Washington Park (community area), Chicago
Washington Park | ||
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Neighborhoods List
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Area | ||
• Total | 1.48 sq mi (3.83 km2) | |
Population (2020) ZIP Codes | parts of 60609, 60615, 60621, 60637 | |
Median household income | $27,458[1] | |
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services |
Washington Park is a
It and surrounding neighborhoods have gone through notable and often turbulent racial transitions.[4]
History
In the mid-to-late 19th century, a large number of
The park in this community area was named for President George Washington in 1880.[6] In the 1920s, the University of Chicago created the community area system of city subdivision with the current names that continue to be used today.[7] The community areas although not formally adopted by the United States Census Bureau are largely consistent with census tract boundaries. The Washington Park community area and its census tracts have been unchanged.[8]
Changing demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1930 | 44,016 | — | |
1940 | 52,736 | 19.8% | |
1950 | 56,856 | 7.8% | |
1960 | 43,690 | −23.2% | |
1970 | 46,024 | 5.3% | |
1980 | 31,935 | −30.6% | |
1990 | 19,425 | −39.2% | |
2000 | 14,146 | −27.2% | |
2010 | 11,717 | −17.2% | |
2020 | 12,707 | 8.4% | |
[1][9] |
A turn-of-the-20th-century housing construction boom along with increases in the African American population of the midwest during the Great Migration resulted in the movement of lower-income and predominantly African American Chicagoans southward. Soon, the European-American inhabitants mostly left the area, in a phenomenon often termed "white flight". The transition was rapid and marked with conflicts such as the
The area rapidly changed from
Religion
Structures
The neighborhood once contained many public housing complexes including about a third of the nation's largest, the Robert Taylor Homes.[4] The Taylor homes have been demolished because of the socioeconomic problems that they perpetuated. The area has minimal industry or commerce at the current time.[4] The other property on the NRHP in the area is the Schulze Baking Company Plant.
The
Namesakes
Several nearby regions and institutions use Washington Park in their name. Immediately to the south,
In literature and culture
The Washington Park neighborhood has been the setting for works of popular literature. James T. Farrell's Studs Lonigan trilogy is set in Washington Park.[4] In Richard Wright's novel Native Son, Bigger Thomas drives the drunken Jan Erlone and Mary Dalton around Washington Park, as the two embrace. In addition to hosting the DuSable Museum, the park hosts Fountain of Time, the world's earliest concrete finished art work.[17]
Additionally, the aforementioned adjacent
The play
Notable people
- Dayvon Daquan Bennett (1994–2020), alias "King Von", rapper and songwriter[21]
- African American bank in Chicago. He moved to the then-white neighborhood in 1917.[22]
- Chief Keef (born 1995), rapper and record producer.[23]
- Grover C. Nash (1911–1970), aviator and first Black pilot to fly mail for the United States Postal Service. He resided at 6109 South Calumet Avenue at the time of his feat.[24]
- Cecil A. Partee (1921–1994), 31st and 33rd President of the Illinois Senate. He resided at 6032 South Michigan Avenue while serving as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.[25]
- Deval Patrick (born 1956), 71st Governor of Massachusetts (2007–2015). He was raised in Washington Park.[26]
- Greek-American life. He was a childhood resident of Washington Park.[27]
- Melvin Van Peebles (1932–2021), actor, filmmaker, playwright, novelist and composer. He was a childhood resident of the Washington Park community area at 58th and Calumet.[28]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Community Data Snapshot - Washington Park" (PDF). cmap.illinois.gov. MetroPulse. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ Bachin, Robin (2005). "Washington Park (Park)". The Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
- ^ Hinz, Greg (September 20, 2006). "Daley sets site for Olympic stadium". ChicagoBusiness.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Best, Wallace (2005). "Washington Park (community area)". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
- ISBN 0-7385-0716-4.
- ISBN 0-7385-0716-4.
- Chicago Historical Society. 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ "Spatially Referenced Census Data for the City of Chicago: Sources Available at or through the University of Chicago Library". The University of Chicago Library. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ Paral, Rob. "Chicago Community Areas Historical Data". Retrieved August 29, 2012.
- ^ Best, Wallace (2005). "South Shore". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
- ISBN 0-226-31015-9
- ^ Matthews, Thomas A. "Recent Decisions Affecting Municipalities". Illinois Periodicals Online. Northern Illinois University Libraries. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- ^ "Lake Meadows Park". Chicago Park District. 2006. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- ^ Pacyga, Dominic A. (2005). "South Side". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
- ^ "Washington Park Court District". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. 2003. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- Newsbank. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-226-16234-8.)
Washington Park subdivision Chicago.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "A Raisin in the Sun". NPR.org. March 11, 2002. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- The Chicago Sun-Times, February 5, 2010
- ^ Evans, Maxwell (August 18, 2021). "King Von Mural Near Parkway Gardens Sparked Debate, Threats And Harassment. Now, Neighbors To Vote On Its Fate". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Rodkin, Dennis (May 22, 2013). "This Washington Park Renovation Is the Next Chapter of a Great Chicago Housing Story". Chicago. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ Rosemary Regina Sobol, Chief Keef pays $531 to settle speeding ticket, Chicago Tribune (July 30, 2016): "his former home in the Parkway Gardens apartment complex on the South Side."
- Chicago Defender – via ProQuest.
- ^ Illinois Blue Book 1965-1966 page 268
- ^ DNAinfo Staff (June 7, 2013). "'Deval Patrick Way' Honors Chicago Roots of Massachusetts Governor". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ISBN 9781611175035. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ Van Peebles, Melvin. "Artistic development, near-death experiences, and the power of persistence". BOMB Magazine (Interview). Interviewed by Lee Ann Norman. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
External links
- Official City of Chicago Washington Park Neighborhood Map
- Chicago Park District: Washington Park
- Washington Park Quality-of-Life Neighborhood Planning