West Pullman, Chicago


West Pullman is a neighborhood located on the far south side of the city of Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago. The Neighborhood of West Pullman was largely inhabited by workers of the Pullman Train Company who were looking to escape the grip of the company town Pullman. The commercial corridor of Kensington/115th Street was one of many Italian communities within Chicago.
It is bounded on the north by 115th Street, on the east by the former Illinois Central Railroad, on the south by the Calumet River and Riverdale, on the west by Calumet Park, Blue Island and Ashland Avenue.

Demographics

According to a June 2017 analysis by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, there were 27,982 people and 9,058 households in West Pullman. From 2000-2015, the area lost more than 20% of its residents. The racial makeup of the area was 1% White, 93.39% African American, 0.24% Asian, 0.54% from other races. Residents who identify as Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.83% of the population. The age distribution was 29.7% under the age of 19, 19.3% from 20 to 34, 17.7% from 35 to 49, 18.5% from 50 to 64, and 14.8% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years.

Economy

The Medium Income is $33,898.
West Pullman residents were victimized by predatory lenders during the 1970's. In the 1980's, West Pullman residents lost both industrial and professional jobs making unemployment an extra hurdle for the community. Habitat for Humanity has built and is continuing to build homes in the community of West Pullman. The residents are working hard to turn their economy around.
West Pullman recently overcame the industrial legacy of toxic waste with the help of the EPA. There is now a community garden in place of the former "toxic zone."
West Pullman is also home to the largest urban photovoltaic solar plant in the United States. The 10 MW plant utilizes 32,800 SunPower solar panels, spans, and generates enough power to supply energy to approximately 1500 homes in the Midwest. It is owned and operated by Exelon and came online in early 2010.

History

The University of Chicago sociologists created the West Pullman community area in the 1920's. They did this by merging several existing communities. The first of these communities was Kensington which grew alongside the town Pullman. The second of these communities was the former village of Gano. The area of Gano was populated by Pullman workers who desired to own their own homes and escape from the corporate control of George Pullman's company town. West Pullman was launched as an industrial and residential subdivision in 1891 by the West Pullman Land Association. West Pullman was the largest of the identifiable communities in the nation where a type of fusion between residential and factory life existed in the same space.

Parks

West Pullman Park - Indoor Pool
Kensington Park - Basketball Court with Seating. Playground equipment.

Healthcare

According to the Pritzker School of Medicine, fourteen percent of the West Pullman population is uninsured, though ninety-two percent report having a consistent primary care provider. The obesity rate is fifty-three percent.

Politics

West Pullman is a stronghold of the Democratic Party. In the 2016 presidential election, West Pullman cast 12,473 votes for Hillary Clinton and cast 217 votes Donald Trump. It was Clinton's 11th largest margin of victory in the 76 community areas she won. In the 2012 presidential election, West Pullman cast 14,496 votes for Barack Obama and 86 votes for Mitt Romney. It was Obama's 8th largest margin of victory in the 76 community areas he won.
At the local level, West Pullman is located in Chicago's 9th and 34th wards represented by Democrats Anthony Beale and Carrie Austin respectively.

Transportation

West Pullman is home to four stations on the Metra Electric District's Blue Island branch; Racine, State Street, Stewart Ridge, and West Pullman. Red Ahead, a program to extend the Red Line south to 130th Street, would result in new stations on the border between Roseland and West Pullman at approximately South Michigan Avenue and West 115th Street. In 2018, it was estimated that this project would commence construction in 2022 and the service would be ready in 2026.

Notable people