Community areas in Chicago
The city of
The Social Science Research Committee at the University of Chicago defined the community areas in the 1920s based on neighborhoods or groups of related neighborhoods within the city. In this effort it was led by sociologists Robert E. Park and Ernest Burgess, who believed that physical contingencies created areas that would inevitably form a common identity. Except for the addition of two areas (O'Hare from land annexed by the city in 1956 and Edgewater's separation from Uptown in 1980) and expansions due to minor annexations, the areas' boundaries have never been revised to reflect change but instead have been kept stable. The areas have become a part of the culture of Chicago, contributing to its perception as a "city of neighborhoods" and breaking it down into smaller regions for easier analysis and local planning. Nevertheless, Park's and Burgess's ideas on the inevitability of physically related areas forming a common bond have been questioned, and the unchanging nature of the areas has at times been considered problematic with major subsequent changes in the urban landscape such as the construction of expressways.
History
During the 19th century
After the community areas were introduced, the
Only two major changes have occurred in the boundaries of the community areas.[1] O'Hare was created from land that was annexed by Chicago in 1956 to control O'Hare International Airport.[a][5] Edgewater was separated from Uptown in 1980 as residents considered being joined to it a detriment to obtaining aid for local improvements.[6] In addition to these two there have been minor changes due to further annexations and additions to the Lake Michigan shoreline.[1][7]
Use and reception
The areas are used for statistical and planning purposes by such professions as assessors, charities, and reporters.[2] Shortly after their development they were used for all kinds of statistics, including movie theater distribution and juvenile delinquency.[2] Although developed by the University of Chicago, they have been used by other universities in the Chicago area, as well as by the city and regional planners.[2] They have contributed to Chicago's reputation as the "city of neighborhoods", and are argued to break up an intimidating city into more manageable pieces.[2] Chicago was an early adopter of such a system, and as of 1997[update] most cities in the United States still lacked analogous divisions.[2]
The areas do not necessarily correspond to popular imagination of the neighborhoods.[1] For example, the Pilsen and Back of the Yards neighborhoods are much better known than their respective community areas Lower West Side and New City.[1] In the case of New City this was a deliberate choice; Burgess opted for the less common "New City" to name the area as "Back of the Yards" carried a stigma after the publication of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, which made the area notorious for its poor living conditions.[2] Some of these discrepancies are due to names that were common at the time of the adoption of community areas but have since been supplanted by others.[2] The static nature of area boundaries is one of their benefits, but is also problematic at times such as when expressways were built in the mid-20th century and divided neighborhoods without the area boundaries being able to adapt.[1] The concept of a "natural area" that underpinned Park's and Burgess's thinking has also been challenged.[1]
List of community areas
