The video discusses the decline of Gary, Indiana, a city once known as the "most miserable city in the United States" due to high unemployment and poverty rates. Gary was once a thriving steel city, but the decline of the steel industry led to a significant population drop, from 178,000 in 1960 to just 69,000 today. The city's infrastructure has deteriorated due to the lack of tax revenues from a dwindling population. Efforts to revive Gary include promoting its airport as a potential third Chicago airport and highlighting the city's unique attributes, such as its proximity to Chicago, its overlap with the Indiana Dunes National Park, and its affordable housing. However, the perception of the city is a significant barrier to its revival.
1. The video is sponsored by Morning Brew.
2. The video discusses the city of Gary, Indiana.
3. The video mentions that Gary, Indiana, used to be connected to Hammond, Indiana, through a road.
4. The road leading to Gary was resurfaced by the city of Hammond, which added a berm at the end so the road no longer leads to Gary.
5. Gary, Indiana, is described as a city that feels like a whole different world compared to its surroundings.
6. Gary, Indiana, is described as a city that is emptier, quieter, with vacant homes and overgrown lots.
7. Gary, Indiana, was once a thriving steel city.
8. Business Insider labeled Gary the "most miserable city in the United States" in 2019.
9. The video mentions that Gary, Indiana, has a history of high crime rates, including being dubbed the murder capital of the US in 1994.
10. The population of Gary, Indiana, has dropped from 178,000 in 1960 to 69,000 today.
11. The video discusses the history of Gary, Indiana, and its future.
12. Gary Works, the largest steel mill in the world for many years, is located in Gary.
13. The city of Gary was founded by US Steel, and the name comes from Albert Gary, the founding chairman of US Steel.
14. US Steel owned iron mines throughout the region, and the area could receive shipments via great lakes freighter or railroad.
15. The city of Gary was planned as a community where workers would own their own homes and democratically elect their own completely separate city government.
16. The video discusses the urban design of Gary, which resulted in a lack of public open space.
17. The video discusses the demographic changes in Gary over the years, including the influx of Eastern European immigrants and Black workers during the Great Migration.
18. The video mentions the white flight phenomenon in Gary, with white workers moving out of Gary to nearby suburbs.
19. The video discusses the political changes in Gary, with Richard Hatcher becoming the first Black mayor of a major American city.
20. The video discusses the economic decline of Gary, with US Steel cutting thousands of jobs in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to a significant population decline.
21. The video mentions that Gary is using what little money they have to demolish buildings, most notably its empty public schools.
22. The video discusses the potential future of Gary, with concerns about schools and infrastructure.
23. The video mentions that Gary has been trying to promote its airport as an option for a third Chicago airport.
24. The video concludes with hopes for a comeback of Gary, despite its current challenges.