West Town, Chicago
West Town | ||
---|---|---|
Area | ||
• Total | 4.57 sq mi (11.84 km2) | |
Population (2020) | ||
• Total | 87,781 | |
• Density | 19,000/sq mi (7,400/km2) | |
ZIP Codes | parts of 60612, 60622, 60642, 60647 | |
Median household income | $104,639[1] | |
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services |
West Town, northwest of the
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1930 | 187,292 | — | |
1940 | 169,924 | −9.3% | |
1950 | 161,620 | −4.9% | |
1960 | 139,657 | −13.6% | |
1970 | 125,120 | −10.4% | |
1980 | 96,428 | −22.9% | |
1990 | 87,703 | −9.0% | |
2000 | 87,465 | −0.3% | |
2010 | 81,432 | −6.9% | |
2020 | 87,781 | 7.8% | |
[1] |
Neighborhoods
Pulaski Park
Pulaski Park is a neighborhood directly west of
Pulaski Park derives its name from the
The neighborhood borders on
Pulaski Park was the area of West Town that served as Chicago Congressman
This area's higher population density gave it a more working-class population than Wicker Park. As opposed to other areas of West Town, much of the original housing stock of Pulaski Park has not been torn down for new construction in recent years.
Wicker Park
Wicker Park is a Chicago neighborhood northwest of the
Before the turn of the twentieth century, Germans and Scandinavians tended to live in the area's north and northwestern sections. Wicker Park became the abode of Chicago's wealthy Northern European immigrants. The district proved especially popular with merchants, who built large mansions along the neighborhood's choicest streets—particularly on Hoyne and Pierce, just southwest of North & Damen, known then as Robey. Hoyne was known as "Beer Baron Row," as many of Chicago's wealthiest brewers built mansions there.[12][13]
With the end of the 19th century the area was subsumed into the surrounding
Polish immigration into the area accelerated during and after
Beginning in the 1960s, Wicker Park began to change radically. Completion of the
Efforts by community development groups like Northwest Community Organization (NCO) to stabilize the community through new affordable-housing construction in the 1980s coincided with the arrival of artists attracted by the neighborhood's easy access to the Loop, cheap loft space in the abandoned factories, and distinctly urban feel.
In 1989, the "Around the Coyote" festival was launched to help the hundreds of working artists and micro-galleries in the neighborhood to gain a level of local and international prominence. This 501(c)3
Today, the neighborhood is best known for its numerous commercial and entertainment establishments and being a convenient place to live for downtown workers due to its proximity to public transportation and
The borders of the neighborhood are generally accepted to be North Avenue to the north (at 1600 N) (but the official boundary is the Bloomingdale Trail train tracks just north of North), the Kennedy Expressway on the east north of North Avenue and the Chicago River south of North Avenue, Division to the south (at 1200 N), and Western Avenue to the west (2400 W). Both the East Village and Ukrainian Village are to the south, Humboldt Park is to the west, and Bucktown is to the north.
Notable past and current residents include
Wicker Park is the setting of a 2004 film by the same name. However, the filming of this movie was done on location in Montreal, Quebec. Another film of note that uses Wicker Park as its background is High Fidelity (2000) directed by Stephen Frears and starring Evanston-born John Cusack. Former independent record company Wax Trax! Records, a pioneer in releasing industrial music, had its offices in Wicker Park.
Ukrainian Village
Ukrainian Village, like neighboring East Village began as farmland. Originally
Over the past half century, it has remained a middle-class neighborhood, populated largely by older citizens of Eastern European ethnicity, bordered (and affected) on many sides by more dangerous areas. It was insulated somewhat from surrounding socioeconomic change in the large industrial areas on its south and west borders by the strong fabric of ethnic institutions as well as the staying power of the Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic congregations. These local ethnic institutions include the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, the Ukrainian National Museum, and the Ukrainian Cultural Center.[24] Although Ukrainian Village continues to be the center of Chicago's large Ukrainian community, the gentrification of West Town is rapidly changing the demographic. Ukrainian Village continues to be home to approximately 10,000 ethnic Ukrainians.
