The majority of people tend to agree that Griffith
was named after a surveyor who set the grade for the Grand Trunk Railroad in the
1870s. Due to his signature on the area maps, railroaders began referring
to "Griffith's Section" and the name stuck.
Town/City Nickname:
"The Town that Came to the Tracks"
Griffith was once an interchange for five railroads.
Jay and Elmer Dwiggins, founders of Griffith, considered changing the town name
to "Dwiggins Junction." Instead (and to the relief of many) the
two men settled for naming streets in the town after themselves.
In the past, Griffith saw more than 180 trains come through each day.
Today, only two railroads still operate through the town: The Elgin Joliet
& Eastern and the Grand Trunk.
Griffith Discussion Board