Calumet Heights, Chicago facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calumet Heights
|
|
|---|---|
| Community Area 48 - Calumet Heights | |
 |
|
Location within the city of Chicago
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| City | Chicago |
| Neighborhoods |
list
Calumet Heights
Pill Hill |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.77 sq mi (4.58 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 13,088 |
| • Density | 7,401/sq mi (2,858/km2) |
| Demographics 2015 | |
| • White | 2.24% |
| • Black | 93.47% |
| • Hispanic | 3.23% |
| • Asian | 0.04% |
| • Other | 1.03% |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
parts of 60617, 60619
|
| Median household income | $49,923 |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | |
Calumet Heights is a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the 77 official community areas in the city. Calumet Heights is bordered by 87th Street to the north, South Chicago Avenue to the east, and railroad tracks to the west and south (near 95th Street).
Contents
History of Calumet Heights
For a long time in the 1800s, Calumet Heights was mostly swampy land and not many people lived there. In 1870, a company bought the Stony Island Ridge area. A railroad was built nearby in 1881, which helped the neighborhood grow.
The area became part of the Village of Hyde Park in 1889. Soon after, Hyde Park joined the city of Chicago.
During the Chicago Freedom Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. visited Calumet Heights. He was welcomed by a local business owner. This was different from some other parts of Chicago, where he faced difficulties during his marches.
People and Population
Calumet Heights was first settled by immigrants from Ireland and Germany. Later, people from Italy, Poland, and Yugoslavia moved there. In the 1960s, the first African American families moved into the area. At first, they were not always welcomed.
However, unlike some other neighborhoods, Calumet Heights kept much of its wealth as the population changed. In 2015, the average income in Calumet Heights was a bit higher than in Chicago overall. More residents here earned between $75,000 and $149,999 than in the rest of Chicago.
A study from 2017 showed that about 13,732 people lived in Calumet Heights. Most residents (93.5%) were African American. About 2.2% were White, and 3.2% were Hispanic or Latino.
The population included people of all ages. About 20% were under 19, and 24% were 65 or older. The average age was 46 years old.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 7,343 | — | |
| 1940 | 7,417 | 1.0% | |
| 1950 | 9,349 | 26.0% | |
| 1960 | 19,352 | 107.0% | |
| 1970 | 20,123 | 4.0% | |
| 1980 | 20,505 | 1.9% | |
| 1990 | 17,453 | −14.9% | |
| 2000 | 16,014 | −8.2% | |
| 2010 | 16,431 | 2.6% | |
| 2020 | 13,088 | −20.3% | |
Economy and Jobs
There are about 2,327 jobs in the Calumet Heights area. Most jobs are in healthcare (58.7%). Other common jobs are in restaurants and hotels (12.1%), retail stores (8.4%), and office work (3.6%). Many people who work in Calumet Heights actually live outside of Chicago.
About 56% of Calumet Heights residents are part of the workforce. Most of them (83%) have jobs. The top jobs for residents are in healthcare (18.5%), education (14.1%), and public administration (9.8%). Many residents travel to downtown Chicago for work, and some commute outside of Chicago.
Calumet Heights is also part of Chicago Enterprise Zone 3. An enterprise zone is a special area where businesses can get tax breaks. This helps encourage new development and jobs in the community.
Education in Calumet Heights
Calumet Heights is part of the City of Chicago School District #299. It is also part of the City Colleges of Chicago District #508. The closest college campus is Olive–Harvey College.
Most adults in Calumet Heights (88.5%) have a high school diploma. About 27.4% have earned a bachelor's degree from college.
The Bronzeville Children's Museum is located in Calumet Heights. This museum is special because it is the only children's museum in the United States that focuses on African-American history. It moved to Calumet Heights in the early 2000s.
Geography and Landmarks
Calumet Heights is bordered by 87th Street to the north, South Chicago Avenue to the east, and railroad tracks to the west and south (along 95th Street). It includes the neighborhoods of Calumet Heights, Pill Hill, and Stony Island Heights.
The area is named after a special hill that starts around 91st Street and Constance Avenue. This stony hill was once an island thousands of years ago. Back then, a huge glacial lake called Lake Chicago covered the area. Early settlers called it Stony Island because it looked like an island in the flat prairie land. You can also find a similar place nearby called Blue Island.
Famous People from Calumet Heights
Many notable people have connections to Calumet Heights:
- Dorothy A. Brown has served as the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County since 2000.
- Common is a well-known rapper and actor. He won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for his song Glory. He grew up in Calumet Heights.
- Greg Mitchell is an Alderman for Chicago's 7th ward. He has lived in Calumet Heights for a long time.
See also
In Spanish: Calumet Heights (Chicago) para niños
