Pullman, Chicago
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2008) |
Pullman | ||
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Pullman National Monument Visitor Center in September 2021. | ||
Coordinates: 41°42.6′N 87°37.2′W / 41.7100°N 87.6200°W | ||
Country | United States | |
State | Illinois | |
County | Cook | |
City | Chicago | |
Named for | George Pullman | |
Neighborhoods | list
| |
Area | ||
• Total | 2.11 sq mi (5.46 km2) | |
Population (2020 ZIP Codes | parts of 60628 | |
Median household income | $43,539[1] | |
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services |
Pullman, one of
The area known as Pullman encompasses a much wider area than its two historic areas (the older historic area is often referred to as "
Since the late 20th century, the Pullman neighborhood has been gentrifying. Many residents are involved in the restoration of their own homes, and projects throughout the district as a whole. Walking tours of Pullman are available.
Pullman has many historic and architecturally significant buildings; among these are the
In a contest sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Pullman was one of seven sites nominated for the Illinois Seven Wonders.
History
Beginnings
Historic Pullman was built in the 1880s by
Pullman Strike
During the depression that followed the Panic of 1893, demand for Pullman cars slackened. The Pullman company laid off hundreds of workers and switched many more to pay-per-piece work. This work, while paying more per hour, reduced total worker income. Despite these cutbacks, the Company did not reduce rents for workers who lived in the town of Pullman.
Workers initiated the Pullman Strike in 1894, and it lasted for 2 months, eventually leading to intervention by the US government and military.[3] The Strike Commission, set up in 1894, ruled that the aesthetic features admired by visitors had little monetary value for employees.[4]
Incorporation into Chicago
After George Pullman died in 1897, the Illinois Supreme Court required the company to sell the town because operating it was outside the company's charter.[5] In 1899, the town and other major portions of the South Side were annexed by the city of Chicago. Within ten years, the city sold the houses to their occupants. After the strike, Pullman gradually was absorbed as a regular Chicago neighborhood, defined by distinguishing Victorian architecture. But the fortunes of the neighborhood continued to rise and fall with the Pullman Company for many years.
Deindustrialization
With industrial and railroad restructuring beginning in the 1950s, many jobs were lost in the city. The neighborhood gradually declined along with work opportunities and income. People began to move to newer housing in the suburbs. In 1960 the original Town of Pullman, approximately between 103rd and 115th Streets, was threatened with total demolition for an industrial park.[6] Forming the Pullman Civic Organization, the residents lobbied the city and saved their community. It reached its peak of population in 1970.
Revival
By 1972 the
The district was designated the Pullman National Monument under President Obama in February 2015 and redesignated a national historical park in December 2022.[9]
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1930 | 6,705 | — | |
1940 | 6,523 | −2.7% | |
1950 | 8,899 | 36.4% | |
1960 | 8,412 | −5.5% | |
1970 | 10,965 | 30.3% | |
1980 | 10,341 | −5.7% | |
1990 | 9,344 | −9.6% | |
2000 | 8,921 | −4.5% | |
2010 | 7,325 | −17.9% | |
2020 | 6,820 | −6.9% | |
[1][10] |
The Pullman community area is a predominantly
The Pullman neighborhood is 29% White, 31% African American, and residents of any race who identify as Hispanic or Latino comprise 36% of the neighborhood's 1,422 residents.[N 1] By contrast, 96% of North Pullman's 1,995 residents are African American and 98% of Cottage Grove Heights' 3,084 residents are African American.[N 2][N 3]
Media and entertainment
Pullman has been featured in several major motion pictures. Road to Perdition (starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman) was filmed in historic Pullman, with scenes featuring the factory and how it "once was" with workers, as well as many other scenes of the neighborhood. The 1993 film The Fugitive had several key scenes in Pullman. Harrison Ford was featured in a local bar, next running down an alley, and over the tops of several Pullman rowhouses. In April 2007, Universal Studios filmed The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, which also featured several scenes in Pullman.
The Polar Express animated scenes at the North Pole were based on Pullman architecture.[14] Santa Claus emerges from a building based on the Pullman Company Administration Building; other buildings are based on the architectural style in Pullman. Robert Zemeckis, who designed the movie, grew up in the Roseland neighborhood near Pullman.
On November 12, 2006, Historic Pullman was the topic of the HGTV television show National Open House, which featured a Pullman house at 112th Street and Langley.
