Avalon Park, Chicago facts for kids

Avalon Park is a neighborhood located on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is one of the 77 official community areas that make up the city of Chicago. This area is also home to a park named Avalon Park.

What is Avalon Park?

Avalon Park is a community area found on the south side of Chicago. Its borders are 76th Street to the north, South Chicago Avenue to the east, and 87th Street to the south. These boundaries help define this specific part of the city.

A Changing Community

During the 1960s, Avalon Park experienced a big change in its population. This is called a demographic change, which means the types of people living in the area shifted. For example, in 1960, almost no African American residents lived in Avalon Park. Out of 12,710 people, only six were African American. However, just ten years later, by 1970, about 83% of the people living in Avalon Park were African American. This shows a rapid and significant change in who called the neighborhood home.

Building the Area

To help the area grow and develop, an important sewer system was built in 1910. This system was crucial because it helped to drain water from the land. By draining the area, it became much easier to build new homes, businesses, and other structures. This development helped Avalon Park become the community it is today.