Community Areas of Chicago The community areas in Chicago, as defined by the Social Science Research Committee at the University of Chicago, are 77 divisions of Chicago. They are officially recognized by the City of Chicago. These areas are well-defined and static. Census data are tied to the community areas, and they serve as the basis for a variety of urban planning initiatives on both the local and regional levels. The Social Science Research Committee at University of Chicago defined seventy-five community areas during the late 1920s. At the time, these community areas corresponded roughly to neighborhoods or inter-related neighborhoods within the city. In the 1950s, with the city's annexations for O'Hare International Airport, a seventy-sixth community area was added. Other than the creation of the seventy-seventh community area in 1980 (by separating Edgewater from Uptown), boundaries have never been revised to reflect change but instead have been kept stable to allow comparisons of these areas over time. Community areas are distinct from neighborhoods in Chicago. Community areas often encompass groups of neighborhoods. Although many community areas contain more than one neighborhood, they may also share the same name, or parts of the name, of some of their individual neighborhoods. Political wards of the Chicago City Council are also a distinct geographic concept but may be important in reading history or in modern contexts; they however are redistricted over-time and their boundaries change. The South Side is the largest section of the city, encompassing roughly 60% of the city's land area, and much was annexed in the late 19th century. The section along the lake is marked with public parkland and beaches. The South Side has a higher ratio of single-family homes and also contains most of the city's remaining industry. Historically it was the location of the stockyards, and its industries attracted hundreds of thousands of European immigrants and African-American migrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. More recent immigrants have come from Mexico and Latin America. Along with being the largest section of the city in terms of geography, the South Side is also home to one of the city's largest parades: the annual Bud Billiken Day parade. Held during the second weekend of August, it celebrates children returning to school. The South Side has two of Chicago's largest public parks. Jackson Park, which hosted the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, is the site of the Museum of Science and Industry. The park stretches along the waterfront, situated between the neighborhoods of Hyde Park and South Shore. Washington Park sits slightly west of Jackson Park and the two are connected by a strip of parkland known as Midway Plaisance, which runs parallel to the University of Chicago.
December 2017
West Pullman Post
The word "joy" appears more than 150 times in the Bible. There are over two dozen scriptures dedicated to the power and importance it has in our lives. But how do we find joy in our life and, more importantly, how do we share that joy with others? Here are my tips for arming yourself with joy and spreading it to those around you. 1. Smile at the people you see. 2. Radiate grace. 3. Sing or hum throughout the day. 4. Write a kind note to someone you love, or even your neighbor. 5. Do something you love.
To improve our neighborhoods -- to make
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we safe, and cared for -- takes a lot of work. As have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we community organizers, we know all too lead.� – Nelson Mandela well that we can't do it alone. The ability to them places where people are healthy,
partner effectively with other individuals
and organizations -- both inside and outside the community -- is absolutely essential to doing what we like to call "the work". It all starts when we extend a hand, share what we love, hold space for others, and when we show up regardless of what is going on. Collaboration among communi-
Wikipedia contributors, "Community areas in Chicago," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Community_areas_in_Chicago&oldid=812502018 (accessed November 30, 2017).
ties involves among other things, creating a shared space of honest communication where ideas and concerns can be exchanged. Thank you all for the wonderful
West Pullman Post December 2017
work being done across our neighborhoods and communities.