Long before it was Merrillville this land echoed with the voices of the Potawatomi. They called it McGwinn Village a sacred space for ceremonies. Imagine the dances the chants the stories shared under the trees.
Merrillville today is a bustling town in Northwest Indiana. It’s part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It’s known as a major shopping hub for the region. Did you know that in 2015 Merrillville became Indiana’s most populous town? This happened because Fishers changed its status from town to city.
Merrillville’s history is fascinating. It began as McGwinn Village. Then it became Wiggins Point named after Jeremiah Wiggins a white settler. Later it was Centerville. Finally it settled on Merrillville named after the Merrill brothers Dudley and William. Dudley ran a hotel and store. His son John P Merrill was a township trustee.
Several smaller settlements surrounded Merrillville. Deep River was near Deep River Creek. Turkey Creek had its own settlement. Ainsworth Lottaville and Rexville were also there. The area’s post office was once named Lottaville.
In 1848 these settlements joined to form Ross Township. Over time Hobart and Crown Point took parts of Ross Township. Merrillville officially incorporated in 1971. Much of the town’s growth came from people leaving Gary. This was a period known as white flight.
In 1993 Merrillville tried to expand by annexing Winfield Township. The Winfield residents prevented this by forming their own town Winfield.
A tragic event marked Merrillville’s history. In 2009 a pedestrian bridge in Hidden Lake Park collapsed. This happened after a Fourth of July fireworks show. At least 25 people were injured.
Merrillville has a diverse economy. Retail is a major part of it. The US 30 corridor is packed with stores restaurants and hotels. Ameriplex at the Crossroads is an industrial and technology park. It opened in 2005. NiSource Centier Bank and White Lodging have their headquarters here.
Merrillville’s population has changed over time. In 2020 about half the population was African American. A smaller percentage was White. Hispanics made up another significant portion. Merrillville has come a long way from its beginnings as a Potawatomi village. It’s a town with a rich and complex history. A history we’ve only just begun to explore.