West Lawn, Chicago
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Community Area 65 - West Lawn Location within the city of Chicago |
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| ZIP Code | part of 60629 | |
| Area | 7.72 km² (2.98 mi²) | |
| Population (2000) | 29,235 (up 24.9% from 1990) | |
| Demographics | White Black Hispanic Asian Other |
42.9% 2.60% 51.9% 0.93% 1.66% |
| Median income | $47,017 | |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | ||
West Lawn, one of Chicago's 77 official community areas, is located on the southwest side of the city. It is a quite friendly community, and is considered to be a "melting pot" of sorts, due to its constant change of races moving in and out of the area, as well as the diversity that exists there. It has a small town atmosphere in the big city. People are kind and are established as long-term residents. West Lawn is home to many Polish immigrants, Irish-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and other people of Latin American origin. One small business in the neighborhood, the Capitol Cigar Store at 63rd and Pulaski, features a tall Native American statue as the landmark of West Lawn. The statue is most notable for being seen the movie Wayne's World.
Notable residents include:
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[edit] Neighborhoods
[edit] Ford City
Ford City is a neighborhood on the southwest side of Chicago which immediately surrounds the Ford City Mall, in turn named for the Ford Aircraft plant which previously occupied the site. In the future, the Orange Line of the Chicago 'L' could be extended here.
[edit] History
Chicago Lawn, to the east, was settled while the marshy land of West Lawn remained unsettled. Little housing was built during the 1920s, but it still remained swampy land. Houses were build during the 1930's which then reported German-Americans, Irish-Americans, Polish-Americans, Czech-Americans and Italian-Americans living in the area. The area had been growing until the Great Depression, when the economy declined. After World War II, growth continued and new houses and streets were built. The Airport Homes Race Riots of 60th & Karlov in 1946 were intended to keep black people out of the area. After the 1970s, more Mexican-Americans, Arab-Americans, Irish-Americans, and Polish immigrants started settling the area.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official City of Chicago West Lawn Community Map
- Ford City Mall
- West Lawn Chamber Of Commerce
- Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
- Chicago Park District
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