South Chicago, Chicago

South Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)

Community Area 46 - South Chicago Chicago Community Area 46 - South Chicago Location within the city of Chicago
Latitude Longitude	41°44.4′N 87°33′W
Neighborhoods	South Chicago
ZIP Code	parts of 60617
Area	8.65 km² (3.23 mi²)
Population (2000) Density	38,596 (down 5.35% from 1990) 4,461.7 /km²
Demographics	White Black Hispanic Asian Other	3.94% 68.0% 26.4% 0.13% 1.54%
Median income	$34,279
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

South Chicago, formerly known as Ainsworth, is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois.

This chevron-shaped community is one of Chicago's 16 lakefront neighborhoods near the southern rim of Lake Michigan. A working-class neighborhood, it is bordered by East 79th Street on the north, South Chicago Avenue (and the Chicago Skyway) on the west, a small stretch of East 95th Street on the south, and Lake Michigan on the eastern edge. With the Grand Calumet River on the community's southeast side, South Chicago is a gateway to the Calumet Region. A permanently raised rail bridge spans the river between South Chicago and East Side, locally known as the "Golden Gate of South Chicago."

Once separate from Chicago, South Chicago began as a series of scattered settlements and became a village. The community was formed out of wetland prairie to provide a local labor force for the Joseph H. Brown Mill, founded in 1875. None of the original topography remains, however; as with most of urban Chicago, the community is totally developed.

South Chicago was incorporated in 1883, bursting at the seams with the popularity of the World Columbian Exposition of 1893. The steel mill became U.S. Steel Southworks in 1901, continuing to attract immigrants from Ireland, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Italy. At its zenith, South Chicago made Chicago the leading producer of steel products in the nation. The Sears Tower and the Hancock Building were built from South Chicago steel.

While South Chicago has a sizable African American population, existing ethnic groups continue to have strong community ties in the area. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the only parish founded by Mexicans in the City of Chicago. Immaculate Conception and later Saint Bronislava have served South Chicago's Polish residents for over 80 years and now have significant Latino populations as well.

Much of the business and shopping is done along Commercial Avenue. Several privately owned businesses such as clothing stores, furniture and retail, and beauty salons, can be found along Commercial Avenue. Restaurants from Nigerian to Italian cuisine are found in South Chicago. Despite the slow economy, "Mom and Pop" stores flourish throughout South Chicago's residential areas, more than any other neighborhood. The intersection of East 92nd Street and South Commercial Avenue has attracted many corporations and banks into the community, while new businesses are growing from East 83rd Street south along the revitalized Commercial Avenue. Commercial Avenue is also home to many non-profit organizations including Healthy South Chicago, the Alianza Leadership Institute, Centro Comunitario Juan Diego, and SEDCOM.

Close by is the historic Bessemer Park, named after English scientist Henry Bessemer, who revolutionized the steelmaking process. The park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the famous landscape architects of New York's Central Park, as well as Chicago landmarks Washington Park and Jackson Park, during the World Columbian Exposition. Their work on the park started in early 1904 and finished late in 1905. The Fieldhouse, though upgraded, retains much of its original charm. Bessemer Park and Russell Square Park, near the Cheltenham section are among their last commissions, and among the largest parks on the Southeast Side.

Since the de-industrialization of South Chicago's once inaccessible shoreline in the late 1970s, East 87th Street has been extended to Lake Michigan with the look and feel of a landscaped boulevard. The former Southworks site Brownfield, an area larger than the Loop, is a cleared and remediated table of slag and concrete, currently being transformed into Chicago's newest lakefront park with prospects from notable developers, which has put South Chicago at the center of the city's largest lakefront redevelopment effort in the 21st Century. Mixed residential, retail and recreation are quietly planned. The new park will also effectively complete the last link, finally closing the century old gap between Chicago's world-class chain of parks, and fulfilling the dreams of noted Chicago planner, Daniel Burnham, for a free and clear lakefront.

Located as far as 3300 east of the CTA Red Line in some areas, the neighborhood contains 4 newly built Metra Electric District, South Chicago Branch Stations: Cheltenham, E. 83rd St., E. 87th St., and South Chicago, which terminate in the heart of the neighborhood's business district along South Baltimore Avenue, and are the community's most accessible commuter rail service to downtown Chicago. The Metra is mainly a suburban commuter service, the South Chicago Branch being the only line terminus in the city.

During the 1950s many residents called South Chicago "The Bush" and worked primarily at the steel mills such as US Steel, Youngstown Steel, Republic Steel, Bethleham Steel, and LaSalle Steel. The excess steel, (in reality it was graphite) from the smokestacks would cause the cars and sidewalks to sparkle. Softball and bowling were popular pastimes. Large Polish weddings on Saturdays were also quite common.