4th Ward, Chicago


The 4th Ward is one of the 50 aldermanic wards with representation in the City Council of Chicago, Illinois. It is broken into 52 election precincts. Lake Michigan is the ward's eastern boundary for much of its area. Its northwesternmost point, as of 2002, was located at the intersection of East 26th Street and South Prairie Avenue and its southeasternmost point at the intersection of East 55th Street and Lake Park Avenue.
David K. Fremon wrote in 1988 that "No other ward has wealth and poverty in such proximity."

History

The 4th ward was one six created upon Chicago's incorporation as a city in 1837. At the time its boundaries were the city limits at North Avenue and Wood Street to its respective north and west, Randolph Street to its south, and the Chicago River to its east. In 1847 it was moved to the Loop and Near South Side, being bounded by the Chicago River to its north and west, 22nd street to its south, and Wells Street to its east. In 1857 the southern boundary was extended to 31st street and in 1863 the ward was significantly moved eastward, bounded by 16th street, Lake Michigan, 31st street, and Clark Street. In 1869 its southern boundary was retracted to 26th street.
In 1876 it was moved southward, between 26th street and Egan Street and Lake Michigan and Clark Street. In 1887 it was moved south yet again, to the area bounded by the Lake, 33rd and 39th streets, and Stewart Avenue. In 1901 it was extended west to once again touch the River, which it would do until 1923. In 1923, coincident with the City being divided into its modern 50 wards, it covered Kenwood and northern Washington Park.

List of Aldermen

1837 – 1923

ImageAldermanPartyTerm startTerm endRef.
Ulysses S. Schwartz19231925
Berthold A. CronsonRepublican1925December 23, 1937
Abraham H. Cohen19391955
Claude HolmanDemocratic1955June 1, 1973
Timothy C. EvansDemocraticNovember 27, 19731991
Toni PreckwinkleDemocraticApril 2, 1991December 6, 2010
Shirley Newsome20102011
William D. BurnsDemocraticMay 2011April 2016
Sophia KingDemocraticApril 13, 2016Incumbent