Other notable local landmarks include Ss. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral,
On December 4, 2002, the
Neighboring "East Village", the area east of Ukrainian Village extending from Damen to Ashland, was originally known as "East Ukrainian Village".
A few scenes from the popular Russian movie from the 1990s, Brother 2, were filmed in and around Ukrainian Village.
East Village
East Village or "East Ukrainian Village" is a neighborhood directly east of Ukrainian Village. The generally accepted boundaries of East Village are Ashland (1600 W) on the east, Damen (2000 W) on the west, Division (1200 N) on the north, and Chicago (800 N) on the south (although some people extend the southern border to Grand Ave). The East Village Association neighborhood group in 1984 identify the boundaries as Division Street to Chicago Avenue and Damen Avenue to Milwaukee Avenue (800 – 1600 W).[27]
Although
East Village's ethnic turnover coincided with a change in the scale of real estate development, with a host of large residential buildings constructed between Damen and Ashland to create densely packed blocks. East Village's varied built environment juxtaposed ornamented Queen Anne two-flats alongside frame cottages, brick tenements, and greystone three-flats.[16]
Polish immigration into the area accelerated during and after
In the 1960s East Village began to change radically. One major reason was the completion of the
Downtown banks redlined West Town for much of the mid-20th century.[16] Real estate values plummeted as landlords neglected their buildings and speculators sat on vacant land and abandoned property. Small businesses along Chicago Avenues closed, and the arson rate in East Village was so high that in 1976 Mayor Richard J. Daley convened a task force to address the crisis.[16] The Polish exodus out of the neighborhood followed the Kennedy Expressway into the suburbs. The Northwest Community Organization was founded in 1962 to stem white flight by promoting home ownership and integration between longtime Eastern European residents and the newcomers.[16] The institutional infrastructure that held Ukrainian Village together during the 1970s and 1980s was lacking in East Village.[16] Much of the Polish population had moved northwestward to Avondale and beyond, while the Latino community which had begun to organize around issues of affordable housing and other redevelopment strategies designed to stave off displacement increasingly came into conflict with the mostly white artists and other urban-pioneer types who by the early 1980s constituted a minor but significant presence.[16]
Today this neighborhood has been largely gentrified. East Village's historic proximity to the elevated train and higher population density gave it a more working-class population than Ukrainian Village, and much of the original housing stock has been torn down for new construction in recent years. Blocks bounded by Division Street and Chicago, Hermitage and Damen Avenues were designated a Chicago Landmark District in 2006[28] and to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009[29] to preserve its character with these development pressures.
River West
The small area within West Town east of the
In recent news, the 30-Acre Tribune Freedom Center in River West was selected by the Lightfoot Administration to be the location for the first Chicago Casino. The Bally's Corporation is behind the new project dubbed Bally’s Chicago and aims to create a $1.7+ billion "Flagship Destination" to showcase "The Best of Chicago" according to their website. Initially, the development was going to house the casino building, a 500 room hotel tower, several residential/multi-use high rises, an entertainment center, exhibition spaces, museum venues, and other large scale public amenities. The plan also would also include improvements to public infrastructure throughout the area. While developers have since scaled back the initial scope, they still intend on providing the much needed infrastructure improvements such as a public river walk and green space, new arterial streets, underground parking structures and the reconstruction & reconfiguration of the Chicago Avenue & Halsted Street Viaduct.
Noble Square
Noble Square is directly east of East Village. The generally accepted boundaries of Noble Square are the Kennedy Expressway on the east, Ashland (1600 W) on the west, Division (1200 N) on the north, and Chicago (800 N) or Grand (500 N) on the south. The name apparently refers to Eckhart Park, a one-block square park at the northeast corner of Chicago and Noble (1400 W). Its identity may be disappearing: real estate agents have been including its northern half as an eastern section of Wicker Park, while the southern end of this neighborhood has been identified as West Town since around 2000. This neighborhood was listed as "West Town" in 19th-century census records. [citation needed]
Erie Neighborhood House, a social service agency tracing its roots to the settlement house movement of the 19th century, has operated in the neighborhood since 1870, providing services ranging from early childhood education and after-school programming to ESL and citizenship classes for adults.[31] Its historic location is near the intersection of Erie (632 N) and Noble (1400 W).
