1968 Map of Portage

About this map

Industrial development and the expanding suburbs of Gary define this landscape during a period of significant growth along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The emergence of the Burns Waterway Harbor and the Portage industrial corridor contrasts with the older residential cores of East Gary and Hobart. In the south, the map documents the planned layout of South Haven and the enduring footprint of the village of Wheeler. Extensive transportation networks are visible, including the South Shore and South Bend and Penn Central railroads, which facilitated the region's heavy industry. Community life is anchored by local institutions such as Calvary Cemetery, Edison Sr High Sch, and the Seven Dolors Shrine, providing a clear view of the social and physical infrastructure of Portage as it shifted from a rural rail crossroads to a major manufacturing and residential hub.