No. | Name | Population | Area[9] | Density | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(2020)[update][10] | (sq mi.) | (km2) | (/sq mi.) | (/km2) | ||
01 | Rogers Park | 55,628 | 1.84 | 4.77 | 30,232.61 | 11,672.81 |
02 | West Ridge | 77,122 | 3.53 | 9.14 | 21,847.59 | 8,435.36 |
03 | Uptown | 57,182 | 2.32 | 6.01 | 24,647.41 | 9,516.37 |
04 | Lincoln Square | 40,494 | 2.56 | 6.63 | 15,817.97 | 6,107.32 |
05 | North Center | 35,114 | 2.05 | 5.31 | 17,128.78 | 6,613.42 |
06 | Lake View | 103,050 | 3.12 | 8.08 | 33,028.85 | 12,752.44 |
07 | Lincoln Park | 70,492 | 3.16 | 8.18 | 22,307.59 | 8,612.96 |
08 | Near North Side | 105,481 | 2.74 | 7.1 | 38,496.72 | 14,863.58 |
09 | Edison Park | 11,525 | 1.13 | 2.93 | 10,199.12 | 3,937.88 |
10 | Norwood Park | 38,303 | 4.37 | 11.32 | 8,764.99 | 3,384.16 |
11 | Jefferson Park | 26,216 | 2.33 | 6.03 | 11,251.5 | 4,344.2 |
12 | Forest Glen | 19,596 | 3.2 | 8.29 | 6,123.75 | 2,364.38 |
13 | North Park | 17,559 | 2.52 | 6.53 | 6,967.86 | 2,690.29 |
14 | Albany Park | 48,396 | 1.92 | 4.97 | 25,206.25 | 9,732.13 |
15 | Portage Park | 63,020 | 3.95 | 10.23 | 15,954.43 | 6,160.01 |
16 | Irving Park | 51,940 | 3.21 | 8.31 | 16,180.69 | 6,247.36 |
17 | Dunning | 43,147 | 3.72 | 9.63 | 11,598.66 | 4,478.24 |
18 | Montclare | 14,401 | 0.99 | 2.56 | 14,546.46 | 5,616.39 |
19 | Belmont Cragin | 78,116 | 3.91 | 10.13 | 19,978.52 | 7,713.71 |
20 | Hermosa | 24,062 | 1.17 | 3.03 | 20,565.81 | 7,940.46 |
21 | Avondale | 36,257 | 1.98 | 5.13 | 18,311.62 | 7,070.12 |
22 | Logan Square | 71,665 | 3.59 | 9.3 | 19,962.4 | 7,707.48 |
23 | Humboldt Park | 54,165 | 3.6 | 9.32 | 15,045.83 | 5,809.2 |
24 | West Town | 87,781 | 4.58 | 11.86 | 19,166.16 | 7,400.05 |
25 | Austin | 96,557 | 7.15 | 18.52 | 13,504.48 | 5,214.08 |
26 | West Garfield Park | 17,433 | 1.28 | 3.32 | 13,619.53 | 5,258.5 |
27 | East Garfield Park | 19,992 | 1.93 | 5 | 10,358.55 | 3,999.44 |
28 | Near West Side | 67,881 | 5.69 | 14.74 | 11,929.88 | 4,606.13 |
29 | North Lawndale | 34,794 | 3.21 | 8.31 | 10,839.25 | 4,185.04 |
30 | South Lawndale | 71,399 | 4.59 | 11.89 | 15,555.34 | 6,005.92 |
31 | Lower West Side | 33,751 | 2.93 | 7.59 | 11,519.11 | 4,447.53 |
32 | (The) Loop[11] | 42,298 | 1.65 | 4.27 | 25,635.15 | 9,897.73 |
33 | Near South Side | 28,795 | 1.78 | 4.61 | 16,176.97 | 6,245.93 |
34 | Armour Square | 13,890 | 1 | 2.59 | 13,890 | 5,362.93 |
35 | Douglas | 20,291 | 1.65 | 4.27 | 12,297.58 | 4,748.09 |
36 | Oakland | 6,799 | 0.58 | 1.5 | 11,722.41 | 4,526.02 |
37 | Fuller Park | 2,567 | 0.71 | 1.84 | 3,615.49 | 1,395.94 |
38 | Grand Boulevard | 24,589 | 1.74 | 4.51 | 14,131.61 | 5,456.21 |
39 | Kenwood | 19,116 | 1.04 | 2.69 | 18,380.77 | 7,096.82 |
40 | Washington Park | 12,707 | 1.52 | 3.94 | 8,359.87 | 3,227.75 |
41 | Hyde Park | 29,456 | 1.61 | 4.17 | 18,295.65 | 7,063.95 |
42 | Woodlawn | 24,425 | 2.07 | 5.36 | 11,799.52 | 4,555.79 |
43 | South Shore | 53,971 | 2.93 | 7.59 | 18,420.14 | 7,112.01 |
44 | Chatham | 31,710 | 2.95 | 7.64 | 10,749.15 | 4,150.25 |
45 | Avalon Park | 9,458 | 1.25 | 3.24 | 7,566.4 | 2,921.39 |
46 | South Chicago | 27,300 | 3.34 | 8.65 | 8,173.65 | 3,155.85 |
47 | Burnside | 2,527 | 0.61 | 1.58 | 4,142.62 | 1,599.47 |
48 | Calumet Heights | 13,088 | 1.75 | 4.53 | 7,478.86 | 2,887.59 |
49 | Roseland | 38,816 | 4.82 | 12.48 | 8,053.11 | 3,109.31 |
50 | Pullman | 6,820 | 2.12 | 5.49 | 3,216.98 | 1,242.08 |
51 | South Deering | 14,105 | 10.9 | 28.23 | 1,294.04 | 499.63 |
52 | East Side | 21,724 | 2.98 | 7.72 | 7,289.93 | 2,814.64 |
53 | West Pullman | 26,104 | 3.56 | 9.22 | 7,332.58 | 2,831.11 |
54 | Riverdale | 7,262 | 3.53 | 9.14 | 2,057.22 | 794.29 |
