History of chicago
Map of Chicago's neighborhoods.
Chicago was a great place for travel and trade because it is situated near a river and a lake, making it an ideal port for travelers from all over the world. Chicago’s site is on flat, fertile land which makes it suitable for growing crops and raising livestock. Before Chicago became a city, it was used as trading grounds for American Indians. The Indians gathered annually at where the Chicago River flows into Lake Michigan to trade. Chicago’s first permanent settler was John Baptiste Point DuSable, a free black man who came to Chicago to take advantage of the trade opportunities between the Indians.
Chicago was soon recognized for its promise. Because of Chicago’s location near coal mines and iron ore, railroads began to be built in 1848. This attracted big industries like the meat packing industry because it made the transfer of goods easier. Chicago began being called “the metropolis of the west” because it was the focal point of trading between continents and was the main center for the new nation manufacturing market. There was an influx of immigrants to Chicago, mostly European, because of the new job opportunities available in factories. As the population grew, Chicago expanded and acquired more land. West Englewood was established as Chicago expanded.
Chicago was soon recognized for its promise. Because of Chicago’s location near coal mines and iron ore, railroads began to be built in 1848. This attracted big industries like the meat packing industry because it made the transfer of goods easier. Chicago began being called “the metropolis of the west” because it was the focal point of trading between continents and was the main center for the new nation manufacturing market. There was an influx of immigrants to Chicago, mostly European, because of the new job opportunities available in factories. As the population grew, Chicago expanded and acquired more land. West Englewood was established as Chicago expanded.
History of west englewood
Image of West Englewood.
In the late 1840s, West Englewood was a swampy area with white settlers as its residents. In the 1850s, the development of railroads brought new residents into West Englewood for job opportunities. West Englewood became “a slow building boom” when survivors of the Chicago Fire were looking for a new home in the early 1870s. People came to West Englewood during that time because they were seeking a place to escape from the overcrowded city.
After World War I, the population started to increase because there was an influx of Irish immigrants, and also because railroad and stockyard companies were looking for workers. The population of West Englewood in the 1920s was a majority of Germans, Irish, and Italians. There were 53,276 people in West Englewood. During the 1930s, the population continued to grow as African Americans slowly started to move in. The time period between the 1940s and 1950s, experienced the most influx of migrants of African Americans from the South to the North for job opportunities.
This movement became known as the Great Migration. West Englewood experienced its biggest demographic change in the 1970s and 1980s because the population of African Americans increased from 48 percent to 98 percent. During this time, whites were moving out of the neighborhood and into to the suburbs for jobs. There was a decrease in West Englewood economy in the 1970s because of the loss of the Chicago Transit Authority bus barn and the loss of stockyards and railroads jobs. Since there were many jobs lost, West Englewood experienced its first decline in population.
The population in 1990 was 52,772 when previously the population reached its peak in 1980 at 62,069. During the 1990s, the city tried to revive West Englewood by building Kennedy King College and making Lindblom Math and Science Academy a selective enrollment school. The city hoped that both would attract new residents to the neighborhood, but because the economy was bad, it didn’t really work. Abandoned homes and vacant lots were demolished and much of the homeowners were provided finical and advisory assistance from three area churches. To this day Neighborhood Housing Services have addressed some of the problems that the neighborhood has been facing.
After World War I, the population started to increase because there was an influx of Irish immigrants, and also because railroad and stockyard companies were looking for workers. The population of West Englewood in the 1920s was a majority of Germans, Irish, and Italians. There were 53,276 people in West Englewood. During the 1930s, the population continued to grow as African Americans slowly started to move in. The time period between the 1940s and 1950s, experienced the most influx of migrants of African Americans from the South to the North for job opportunities.
This movement became known as the Great Migration. West Englewood experienced its biggest demographic change in the 1970s and 1980s because the population of African Americans increased from 48 percent to 98 percent. During this time, whites were moving out of the neighborhood and into to the suburbs for jobs. There was a decrease in West Englewood economy in the 1970s because of the loss of the Chicago Transit Authority bus barn and the loss of stockyards and railroads jobs. Since there were many jobs lost, West Englewood experienced its first decline in population.
The population in 1990 was 52,772 when previously the population reached its peak in 1980 at 62,069. During the 1990s, the city tried to revive West Englewood by building Kennedy King College and making Lindblom Math and Science Academy a selective enrollment school. The city hoped that both would attract new residents to the neighborhood, but because the economy was bad, it didn’t really work. Abandoned homes and vacant lots were demolished and much of the homeowners were provided finical and advisory assistance from three area churches. To this day Neighborhood Housing Services have addressed some of the problems that the neighborhood has been facing.
Demographics of west englewood
Pie Graph of the Race Population recently.
During the 1930s, the population in West Englewood was predominantly Caucasian. Thirty years later, the white population went from 96.6% to 88.2%, and the African American population increased from 3.1% to 11.7%. During the time the white population decreased and the black population increased, the White Flight occurred. The white flight was when whites moved further away from the city or into the suburbs. The white flight allowed more African-Americans to move into the southern neighborhoods in Chicago. In the 1990s, West Englewood lost most of its white population.
The population went from 88.2% to 1.3%. The population of African-Americans in West Englewood exploded. There was 11.7% of African-Americans in this neighborhood, and by 1990, the population was 98.1%. The current population of blacks in West Englewood remained the same but the white population continued to drop to 0.6%. Now there's a mix of Hispanic and other races in West Englewood. Even though the population of the African-Americans and other races increase, the population dropped which left vacant lots and homes.
The population went from 88.2% to 1.3%. The population of African-Americans in West Englewood exploded. There was 11.7% of African-Americans in this neighborhood, and by 1990, the population was 98.1%. The current population of blacks in West Englewood remained the same but the white population continued to drop to 0.6%. Now there's a mix of Hispanic and other races in West Englewood. Even though the population of the African-Americans and other races increase, the population dropped which left vacant lots and homes.
Other information.
Map of West Englewood to the Loop
West Englewood is about 10.1 miles away from the loop, and eighteen minutes away from the loop by car. West Englewood's cultural landscape has a strong African-American culture. Since majority of the community is African-Americans, Christian churches are everywhere. The Englewood Community Cultural Planning Council is a partnership of artists, residents, organizations, businesses, and intuitions that represent and serve the communities of Englewood and West Englewood.