Chesterton, Indiana

Chesterton is a town in Westchester, Jackson and Liberty townships of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,068 at the 2010 census. The three towns of Chesterton, Burns Harbor, and Porter are known as the tri-towns or the Duneland area.

History

Chesterton was originally called Calumet, and under the latter name was platted in 1852 when the railroad was extended to that point. Chesterton was incorporated as a town in 1899.

In 1933, a United Airlines NC13304 flight became the first known case of an attack against an aircraft. It was downed by a nitroglycerine bomb above Chesterton on October 10, 1933. All 7 people aboard the aircraft—four passengers and a crew of three—were killed in the crash.

The Chesterton Commercial Historic District and the George Brown Mansion are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Chesterton is located at 41°36′15″N 87°3′30″W / 41.60417°N 87.05833°W / 41.60417; -87.05833 (41.604251, -87.058442)

Just north of the town is Indiana Dunes State Park and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Most of the town is flat. However, going south into the city on the Route 49 overpass, one can see the Valparaiso Moraine in the distance.