Avalon Park

While this area was a swamp, the installation of a drainage system in the early 1900s made it more habitable. A very diverse ethnic community, this area is named after a park of the same name situated in the southwest corner of the neighborhood. A PDF map of Avalon Park is provided by the city.

Burnside

Known as "The Triangle," Burnside is bounded entirely by railroads. Because of this, Burnside was more suited for industry during the 19th century and early 20th century. Now Burnside is a residential neighborhood. A PDF map of Burnside is provided by the city.

Calumet Heights

Home to a number of doctors from the South Chicago Hospital who live in the Stony Island Heights neighborhood, Calumet Heights was formerly a swamp and relatively uninhabited during the 19th century. An area for home owners, it is said that four out of five homes in Calumet Heights are occupied by the owner. A PDF map of Calumet Heights is provided by the city.

ChathamMarshall Field Residence 1905

Chatham is considered one of the more affluent neighborhoods in South Chicago although it has started to decline in status in recent years. Chatham is home to the former Senator Rolland Burris. A movement led by residents and community leaders to restore Chatham to its previous splendor is currently underway. A PDF map of Chatham is provided by the city.

East Side

A multitude of old houses are in the East Side furthering its suburban feel. Thanks to the port and the railroads, East Side became known for it's iron and steel production. Because the streets are named after letters, this area is sometimes called "Alphabet Town." A PDF map of East Side is provided by the city.

Hegewisch

Pronounced Heg-wish, this area's name is German in origin. The German pronunciation is Hege-Vish. This area is named after Adolph Hegwish who turned this neighborhood into a working man's town before it was acquired by Chicago in 1889. Still a working class community, a PDF map of Hegewisch is provided by the city.

Pullman

If you've seen "Road To Perdition" with Tom Hanks or "The Fugitive" with Harrison Ford,Pullman Workers on Strike outside Arcade Building 1894you may recognise parts of Pullman. What started as an area to manufacture train cars in the 1880s, this neighborhood is going through a gentrification process and historical buildings are being restored. A PDF map of Pullman is provided by the city.

Riverdale

Bounded by the Illinois Central Railroad and the Bishop Ford Expressway, the height of population in Riverdale was hit in 1970. In the 1990s approximately 63% of residents lived in poverty. Riverdale is trying to recover from years of economic hardships. A PDF map of Riverdale is provided by the city.

Roseland

Roseland had something of a growth spurt during the 1950s and 1960s, but this was followed by an equally rapid economical decline in the 1980s. Roseland became famous in 1994 for the murder of Robert "Yummy" Sanddifer - an eleven year old gang member. Roseland has yet to fully recover from the economical spiral or the gang violence from the 1990s. A PDF map of Roseland is provided by the city.

South Chicago

Most of the businesses and shops are located along Commercial Avenue in this otherwise residential neighborhood. Known for its steel, this ethnically diverse area has a large population of Polish and other ethnicities. A PDF map of South Chicago is provided by the city.

South Deering

Known throughout the nation as the area where Richard Speck murdered eight students in 1966, South Deering is mostly a lower-middle class, African-American neighborhood. A PDF map of South Deering is provided by the city.

West Pullman

Bounded by the Illinois Railroad and the Calumet River, West Pullman has seen a significant amount of economic decline in the past thirty years. A movement led by community officials, residents, and the city is underway to restore West Pullman and reduce the amounts of toxicity left behind from the factories. A PDF map of West Pullman is provided by the city.