Pill Hill, Chicago facts for kids
Pill Hill is a neighborhood located on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is part of the larger Calumet Heights community area. This area is known for its nice homes and quiet streets.
What is Pill Hill Like?
Pill Hill is often seen as the wealthier part of the Stony Island Heights neighborhood. Some people even use "Pill Hill" to talk about the entire Calumet Heights area.
The neighborhood is shaped like a rectangle. It runs for about eight blocks. Its northern border is near East 91st or 92nd Street. The southern border is around East 94th or 95th Street. To the east, you'll find South Paxton Avenue, and to the west, South Cregier Avenue.
Homes in Pill Hill often have their own one-car garages. They also have private yards, which is nice for families. You won't find many shops or businesses here. It's mostly a quiet, residential area. The Bronzeville Children's Museum is located nearby on Stony Island Avenue.
A Look at Pill Hill's History
Pill Hill was first settled by farmers a long time ago. They found the land quite swampy, which made farming hard. In the 1870s, factory workers moved into the area. It became part of Chicago in 1889.
By the 1940s, people who worked in offices and other "white-collar" jobs started moving in. The neighborhood became known for its nice homes and good quality of life. By the 1970s, it was a popular place for African American doctors to live. Many of these doctors worked at the nearby South Chicago Community Hospital.
The name "Pill Hill" came from all the doctors living there. "Pill" was a nickname for medicine or doctors. These doctors lived in large homes on a ridge called Stony Island. Today, the neighborhood is still a good place to live. It is a varied middle-class neighborhood, not just for doctors.
The story of how the neighborhood changed over time is interesting. It was even written about in a book called The South Side: The Racial Transformation of an American Neighborhood. A play named Pill Hill was also set here. It was written by Yale School of Drama graduate Sam Kelley.
During the 1960s, important civil rights leaders visited Pill Hill. People like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson were welcomed in this community. This shows the neighborhood's role in important historical events.
See also
In Spanish: Pill Hill (Chicago) para niños
