where is a christmas story based

A Christmas Story is set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, during the 1940s. It is a time of innocence, when families gathered around the radio to listen to beloved programs like Amos 'n' Andy and Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, and children looked forward to the magic of Christmas. The story centers around young Ralphie, who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, but is repeatedly told that "you'll shoot your eye out" by his parents, teachers, and even Santa Claus.