East Humboldt Park
The western portion of the West Town community area is commonly referred to as "Humboldt Park" or "East Humboldt Park," even though it is not in the Community Area of that name. The 104-block area's boundaries are Western Avenue to the east, Chicago Avenue to the south, North Avenue to the north, and Humboldt Park, the
Smith Park
Smith Park, or "The Patch", lies within Chicago's West Town community. Its formal name comes from the city park on its south border. Bounded by Chicago Avenue (800N) on the north, Grand Avenue (550N) on the south, Western Avenue (2400W) on the east and Washtenaw Avenue (2700W) on the west; the majority of the neighborhood sits within Chicago's 26th Ward, with a small portion a part of the 1st Ward.
Originally settled primarily by Italian immigrants of various old country locales who moved west from the "Little Sicily" area on Sedgwick Street, near where the
In 1929, when a quarry that had been converted to a large city dump in the West Town neighborhood had been completely filled, the Bureau of Sanitation transferred part of the site to the Bureau of Parks and Recreation. The city named the area Smith Athletic Field for Joseph Higgins Smith, alderman of the surrounding 32nd ward from 1914 to 1933. In 1959, the city transferred Smith Park to the Chicago Park District, at which time an artillery piece was placed in the park. A WWII tank was moved to the southeast corner of the park in the early 1990s from its former home at Grand and Western Avenues. This is the landmark by which most Chicagoans recognize Smith Park. The Park District added a spraypool, swimming pool, and bathhouse in the late 1960s and in 1979 a large, modern fieldhouse was constructed. Nine years later, the Park District dedicated its gymnasium to Tom Positano, a high school student who had been active at the park and who posthumously received a Junior Citizenship Award.[38]
Transportation
The
Education
West Town residents are assigned to schools in the Chicago Public Schools.
Currently East Humboldt Park has no public school buildings.[39]
Comprehensive high schools located in the West Town community area include:[40]
Magnet high schools include:
- Chicago High School for the Arts (Chiarts)[41]
- Ogden International School West Campus (high school;[42] previously both middle and high school[43])
Public
- Frederic Chopin School[44]
- Christopher Columbus School[45]
- José de Diego School[46]
- James Otis School - Originally established in 1878 as the Armour Street School, renamed after James Otis Sr. in 1901.[47]
- A.N. Pritzker School
- Talcott School[48]
Magnet K-8 schools include:
- Sabin Dual Language Magnet School[49]
- Golder College Prep
- Noble Street College Prep
- Rauner College Prep
- Erie Elementary School, former Duprey School[50][51]
- Esmeralda Santiago School, Acero Schools[52] - In the former St. Mark School[53]
Private schools include:
- Chicago Academy for the Arts
- Holy Trinity High School
- Josephinum Academy
- The Chicago Academy for the Arts, a private, independent high school located in River West
- Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, an alternative high school near Division Street and California Avenue where the staff use critical pedagogy in their collective work with the Puerto Rican community.[54]
- Bennett Day School[55]
Catholic elementary and pre-schools (of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago) include:
- St. Nicholas Cathedral School, located in Ukrainian Village
- St. Helen School, located in Ukrainian Village. This school is where former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Former public schools:
- Ana Roque de Duprey School initially had its own building, but later moved into the Von Humboldt Elementary School building, while a charter school occupied the former Duprey School (CPS used the building as leasable space).[56] The closure of the original Duprey School happened in 2012. At the time Duprey had 100 students and it was considered to be the least-used school building in CPS.[39] In 2013 there were plans to close the Von Humboldt Building, including Duprey and Von Humboldt, with students moved to Jose de Diego School.[56]
- Alexander Von Humboldt Elementary School - Its first phase began construction in 1884. There was an 1896 addition and another in 1921.[57] In 2013 there were plans to close Von Humboldt, with students moved to Jose de Diego School.[56] The school closed that year. In 2022 there were plans to convert it into apartment units for CPS teachers.[58]
- Lafayette School - At the time of closure in 2012, 30% of the Lafayette students were special education students who lived in various parts of Chicago. Lafayette-zoned persons were rezoned to Chopin School.[59]
In 2012 CPS decided to close three
Former Catholic schools:
Healthcare
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2024) |
Humboldt Park Health (formerly Norwegian American Hospital) is in West Town community area.
