Michigan City is a city in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States. It is one of the two principal cities of the Michigan City-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City Combined statistical area. In the region known to locals as Michiana, the city is about east of Chicago and west of South Bend. It had a population of 31,479 at the 2010 census. Michigan City is noted for both its proximity to Indiana Dunes National Park and for bordering Lake Michigan. It receives a fair amount of tourism during the summer, especially by residents of Chicago and nearby cities in Northern Indiana. The lighthouse is a notable symbol of the city and is incorporated in the heading of its sole newspaper, The News Dispatch, and its official seal. History Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston, a real estate speculator who had made his fortune in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He paid about $200 total for of land. The now-closed Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, was named after the founder. The city was incorporated in 1836, by which point it had 1,500 residents, along with a post office, a newspaper, a church, a commercial district and ten hotels. In these six years the town had grown to a size of . That same year, the State Bank of Indiana opened a branch in town. Michigan City was the 2nd city in Indiana to decriminalize marijuana, with marijuana laws more liberal than those of Marion County, the first city or county to decriminalize marijuana, allowing medical marijuana to be prescribed as early as 2016. Delta 9 is officially decriminalized in Michigan City. Michigan City hosted the sailing competitions of the 1987 Pan American Games on Lake Michigan. Indianapolis, roughly southeast, was the host city. Geography According to the 2010 census, Michigan City has an area of , of which (or 85.71%) is land and (or 14.29%) is water. Michigan City is home to Trail Creek, which flows into Lake Michigan. Climate The highest recorded temperature was in 1953. The lowest recorded temperature was in 1994. The city has a usual weather pattern for a temperate region, with thunderstorms in the summer and snow during winter. Summers are often warm and humid. Due to its location next to Lake Michigan the city frequently experiences lake-effect