West Englewood, Chicago facts for kids

Quick facts for kids West Englewood
Community area
Community Area 67 - West Englewood
Location within the city of Chicago
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
City	Chicago
Neighborhoods	list West Englewood Drexel Estate Murray Park Hermitage Park
Area
• Total	3.15 sq mi (8.16 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	29,647
• Density	9,410/sq mi (3,633.2/km2)
Demographics 2020
• White	1.5%
• Black	86.9%
• Hispanic	9.6%
• Asian	0.1%
• Other	1.9%
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	part of 60636
Median income 2020	$26,439
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

West Englewood is one of the 77 official community areas in the city of Chicago, Illinois. It's located on the southwest side of Chicago. Long ago, it was called South Lynne. Its borders are Garfield Boulevard to the north, Racine Avenue to the east, and railroad tracks to the west and south. Even though it's a separate community, its history and culture are closely connected to the nearby Englewood neighborhood.

West Englewood: A Chicago Community

Early Days and Growth

The first European settlers arrived in the West Englewood area in the 1840s. Most of them were farmers from Germany and Sweden. Later, when railroad lines were built, the area became known as Chicago Junction. This name soon changed to Junction Grove. Today, you can still find Junction Grove Playlot Park, which reminds people of the area's past. By 1865, Junction Grove became an official town called Lake, which was later renamed Englewood.

Two big events helped West Englewood and Englewood grow. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed many neighborhoods to the north. People needed new homes. These areas were perfect because they had open land and railroad lines. This made them great for Chicagoans looking for less crowded places. In 1889, Englewood and West Englewood officially became part of the City of Chicago. This happened when the town of Lake joined the city.

After joining Chicago, streetcars arrived. This was the second big reason for growth. In 1903, the Englewood Elevated Railway Company built a train line. This line connected to the South Side Elevated Railroad. These new ways to travel made it easy for workers to get to jobs. Many worked at the stockyards, which were large meatpacking centers, or in downtown Chicago.

Changes Over Time

Around the same time, many European immigrants came to Chicago. They found jobs in places like the stockyards and steel mills. Also, Black people from the southern United States began moving to the city. This started during World War I. They were looking for better opportunities and to escape unfair treatment and limited rights in the South. At first, they competed with immigrants for jobs and housing. Due to discrimination, Black families were often limited to specific older housing areas on the South Side.

In 1930, West Englewood had over 63,000 residents. Most of them were white, and about a quarter were born in other countries. The population reached its highest point in 1940, with more than 64,000 people.

After World War II, many jobs changed. The stockyards moved away, and good-paying jobs in steel mills also left the area. Railroad jobs also decreased. This meant many people lost their work.

By 1960, the average income in West Englewood was similar to the rest of Chicago. About 12% of the residents were Black.

In the 1960s, new civil rights laws helped open up more housing options for Black families. They began moving to West Englewood and other southern neighborhoods. However, with fewer good jobs available, it became harder for people to achieve a middle-class life. Many residents left the area to find work elsewhere. Others moved to suburban towns for newer homes.

By 2000, West Englewood's population had dropped to about 45,000 people. At this time, nearly all residents were Black. By 2020, the population had fallen even further, to less than 30,000. This was more than half of its peak population.

Because so many people left, many houses and apartment buildings in West Englewood became empty. These empty buildings sometimes attracted people who caused problems. So, the city government started buying and tearing down vacant buildings. This happened in many Chicago neighborhoods, but Englewood and West Englewood had the most demolitions. Unlike some other areas, there hasn't been much new building in West Englewood. Most of the cleared lots are still empty, and the number of people living there continues to go down.

Learning and Libraries

West Englewood has several schools that are part of the Chicago Public Schools system.

• Elementary Schools: Randolph, O'Toole, Goodlow, Earle, Henderson, Langford, Bontemps, Woods, Bass, Bong, Guggenheim, and Stagg.
• High Schools: Most students attend William Rainey Harper High School. Some go to Hope High School or Robeson High School.
• Magnet School: Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy is a special school known for its math and science programs. It's located at 6130 S. Wolcott Ave.

The community also has a branch of the Chicago Public Library:

• West Englewood Public Library: You can find it at 1745 W. 63rd Street.

Famous Faces

Many interesting people have connections to West Englewood:

• Cedrick Frazier (born 1979): He grew up in West Englewood and later became a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
• Esther Golar (1944 – 2015): She was raised in West Englewood and served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2006 until she passed away.
• Michael E. Hannigan (1888 – 1968): He lived in West Englewood and was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for many years.
• Benn Jordan (born 1979): This modern jazz and electronic musician grew up in West Englewood.
• Michael H. McDermott (1901 – 1985): He was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives during the 1950s and 1960s and lived in West Englewood.