Notable people
- L. Frank Baum (1856–1919), author of the Oz book series. He and his family resided at 1667 North Humboldt Boulevard when he wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.[61]
- Harry Neal Baum (1889–1967), author and historian. He was raised at 1667 North Humboldt Boulevard.[61]
- Frank Joslyn Baum (1883–1958), lawyer, soldier, writer, and film producer. He was raised at 1667 North Humboldt Boulevard.[61]
- Saul Bellow (1915-2005), writer and winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature. His family moved to 2629 West Augusta Boulevard when he was nine years old.[62]
- Jessica Camacho (born 1982), actress. She was a childhood resident of West Town, living at the corner of West Division Street and North Mozart Street.[63]
- Stephen Colbert (born 1964), comedian and television host. He resided in Ukrainian Village during the early 1990s.[64]
Landmarks
- Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral
- Division Street Russian and Turkish Baths
See also
- Chopin Theatre
- Polish Americans
- Polish Cathedral style
References
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- ^ Paral, Rob. "Chicago Community Areas Historical Data". Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ "Near Northwest Side Plan". www.chicago.gov.
- ^ "West Town". www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org.
- ^ "Chicago Park District: Pulaski Park". Archived from the original on June 14, 2011.
- ^ "Chicago listings on the National Register of Historic Places" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2010.
- ^ "COC | Landmarks web - Home". Archived from the original on February 12, 2010.
- ^ "nwchicagohistory.org is coming soon". nwchicagohistory.org. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
- ^ Granacki, Victoria: Chicago's Polish Downtown, Arcadia Press, 2004, p. 6-7
- ^ The Labor Trail Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "On the Old 'Polish Broadway,' Boutiques and Spas Arrive". The New York Times. July 3, 2005. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Odd S. Lovoll, A Century of Urban Life: the Norwegians in Chicago before 1930 (Northfield, MN: Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1988)
- ^ A. E. Strand, A History of the Norwegians of Illinois (Chicago: J. Anderson, 1905)
- ^ "Wicker Park". www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org.
- ^ "The Ways and Means Chief of Kostkaville : Politics: It's all the little things that 'Danny' Rostenkowski does for the 5th District that make his neighborhood so loyal". Los Angeles Times. June 4, 1994.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Chicago Reader | Ukrainian Village and East Village | Eastern Europeans, Latinos, artists, and aldermen have left their mark on the area real estate agents are calli..." www1.chicagoreader.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
- ^ Guzlowski, John (September 14, 2007). "Echoes of Tattered Tongues: Memory Unfolded: DPs in the Polish Triangle, Chicago, 1950s".
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- ^ "aroundthecoyote.org - Diese Website steht zum Verkauf! - Informationen zum Thema aroundthecoyote". www.aroundthecoyote.org.
- ^ "City of Chicago – Chicago Artists Month". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
- ^ Casillas, Ofelia (September 25, 2009). "Wicker Park's artsy reputation proves a good fit for vintage clothing sales". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Belsha, Kalyn (April 22, 2011). "Could Wicker Parkers' app be the next big thing". Chicago Redeye. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ "Chicago Landmarks | Wicker Park District". www.ci.chi.il.us. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007.
- ^ "ukraine-observer.com". www.ukraine-observer.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "Ukrainian Village District". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. 2003. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2007.
- ^ "Reports of Committees: Ukrainian Village District Extension" (Document). City Clerk's Office – City of Chicago. April 11, 2007. pp. 102605–102648.
- ^ "East Village Association bylaws". Archived from the original on April 6, 2012.
- ^ "Chicago Landmarks - District Details". webapps1.chicago.gov.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". www.nps.gov.
- ^ "Chicago Neighborhood Details: River West". www.chicagohome.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
- ^ "Erie Neighborhood House - History". www.eriehouse.org.
- ^ "Home". www.easthumboldtpark.org.
