Auburn Gresham, Chicago

Auburn Gresham
Community area
Community Area 71 - Auburn Gresham
Two-flats built in the early 20th century are common in Gresham.
Location within the city of Chicago
Coordinates:41°44.4′N87°39.6′W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
City	Chicago
Neighborhoods	list Auburn Gresham Gresham
Area
• Total	3.77 sq mi (9.76 km2)
Population (2020)
• Total	44,878
• Density	12,000/sq mi (4,600/km2)
Demographics(2016–2020)
•White	1.00%
• Black	94.5%
• Hispanic	3.00%
• Asian	0.30%
• Other	1.10%
Time zone	UTC-6(CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5(CDT)
ZIP Codes	part of 60620
Median income	$37,741
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

Auburn Gresham,most commonly referred to simply asGresham,is one of the 77official community areasof the city ofChicago, Illinois.It is located on the far south side of the city and was the original location of theSouth Side IrishParade before it was relocated to the adjoiningBeverlyneighborhood immediately southwest.

Development

Auburn Gresham's development as a community dates back to the early nineteenth century, when the area was defined primarily by smallGermanandDutchsettlements. A later influx ofIrishrailroad workers and others lured to theSouth Sideby newly extended city services in the late nineteenth century led to further residential and commercial growth. In the 1920s, the population increased nearly threefold, from 19,558 to 57,381.The plethora ofbungalow-style housing and brick two-flat apartment buildings throughout Auburn Gresham serves as lasting evidence of the community's formative years. Like most other Southside communities, Auburn Gresham suffered fromblockbusting,risingcrime,andwhite flightduring the 1960s: the neighborhood was nearly 100% white in 1960, but flipped to being 69% black by the 1970 census.

St. Sabina Church, dedicated in June 1933, remains a popular place of worship for many Chicagoans.

Transportation

Auburn Gresham is serviced by aMetracommuter rail stop at W. 87th St. and Vincennes Ave., which provides daily inbound service toLaSalle Street Stationin Chicago and outbound service toJoliet.Community leaders have long encouraged the construction of an additional Metra rail stop at W. 79th St.In 2014, the City of Chicago obtained a half-acre parcel of land on which to construct the station.CTAred linestops at 79th St. and 87th St. are also available along theDan Ryan Expresswayin nearbyChatham.

Landmarks

Chicago Public Libraryoperates the Thurgood Marshall Branch in Auburn Gresham at W. 75th St. and S. Racine Ave. The 13,500 square foot library, which features a 125-seat auditorium, reading garden, and several artworks, opened in April 1994.

St. Sabina Church is located in the community, headed by Rev.Michael Pfleger.The church and its priest have been pivotal in helping transform Auburn Gresham, with new housing and store fronts opening up in the neighborhood. One of the largest new single-family home developments in Chicago is nearly complete at W. 87th St. and S. Parnell Ave., in the southeast corner of Auburn Gresham.

Auburn Gresham is home to theSt. LeoCampus for Veterans, which includes the Catholic Charities' St. Leo's Residence, the Auburn Gresham Community Based Outpatient Clinic, the St. Leo's Veteran's Garden, and thePope John Paul IIResidence.The community is also home to Perspectives Leadership Academy and Perspectives Technology Academy which are a part of the Renaissance 2010 program. Both schools are housed in the same building that was home to the formerCalumet High Schoolin the Auburn Gresham community. Calumet High School was one of Chicago's oldest high schools opening its doors to Auburn Gresham neighborhood students in 1919. The Auburn Gresham community is also home to the first urban S.O.S. Children's Village in the U.S.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	19,558		—
1930	57,381		193.4%
1940	57,293		−0.2%
1950	60,978		6.4%
1960	59,484		−2.5%
1970	68,850		15.7%
1980	65,132		−5.4%
1990	59,808		−8.2%
2000	55,928		−6.5%
2010	48,743		−12.8%
2020	44,878		−7.9%

Politics

The Auburn Gresham community area has supported theDemocratic Partyin the past two presidential elections. In the2016 presidential election,the Auburn Gresham cast 19,286 votes forHillary Clintonand cast 272 votes forDonald Trump(97.29% to 1.37%).In the2012 presidential election,Auburn Gresham cast 24,782 votes forBarack Obamaand cast 130 votes forMitt Romney(99.34% to 0.52%).

Notable people

• Philip K. Dick(1928–1982), science fiction writer. Dick was born at 7812 South Emerald Avenue.
• Michael Flatley(born 1958), an Irish step dancer. He grew up near 79th and Ashland.
• John Lyle(1920–2019), pilot and member of theTuskegee Airmen.He was a resident of Auburn Gresham.
• Minyon Moore(born 1958),White House Political Directorfor PresidentBill Clinton.She was raised at West 78th Street and South Honore Street.

External links

• Official City of Chicago Auburn Gresham Community Map