East Chicago Tin and Marktown

Marktown’s company-town streets amid BP’s refinery and the idled US Steel East Chicago Tin plant

Marktown — East Chicago, IN

This series documents Marktown in East Chicago, IN, a historic company town established in 1917 by Clayton Mark for steelworkers. Noted for its unconventional traffic pattern—residents historically drove on sidewalks and walked in the street—Marktown sits amid major industrial facilities, including the BP refinery and the former US Steel East Chicago Tin operations. The images show streets, parks, and signage alongside active and idled industry, including the tin plant that ceased operations in 2015.
Marktown street in East Chicago, Indiana, with residential buildings and industrial structures characteristic of the area's historical development.
December 29, 2023 — A street in the Marktown neighborhood of East Chicago, Indiana, is lined with residential buildings and industrial structures. The image shows a view down the street, with cars parked along the curb and large industrial buildings in the background, characteristic of the area's historical industrial development. The presence of both housing and industry highlights the unique character of Marktown, a planned community built for steelworkers. Marktown was established in 1919 by the Mark Manufacturing Company to house its workers, reflecting the close relationship between industrial operations and residential areas in early 20th-century American cities. The neighborhood's architecture and layout were designed to serve the needs of the adjacent Indiana Harbor Works steel mill, which was a major employer in East Chicago. This photograph documents the enduring presence of these industrial facilities and their impact on the surrounding urban environment.
Liberty Street in Marktown, Indiana, a historic residential area built for steelworkers, with colorful homes and elevated sidewalks.
December 29, 2023 — Looking down Liberty Street in Marktown, Indiana, a historic residential area designed for steelworkers. The street is lined with colorful, closely spaced homes and features sidewalks elevated above the street level. Marktown, established by Clayton Mark for employees of his steel pipe company, is situated between a US Steel plant and a large BP refinery. The town is notable for its unique traffic pattern where residents traditionally use sidewalks for driving and the street for walking.
Park Street in Marktown, Indiana, a historic company town, shows residential housing and parked vehicles under a cloudy sky.
December 29, 2023 — Park Street in Marktown, Indiana, shows residential housing and parked vehicles. A stop sign is visible in the distance. Marktown, a historic company town, was established by Clayton Mark for employees of his steel pipe company and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town's unique layout, where residents traditionally use sidewalks for driving and streets for walking, is a notable characteristic. Marktown is situated between a US Steel plant and the world's largest BP refinery, highlighting its industrial context.
A stop sign on Spruce Ave in East Chicago, Indiana, with two trash bins marked "508 SCHOOL" at the curb.
December 29, 2023 — A stop sign reading "SPRUCE AVE STOP" is visible on a residential street in East Chicago, Indiana. Two trash bins with the numbers "508" and the word "SCHOOL" spray-painted on them are positioned at the curb. The image captures a typical streetscape in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood, an area historically shaped by industrial activity and its surrounding communities. This photograph documents a specific location within East Chicago, a city with a significant industrial past, particularly related to the BP refinery and steel mills in Indiana Harbor. The markings on the trash bins may relate to local school districts or community initiatives, offering a glimpse into the daily life and local identifiers within this industrial region. The presence of the stop sign and bins highlights the everyday infrastructure present in the neighborhood.
Park rules sign in Marktown, East Chicago, Indiana, lists regulations enforced by the East Chicago Police Department, including prohibitions on vehicles on grass, pets, alcohol, and firearms.
December 29, 2023 — A "PARK RULES" sign, strictly enforced by the East Chicago Police Department, is posted in Marktown, East Chicago, Indiana. The sign lists eleven rules, including prohibitions on vehicles on grass, pets, charcoal grills, alcohol, littering, glass containers, firearms, profane language, and loud music, and states the park is open from dawn to dusk. The sign, bearing the seal of the East Chicago Parks & Recreation Department and Mayor Anthony Copeland, indicates the enforcement of local ordinances within the historic Marktown neighborhood. This signage reflects the city's efforts to manage public spaces and ensure adherence to regulations for the safety and order of the community.
A wet basketball court with a hoop stands beside industrial buildings in Marktown, Indiana, a historic company town.
December 29, 2023 — A basketball court with a hoop stands beside industrial buildings in Marktown, Indiana. The court's surface is wet and reflects the overcast sky and surrounding trees. Marktown, a historic company town listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was established by Clayton Mark for employees of his steel pipe company. The town's proximity to a US Steel plant and a large BP refinery highlights its industrial heritage. Marktown is notable for its unique traffic pattern where residents drive on sidewalks and walk in the street.
Marktown, East Chicago, Indiana: A basketball court and industrial buildings are seen through a chain-link fence.
December 29, 2023 — A basketball court and industrial buildings are visible in Marktown, East Chicago, Indiana. The image shows a chain-link fence in the foreground, with a basketball hoop and backboard to the left. Behind the fence, industrial structures with multiple windows and a residential-style building are present.
Marktown Park entrance sign in East Chicago, Indiana, a historic company town. The black metal archway sign features perforated text and silhouetted trees.
December 29, 2023 — A black metal archway sign reads "MARKETOWN PARK" with silhouetted trees and buildings visible behind it. The sign is perforated with small circles and features a decorative crest at its apex. Marktown is a historic residential neighborhood in East Chicago, Indiana, developed in the early 20th century to house workers for the Mark Manufacturing Company. The park entrance sign marks a public space within this architecturally significant company town, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Playground equipment in Marktown, East Chicago, Indiana, with industrial buildings in the background.
December 29, 2023 — Playground equipment, including swings and a slide, is visible in Marktown, a historic residential neighborhood in East Chicago, Indiana. The industrial buildings of the Indiana Harbor area form the backdrop behind a chain-link fence. A sign on a building in the background reads "940-W". Marktown was developed in the early 20th century to house workers for the nearby steel mills and other industrial facilities. The neighborhood's architecture reflects its origins as a company town. The presence of playground equipment indicates ongoing community life within this historically industrial area.
Residential homes in Marktown, East Chicago, Indiana, are situated near the BP refinery, a major industrial site in the Indiana Harbor area.
December 29, 2023 — A street view in Marktown, East Chicago, Indiana, shows residential homes adjacent to the large industrial complex of the BP refinery. Street signs indicate intersections at Liberty and Spring streets. The BP refinery in East Chicago is a significant industrial site in the Indiana Harbor area, historically linked to oil refining and petrochemical production. Its presence has shaped the surrounding urban environment and the lives of residents in neighborhoods like Marktown, a historic company-town district.
Marktown Historic District sign, East Chicago, Indiana, established 1917. The district was founded by Clayton Mark for steel pipe company employees.
December 29, 2023 — A sign reads "Welcome to the MARKTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT Since 1917." Marktown, Indiana, was established in 1917 by Clayton Mark to house employees of his steel pipe company. The district is notable for its unique urban planning, where residents historically used sidewalks as roadways and streets as pedestrian walkways, a design intended to separate industrial traffic from residential areas.
Sign for the idled US Steel East Chicago Tin plant in Indiana, which ceased operations in 2015.
December 29, 2023 — A sign for the US Steel East Chicago Tin plant stands in front of the idled industrial facility. The sign displays the USS logo and the text "EAST CHICAGO TIN" above a United Steelworkers logo and the motto "UNITY AND STRENGTH FOR WORKERS." The US Steel East Chicago Tin plant, located in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood of East Chicago, Indiana, was a significant steel processing facility. Operations at the plant ceased in 2015, contributing to the economic changes in the region and impacting the local workforce.
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