- ^ "Why Jose Lopez Stands Between Gentrification and Humboldt Park". Chicago magazine. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ Real-Time, Redfin (January 14, 2014). "Hottest Neighborhoods of 2014 - @Redfin". Redfin Real-Time. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "Humboldt Park's Reclaimed 'WOW District' Thrives 'West of Western'". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "CHICAGO's WOW District: Located West of Western. We are artists, poets, innovators, designers, filmmakers, lovers of vintage, dancers, doers, dreamers and neighbors". wowdistrict.com. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "Augusta Boulevard Becomes Humboldt Park's Very Own Mag Mile". Check, Please! | WTTW. May 15, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "Chicago Park District: Smith (Joseph Higgins) Park". Archived from the original on June 14, 2011.
- ^ DNAInfo. Archived from the originalon December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
- ^ "HS North/Near North" (PDF). Chicago Public Schools. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 22, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
- ^ "Home" (PDF). Chicago High School for the Arts. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "The Ogden International School of Chicago". ogden.cps.edu. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "Our School - The Ogden International School of Chicago". September 17, 2015. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "Home". Federic Chopin School. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
2450 W. Rice St. Chicago, IL 60622
- ^ "Home". Christopher Columbus School. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
1003 North Leavitt Street Chicago, IL 60622
- ^ "Home". Jose de Diego School. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
1313 North Claremont Ave. Chicago, IL 60622
- ^ "History". James Otis School. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
525 N Armour St, Chicago, IL 60642
- ^ "Home". Talcott School. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
1840 West Ohio Street Chicago, IL 60622
- ^ "Home". Sabin Dual Language Magnet School. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
2216 W. Hirsch, Chicago, IL 60622
- ^ "Home". Erie Charter School. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
1405 N. Washtenaw Ave. Chicago, IL 60622
- ^ "Ana Roque de Duprey School". Chicago Public Schools. Archived from the original on May 23, 1998. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
1405 North Washtenaw Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60622
- ^ "School Locations". www.aceroschools.org. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ a b "Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Archived from the original on December 14, 2000. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
St. Mark 2510 W. Cortez St.
- ^ "DropCatch.com". www.dropcatch.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "Home". Bennett Day School. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
955 W. Grand Ave Chicago, IL 60642
- ^ a b c Brackett, Elizabeth (April 30, 2013). "Duprey Elementary School's Fight to Stay Open". WTTW. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "HISTORIC ILLINOIS BUILDINGS SURVEY ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT SCHOOL" (PDF). Historic Preservation Division, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Shuttered Elementary School Would Become New Apartment Building for Teachers in Humboldt Park". City of Chicago. September 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- DNAInfo. Archived from the originalon December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
[...]Lafayette, located at 2714 W. Augusta Blvd.[...]
- Archdiocese of Chicago. October 2020. p. 6/14. Retrieved January 22, 2024. - Campbell Avenue is the cross-street with Cortez Street.
- ^ a b c Rodkin, Dennis (November 3, 2019). "A yellow brick road honors 'Oz' author on site of his home". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ Reeder, Richard (2015). "The Saul Bellow Centenary" (PDF). Chicago Jewish History. 39 (2): 5.
- ^ "Living the Dream". Splash. December 29, 2019. p. 10. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Stephen Colbert (presenter) (February 22, 2022). Nothing Putin Says About Ukraine Is True, U.S. Women's Soccer Players Win Fight For Equal Pay (Television production). The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
External links
- Official City of Chicago West Town Community Map
- Humboldt Park
- Historic district description
- Bucktown Arts, Leisure, Businesses
- Humboldt Park Arts, Culture, Gentrification, Immigration
- Encyclopedia of Chicago entry on West Town
- Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art
- Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago
- Wicker Park & Bucktown Chamber of Commerce
- West Town Chamber of Commerce
- Wicker Park Advisory Council
- Around the Coyote Arts Organization
- Wicker Park News
- Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association
- East Village Association
- Bally's Chicago
- Puerto Ricans and gentrification Archived October 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- New York Times: On the Old 'Polish Broadway,' Boutiques and Spas Arrive