuffed animals were placed in front of his childhood home.

Approximately 85% of people who live in Gary, Indiana are of African American descent. Accordingly, the 219 area code voted in one of America’s first African-American mayors in the 1970s. The rich African American heritage is noticeable throughout the thriving city. During the current economic crisis in America, area code 217 has been able to thrive. In fact, home flipping is a huge industry in Gary. Investors from all over the country flocked to the 217 area code in order to purchase homes that were bound to make a future profit. As a result, Gary was ranked by HomeVestors of America as the best place in the United States to invest in real estate. Locals in Gary, Indiana are obviously reaping the benefits of their booming economy, which is evident in the happy residents.

Hammond, Indiana is slightly more affluent than Gary but it is also a working class community. With a population of only 80,000, the Hammond area code does not have much to brag about. The city’s most notable feature is its close proximity to the former Lake Chicago. The Proglacial Lake is currently just made up of sand, which has made the soil in the Hammond portion of the 217 area code particularly sandy. The Grand Calumet River, which is luckily not dried up, also originates in Hammond, Indiana. The river adds a picturesque element to the 217 area code, even though it is known to cause floods during times of heavy rain. For instance, in 2009, the Calumet River broke through its levee, causing major damage in surrounding areas. Ideal for research, Wolf Lake is another source of water that is located in Hammond, Indiana. Wolf Lake was heavily damaged by the industries in the surrounding Chicago area. However, a large piece of the lake was turned into a nature preserve. It would not be advisable to go fishing in Wolf Lake. The areas where you could catch decent fish have endangered species and the areas that do not have endangered species are polluted. Accordingly, it is a wise idea to buy store bought fish in the 217 area code instead of trying to get the best catch of the day in Wolf Lake.

Indiana Area Codes By Number