55 | Hegewisch | 10,027 | 5.24 | 13.57 | 1,913.55 | 738.82 |
56 | Garfield Ridge | 35,439 | 4.23 | 10.96 | 8,378.01 | 3,234.75 |
57 | Archer Heights | 14,196 | 2.01 | 5.21 | 7,062.69 | 2,726.9 |
58 | Brighton Park | 45,053 | 2.72 | 7.04 | 16,563.6 | 6,395.21 |
59 | McKinley Park | 15,923 | 1.41 | 3.65 | 11,292.91 | 4,360.19 |
60 | Bridgeport | 33,702 | 2.09 | 5.41 | 16,125.36 | 6,226 |
61 | New City | 43,628 | 4.83 | 12.51 | 9,032.71 | 3,487.53 |
62 | West Elsdon | 18,394 | 1.17 | 3.03 | 15,721.37 | 6,070.02 |
63 | Gage Park | 39,540 | 2.2 | 5.7 | 17,972.73 | 6,939.27 |
64 | Clearing | 24,473 | 2.55 | 6.6 | 9,597.25 | 3,705.5 |
65 | West Lawn | 33,662 | 2.95 | 7.64 | 11,410.85 | 4,405.73 |
66 | Chicago Lawn | 55,931 | 3.53 | 9.14 | 15,844.48 | 6,117.55 |
67 | West Englewood | 29,647 | 3.15 | 8.16 | 9,411.75 | 3,633.88 |
68 | Englewood | 24,369 | 3.07 | 7.95 | 7,937.79 | 3,064.78 |
69 | Greater Grand Crossing | 31,471 | 3.55 | 9.19 | 8,865.07 | 3,422.8 |
70 | Ashburn | 41,098 | 4.86 | 12.59 | 8,456.38 | 3,265.01 |
71 | Auburn Gresham | 44,878 | 3.77 | 9.76 | 11,903.98 | 4,596.13 |
72 | Beverly | 20,027 | 3.18 | 8.24 | 6,297.8 | 2,431.58 |
73 | Washington Heights | 25,065 | 2.86 | 7.41 | 8,763.99 | 3,383.78 |
74 | Mount Greenwood | 18,628 | 2.71 | 7.02 | 6,873.8 | 2,653.97 |
75 | Morgan Park | 21,186 | 3.3 | 8.55 | 6,420 | 2,478.76 |
76 | O'Hare | 13,418 | 13.34 | 34.55 | 1,005.85 | 388.36 |
77 | Edgewater | 56,296 | 1.74 | 4.51 | 32,354.02 | 12,491.89 |
Total | Chicago[12] | 2,746,388 | 227.34 | 588.81 | 12,080.53 | 4,664.29 |
Other geographic divisions of Chicago
Chicago is traditionally divided into the three "sides" of the North Side,
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Seligman, Amanda (2004). "Community Areas". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Reardon, Patrick T. (March 9, 1997). "Biggest and Best". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "Chicago Government Information: Communities". Northwestern University. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ "Community Snapshots". Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ Seligman, Amanda (2004). "O'Hare". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Seligman, Amanda (2004). "Edgewater". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Cain, Louis P. (2004). "Annexation". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "Boundaries – Community Areas (current)". City of Chicago. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "Combined Community Data Snapshots" (pdf). Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. pp. 9s. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Combined Community Data Snapshots". Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. pp. 3s. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Combined Community Data Snapshots" (pdf). Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. p. 917. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "COMMUNITY DATA SNAPSHOT CHICAGO, MUNICIPALITY AUGUST 2021 RELEASE" (PDF). Chicago Metropolitan Area for Planning. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Thale, Christopher (2004). "Flags and Symbols". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ Knox, Douglas (2004). "Ward System". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Archived from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
External links
- Community Area 2000 and 2010 Census Population Comparisons
- Community Areas Map (downloadable in common GIS formats) on City of Chicago Data Portal