Politics
Pullman is a stronghold for the Democratic Party. In the Presidential Election of 2020. Joe Biden carried the Pullman District by a whopping margin (445--21) over Donald Trump, with five votes going to third party candidates. The percentage difference (94.47%--4.46%) mirrored that of the 9th ward, which gave Biden 94.46% of all ballots cast. Only five Wards--Ward 21 (95.83%), Wards 8 and 9 (95.7, apiece), Ward 6 (95.47%), and Ward 7 (94.78%) exceeded this plurality; Ward 5 (94.22%) was 7th highest. Biden carried all 50 Wards in Chicago, by an overall margin of 763,000+ votes (944,735--181,234), a plurality of 66.7% (82.53%--15.83%). He carried Cook County by over 3-to 1, as well (74.35%--24.05%). Indeed, the last Republican candidate to carry the Windy City was Dwight Eisenhower, in 1952-56. In the
At the local level, Pullman is located in Chicago's 8th and 9th wards represented by Democratic Alderwoman Michelle Harris and Democratic Alderman Anthony Beale respectively.[17][18]
Transportation
Pullman is served by two
Notable people
- Robert Fioretti, member of the Chicago City Council (2007-2015). Fioretti, who represented a ward on the West Side, was born in Pullman.[19]
- Mark Konkol, journalist and winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. As of 2007, he resided in the Pullman community.[20]
- Darrell Walker, professional basketball player. He attended school in Pullman.[21]
Education
Pullman is located in
See also
- Granite City, Illinois (another company town)
- Marktown (another company town)
- West Pullman, Chicago (adjacent neighborhood where workers fled the Pullman town's grip)
- List of African-American neighborhoods
- History of African Americans in Chicago
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e "Community Data Snapshot – Pullman" (PDF). MetroPulse. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ Newcomen, T. (1998) "Pullman, Illinois: Changes in community planning from the 1880s to the 1990s", International Journal of Heritage Studies, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 10-29
- ^ Lindsey, A. (1964) The Pullman Strike
- ^ United States Strike Commission, The Background to the Dispute: United States Strike Commission Report, Senate Executive Document No. 7, 53rd Congress 3d Session (1894), pp. xxi-xxiii, reprinted in Warne, C. E. (ed.)(1955) The Pullman Boycott of 1894: The Problem of Federal Intervention, D.C. Heath & Co., Boston
- ^ Lindsey A. (1964) The Pullman Strike
- ^ Reiff, J.L. and Hirsch, S.E. (1989) "Pullman and its public: Image and aim in making and interpreting history", The Public Historian, Vol.11, No. 4 (Autumn), pp. 99-112
- ^ Newcomen T. (1998) Pullman, Illinois
- ^ The Beman Committee of the Pullman Civic Organisation (n.d.), Homeowner's Guide: Pullman Historic District, Available at http://www.pullmancivic.org/beman/homeownersGuide.pdf
- Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Paral, Rob. "Chicago Community Areas Historical Data". Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ "Census Tract 5003, Cook, IL". Census Reporter. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ "Census Tract 5002, Cook, IL". Census Reporter. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ "Census Tract 5001, Cook, IL". Census Reporter. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ Gordon, Alex, Ridin' the reels, Chicago Tribune, October 7, 2007
- DNAinfo.com. Archived from the originalon March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
- DNAinfo.com. Archived from the originalon March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
- ^ Sun Times Staff (June 24, 2017). "Dems drop support for Dorothy Brown, endorse Ald. Michelle Harris". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ Connolly, Colleen (February 6, 2015). "Get to Know Your Ward: 9th Ward". Ward Room. WMAQ-TV. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ "About Bob Fioretti". Chicago Tribune. February 16, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ Konkol, Mark (April 16, 2007). "Historic Pullman - Like living in a movie set". Archived from the original on 2011-05-23. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ^ Johnson, K.C. (December 14, 1997). "Walker Has Reason To Rely On His Survival Skills". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ "Pullman" (Map). City of Chicago. Retrieved on December 19, 2016.
- ^ "Near North/West/Central Elementary Schools " (). Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved on December 19, 2016.
- ^ "HS Far South." Chicago Public Schools. August 16, 2009. Retrieved on December 19, 2016.
Further reading
- Buder, Stanley. Pullman: An Experiment in Industrial Order and Community Planning, 1880 - 1930. New York: Oxford University Press, 1967.