Discovering Chicago's West Side Community Areas and Neighborhoods

Discovering Chicago's West Side Communities and Areas

According to the city's official division of its 77 community areas, nine community areas compose the West Side: West Town, the Near West Side, the Lower West Side, Humboldt Park, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, North Lawndale, South Lawndale, and Austin. Within these community areas are smaller neighborhoods, some of which match the community area's name and boundaries, and some of which do not use the community area's name at all. The three main community areas that do not match their colloquial neighborhood names are the Lower West Side, which is widely known as Pilsen; North Lawndale, which is simply known as Lawndale; and South Lawndale, which is widely known as Little Village.

Neighborhoods within these community areas include East Ukrainian Village, Ukrainian Village, Noble Square, Pulaski Park, The Patch, and Wicker Park within West Town; Fifth City within East Garfield Park; Heart of Chicago within the Lower West Side; The Island within Austin; University Village, Greektown, Little Italy, and Tri-Taylor within the Near West Side; Homan Square and K-Town within North Lawndale; Marshall Square within South Lawndale; and West Humboldt Park within Humboldt Park

History Prior to European and U.S. Exploration of Chicago's West Side

Before the European and U.S. exploration, colonization, and acquisition of the land that would become Chicago and the West Side, the area was inhabited by various indigenous populations, including the Cahokian, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Miami. Through tactics like the Treaty of Chicago, U.S. government officials managed to secure land around Lake Michigan.

1830s to Late 19th Century

Chicago's incorporation as a city in 1834 saw settlers residing only as far west as Jefferson Street or Halsted Street, which was less than half a mile west of the Chicago River. Land developers and wealthier newcomers were more interested in developing land to the north and south of the original settlement, mainly because of its proximity to Lake Michigan. As the central business district expanded, retail stores lined Lake Street, connecting the city center with the slowly developing western part. The desire to create an affluent community on the West Side, away from the city center, led to the establishment of Union Park. By the 1860s, the area around Union Park became less affluent, and a wave of European immigration added diversity to the Near West Side, making it an ethnically varied region. Chicago's first Black community emerged on Kinzie Street and Lake Street, adjacent to an Irish community along the river, along with German, French, Czech, and Bohemian communities. Polish immigrants settled further north along the river in West Town to work in factories and on the railroad.

The Great Chicago Fire in 1871 transformed the area, rendering 300,000 residents homeless and causing a migration to other parts of the city. This led to densely populated and overcrowded conditions on the Near West Side. Most Czech and Bohemian residents moved south to establish the neighborhood of Pilsen. Additionally, the Lawndale neighborhood attracted migration due to its fireproof apartment buildings.

Immigration from Europe continued, with Italian and Greek immigrants arriving in large numbers. The Jewish community settled in the area between 12th Street (now Roosevelt Road) and 16th Street. Hull House, founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in 1889, aimed to address the needs of residents in the West Side. The settlement house offered various services, including playgrounds, gymnasiums, language classes for children, employment assistance, garbage removal, and art programs, particularly benefiting the Italian and Greek communities.

In the early to mid-20th century, the West Side expanded as transportation infrastructure developed. Sears, Roebuck and Company was founded in 1893, and the North Western Railway created a community in West Garfield Park. The West Side saw a massive influx of Black residents during the Great Migration from the Southern United States.

By 1940, Chicago's Black population increased to 278,000, and this growth extended to the West Side, particularly in the Near West Side. The West Side saw growing Mexican-American and Puerto Rican communities. The construction of the Eisenhower Expressway in the 1950s displaced many residents, including the Hull House settlement. Much of the Italian and Greek communities relocated to the Northwest Side and suburbs. Black residents moved westward, and the Mexican population also shifted south to Pilsen.

Community Events

The West Side hosts various events, including the Puerto Rican Parade and Festival, Chicago Westside Music Festival, Festa Italiana, Festival de la Villita, and Mexican Independence Day Parades, among others. The West Side offers a vibrant cultural scene, with community events ranging from plays to concerts.

Education

The West Side is home to several colleges and universities, including the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), City Colleges of Chicago, and St. Augustine College. Additionally, there are numerous primary and secondary schools, including public, charter, and Catholic schools. The West Side offers a variety of educational opportunities for its diverse community.