Englewood, Chicago
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Community Area 68 - Englewood Location within the city of Chicago |
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| ZIP Code | part of 60621 | |
| Area | 8.00 km² (3.09 mi²) | |
| Population (2000) Density |
40,222 (down 15.0% from 1990) 5,025.8 /km² |
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| Demographics | White Black Hispanic Asian Other |
0.44% 97.8% 0.86% 0.07% 0.79% |
| Median income | $18,955 | |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | ||
Englewood, with about 40,000 inhabitants, is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago. It is located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. Englewood was once known as "Junction Grove" [1].
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[edit] History
The original inhabitants of what is now Englewood were Mascouten Indians. The land was swampy prairie. In 1840, Englewood was officially documented as habital land to the United States Government Land Office in Chicago. In the 1850s and 60's, as Chicago was becoming a city of railroad tracks and economic prosperity, Englewood was just another supporting neighborhood. But in 1871, when the Great Chicago Fire destroyed a large portion of Chicago, residents moved to the outskirts. Englewood's railroad connections to downtown Chicago made it a convenient location, and the neighborhood's population boomed. Englewood Station once served many railroad passengers; at one point over 1,000 trains would pass through Englewood every day. The City of Chicago annexed Englewood in 1889.
Englewood was the home of Dr. H. H. Holmes, one of the first serial murderers in America. His hotel located at Wallace and 63rd streets was the scene of most of his crimes. His story is featured in the best selling book Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
Today, it has been suggested that Englewood is making attempts to gentrify. Currently, many of its buildings are falling apart and 43% of the residents live below the poverty line. Over 700 murders have occurred there in only 10 years.[citation needed]
[edit] Englewood Shopping District
The Englewood community was largely defined by the Englewood Shopping Center, a large pedestrian mall. The City, social services, and mall management worked with community leaders and groups to integrate the mall with the community. The goal was to make the mall a vital part of the community, and a central part of everyday life. It was the site of numerous community events, parades, outdoor concerts, live radio broadcasts and the like. This was spearheaded by the Englewood Business Men's Association and its Director, Richard Drew. Mr. Drew died 1978, and with his passing the Association lost its community focus.
In the 1980’s the shopping center struggled as it lost almost all its anchor stores. Wieboldt’s, Sears and others closed their doors or relocated elsewhere. It became a hodge-podge of smaller, specialty stores such as wig shops, clothing stores, shoe stores, one grocery store and the like.
A large number of stores were Korean owned, and tensions were high in the area between Korean shop owners and local residents. Additionally, a disproportionate number of stores were owned by those outside the community. This state of affairs left those in the community feeling disenfranchised. Most of the money that was being spent in the community was not invested in local business and infrastructure, leading to an ever downward spiraling economic base.
[edit] Kennedy King College
In 1999 this 30 year decline was finally addressed, when Mayor Richard M. Daley announced a $256 million revitalization plan for the area. The keystone of the program is the relocation of Kennedy King College to the former site of the Englewood Shopping Center. Shortly thereafter the city began an aggressive buyout and relocation program for mall merchants.
Groundbreaking for the new location occurred on November 9, 2005. This marked the end of an era for the community, and the beginning of what many hope will be a rebirth. The 40 acre campus is scheduled for completion in 2007. One immediate result - skyrocketing property values. What many considered a blighted community was suddenly a hot spot. Some homes that were impossible to sell 10 years ago for next to nothing, are now selling for over $200,000.
[edit] The Future
Many believe that the area is still in dire need of improvement. The infrastructure is crumbling, there is a decided lack of medical care available, crime is still among the highest in the state and community services are still lacking.
[edit] Attempts For Change
Since the 81 murders in Englewood, which took place between January and April, 1991, a small group of adults has stepped up to create a safe place for the youth in Englewood. The main goal for this center, named P.E.A.C.E. (People Educating Against Crime In Englewood), is provide an intermediate place for kids ranging from 8 years of age to 18, focusing on preventing crime and drug abuse by occupying children's time with activities and a loving family-like atmosphere. A square meal is served each day to the children who attend (free of charge), with an emphasis on healthy eating habits. For some of the kids, this is the only full meal they will receive that day. While the PEACE center attempts to subvert crime, its facilities are lacking. With a full gym and theatre on the second level, PEACE has great potential, but the lack of funds prevents the improvement efforts.
[edit] External links
- Official City of Chicago Englewood Community Map
- Englewood Map during the 1920s-1930s
- Team Englewood Non-Profit Group
- New security measures
- Crime Study
- Chicago Housing Website, Englewood area
- History of the Englewood "L"
- Kennedy King College Architects
- History of Englewood from Jazz Age Chicago
- Chicago murder rate
- Area crime rates, updated daily
- Book about Englewood
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