West Elsdon,one of the 77official community areas,is located on the southwest side of the City ofChicago, Illinois.It is noted as a twin neighborhood of West Lawn. It has a population which includes a mix of dwindlingPolish-Americanresidents and increasingMexican-Americanresidents who currently constitute a clear majority. It has its own association, "West Elsdon Civic Association," which privately organizes the neighborhood.St. Turibiusgrade school, aRoman Catholicelementary school, located at 57th and Karlov, closed in 2013 and is currently inactive though the building remains and is adjacent toSt. TuribiusRoman Catholicchurch. The former LourdesRoman Catholicgirls' high school located from 55th to 56th street from Komensky to Karlov Avenue is now a Chicago Public Schools magnet high school, John Hancock High School.
West Elsdon | |
|---|---|
| Community Area 62 - West Elsdon | |
 Location within the city of Chicago | |
| Coordinates:41°47.4′N87°43.2′W/ 41.7900°N 87.7200°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| City | Chicago |
| Neighborhoods | list
|
| Area | |
• Total | 1.18 sq mi (3.06 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,394 |
| • Density | 16,000/sq mi (6,000/km2) |
| Demographics2018[1] | |
| •White | 14.79% |
| • Black | 1.50% |
| • Hispanic | 81.45% |
| • Asian | 2.14% |
| • Other | 0.11% |
| Time zone | UTC-6(CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5(CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | parts of 60629 and 60632 |
| Median income | $55,380[1] |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | |
History
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 2,861 | — | |
| 1940 | 3,255 | 13.8% | |
| 1950 | 7,728 | 137.4% | |
| 1960 | 14,215 | 83.9% | |
| 1970 | 14,059 | −1.1% | |
| 1980 | 12,797 | −9.0% | |
| 1990 | 12,266 | −4.1% | |
| 2000 | 15,921 | 29.8% | |
| 2010 | 18,109 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 18,394 | 1.6% | |
| [1][2] | |||
Before the early 20th century, the area now designated West Elsdon was a marshy remnant of an ancient lake. The early settlers wereGerman-AmericansandIrish-Americans.During the 1930s, housing was built andPolish-Americansand other Central Europeans settled the area. The land remained rural untilWorld War II,when growth resumed and brick houses were built. After World War II, West Elsdon was the site of theAirport Homes race riots,the worst episode of racial inspired violence that the city faced in some thirty years.[3][4]The West Elsdon Civic Association became one of the first vocal political enemies of the CHA and its first executive secretary, Elizabeth Wood. Opposition to public housing remained strong in the area. In the early 1970s the West Elsdon Civic Association was an active participant in the "No-CHA" citywide coalition opposing scattered-site public housing in predominantly middle-class white neighborhoods.[3]
Later,Mexican-Americanssettled in the eastern part of the community. Soon public schools were registering moreHispanic-Americans,and theCTAOrange Line was built to connectMidway Airportto Downtown.
Politics
editThe West Elsdon community has supported theDemocratic Partyin the past two presidential elections by large margins. In the2016 presidential election,West Elsdon cast 3,910 votes forHillary Clintonand cast 685 votes forDonald Trump(82.18% to 14.40%).[5]In the2012 presidential election,West Elsdon cast 3,015 votes forBarack Obamaand cast 736 votes forMitt Romney(79.45% to 19.39%).[6]
Notable people
edit- Anne M. Burke,Illinois Supreme CourtJustice and wife of Alderman Ed Burke.[7]
- Daniel J. Burke,Democraticmember of theIllinois House of Representativessince 1991. He is a West Elsdon resident and alderman Ed Burke's brother.
- Ed Burke,longtime 14th ward alderman representing West Elsdon and the surrounding area on theChicago City Council.He is the husband of Justice Anne Burke.[7]
- Jenny McCarthy,actress,Playboymodel and anti-vaccine activist. She was raised in West Elsdon.[8]
- Joanne McCarthy,professional athlete who played for theChicago Condorsof theAmerican Basketball Leagueduring the 1998 season. Jenny McCarthy's sister, she was also raised in West Elsdon.[8]
References
edit- ^abc"Community Data Snapshot - West Elsdon"(PDF).cmap.illinois.gov.MetroPulse.RetrievedJuly 11,2020.
- ^Paral, Rob."Chicago Community Areas Historical Data".RetrievedSeptember 3,2012.
- ^ab"West Elsdon".Encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org.RetrievedOctober 17,2014.
- ^Arnold Richard Hirsch(May 8, 1998).Making the Second Ghetto.ISBN9780226342443.RetrievedOctober 17,2014.
- ^Ali, Tanveer (November 9, 2016)."How Every Chicago Neighborhood Voted In The 2016 Presidential Election".DNAInfo.Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2019.RetrievedOctober 4,2019.
- ^Ali, Tanveer (November 9, 2012)."How Every Chicago Neighborhood Voted In The 2012 Presidential Election".DNAInfo.Archived fromthe originalon February 3, 2019.RetrievedOctober 4,2019.
- ^abSkonicki, Kathyanne (December 4, 2007)."Honorary Degrees to be Conferred Upon Local, National Leaders"(Press release).Romeoville, Illinois:Lewis University.RetrievedSeptember 4,2017.
- ^abLinke, Denise (April 9, 2016)."Trip to Chicago brings back memories".Chicago Tribune.Chicago, Illinois.RetrievedSeptember 4,2017.