One who was born, raised, educated, and worked in a Northwest Indiana steel
mill.
Taken from a combination of Mill
Rat, ( someone who worked in a Steel Mill,) and "The Region", ( the Lake, Porter Counties)
In Northwest Indiana. Region
Rat was a marketing ploy by the Indiana Tourism Dept. about 1990 to promote the area.
I am a proud Region Rat. I was born in East Chicago, Indiana, raised in the Hessville Section of the City of Hammond, Went to Harding
School, and the Old O.P. Morton High
School on Marshal Ave. My Great-grandfather, Grand father, Father, Numerous Great-Uncles, Uncles, and Cousins worked for Inland steel. I and my brothers worked there for a total of 70 years between us. I had 35 years.
If you know Where the "Mill Gate Inn" , Little Red
School House moved from, or where "Mount Baldy" is, you may be a Region Rat.