Notes
1. People did not settle in the South Lawndale area until Germans and Czechs moved in, in 1871. This area developed into an industrial factory common community. Polish and Hispanic immigrants hat moved in were seeking the work they needed. South Lawndale was soon called a "blue-collar community" (Reed) (2)
2. Jobs began disappear, causing the unemployment rate to rise, due to the quick line of closing factories. By the year 2000 the South Lawndale area was 82% Hispanic. The large population boom had a large population of young adults. Due to the rise of youth many public schools opened in the area. (2)
3. Not only did immigrants move in from the center of Chicago after the fire but out of Pilsen, which was under construction for the University of Illinois Chicago campus. The Hispanics were "displaced"(San Jose Obrero Mission) forced to moved even farther west. (3)
4. Little Village housed many famous Chicago mayors like Anton Cermak (from where the Street Cermak got its name.) 26th Street is adorned with cultural restaurants shops, and family owned businesses. South Lawndale's 26th Street is the "second highest business revenue in the city of Chicago after N. Michigan Avenue". (San Jose Obrero Mission) (3)
5. Another title that Little Village has is Mexico of the Midwest. As the largest Mexican-American populated area, other immigrants from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, Lithuania, Croatia, and Slovenia. As the 200 U.S. Census informs South Lawndale is now dominantly Hispanic. (4)
6. The Czechs were the first group to emigrate into Pilsen (South Lawndale's neighboring community). The slowly moved into South Lawndale an d eventually even more out to outer West and South side. As the Czechs left the established schools, parishes and parks, other European immigrants moved into the already settled land. (7)
7.The biggest influence that was left behind form he Czechs was the parishes, one of the most successful churches was Saint Agnes of Bohemia. Founded in 1604 the Church rapidly grew in members, in the next two years it opened as a school. The church service also developed too, as Mexicans and other Hispanic people moved in South Lawndale, mass service introduced mass done in Spanish. (7)
9. UIC was a plan with great hopes to be a great University. The city of Chicago offered the school 150 acres, on the west side of Chicago, from Halsted and Harrison Street. The community that was there before the campus, were opposing of the construction and plan. (20)
11.The extensive land that was to be used was also home of many residents and business people. Extensions to the University on the west side "split the historic neighborhood" in with tall buildings and student residencies. (20)
12. "Avondale the Polish Village" this is so far the farthest Polish immigrants have moved west. Starting off from Pilsen are to Lawndale and then even further west to Cicero. Pulaski once named Crawford is known as "The neighborhood that built Chicago" and Pulaski Industrial Corridor. (17)
13. One of the biggest influences left by the Czechs and Polish people in the western neighborhood of Chicago are the churches left behind. As Roman Catholics the Bohemians practiced their faith as much as they worked. (17)
14. Due to the thousands of immigrants that moved into Chicago expanding west and settling, the city space has grown to be cramped. With open space shortages much of Chicago has been introducing parks as space. Some parks go back to the 1800's in Chicago. Rapid child births causes the population to rise, with lack of schools in neighborhoods that hold more industries than houses and schools, young immigrants children begin to join gangs. As the first gangs made to protect each others (people) against other rival gangs that were usually different ethnicity. (18)
15. As the economy get worse in Chicago and wages lowered, many uprisings of strikes appeared. The Haymarket Square riot is one example. This strike started in the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in the Southwest side of Chicago. Due to strikes like these it is now by law of Unites States of America to legally only work eight hours on workdays. (16)
16. One of the biggest industries in the Chicago's South west side is McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. This company makes bolts and nuts and many other construction and electrical tools. Starting off in 1881, adopting the use of the cotton gin the company developed to more advanced machinery manufacturing iron works, harvester wheels, wood sawing. With the help of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company much of the agriculture in the Midwest wouldn't have been done with such finesse and advanced so much. (14)
17 Chicago real estate firms Alden C Millard and Edwin J. Decker opened up the west side of Chicago to people. People fled from the inner city to the westward suburbs of Chicago just after the Chicago fire of 1871. The new residents moved into what covers all of North and South Lawndale and Pilsen. This west side became the largest industrial section of the city. (1)
18 The great need for workers in the industrial west side of Chicago brought in more immigrants. The wealthier moved even more far out west, leaving more space for newcomers. Immigrants from Eastern Europe (war in Czechoslovakia great cause) rapidly populated the already made houses and producing more homes that were “working class style”. A smaller sized home, unlike the mansion like homes. (1)
19 Residents came from inner Chicago, Europe and even Pilsen, a neighboring community. Due to the non running buildings in Pilsen many Bohemians (main immigrant group at time) moved to South Lawndale. South Lawndale got one of its first names as Czech California. (1)
20 One thing that really put Lawndale Crawford on the map of Chicago was the home of Chicago’s mayor A. Cermak; as did the great increasing population of workers, from Western Electric Hawthorne Works. (1)
21 Lawndale’s loses much of its white population in the 1960’s. “In two years North Lawndale’s 99% white population went down to 9%”. The white European immigrants did not like the rise of African Americans in the neighborhood. “Slumdale” name given as racial insult to the black North Lawndale community. (1)
22. 26th Street Chamber of Commerce wanted to move away from Lawndale bad name to Little Village. Mexicans influenced this new name, numerous businesses opened; many more came in from the UIC expansion displacing them. (1)
23 The first Czechs that settled in South Lawndale opened many schools and parishes and much more, enhancing the community’s living condition. Such ass schools like Czech Freethinkers School, Bohemian Club a cultural enrichment center of Czechs where they practiced their heritage. Many Churches sprouted all over the area, much were abandoned as African Americans moved in. (22)
24. One great factor that contributed to the immense increased population of Czechs and Bohemians is the ferry time. A trip from the Europe was once 44 day journey, in 1875 it was a 10 day ride. Czechs moved west, settling, establishing Sokol Halls and culture dominating the area. The people were hard workers, but as working conditions worsened strikes began. As more immigrants kept coming in they moved more and more west to riverside and Cicero. (10)
25. Little Village is better known as La Villita, (little village in Spanish) as influenced as the current dominating residence race. Lawndale Crawford was founded in 1827. Industries in the west side are closer to the railroads in South Lawndale due to advantage to transportation of manufactured goods. Crawford Avenue name changed to Pulaski Road after the famous Polish General. Pulaski was added to the city of Chicago in 1889. (5)
26. The different races that dominated South Lawndale's in different times were constantly changing. By the early 1900's South Lawndale was all occupied with homes and residences everywhere. At first South Lawndale was German with Czechs, and then came bohemians and more Czechs. African Americans then moved in and now it is "predominantly Hispanic” (6)
27. The Chicago Fire a great cause of the migration to the West as the city repaired itself rising from the burnt rubble. The story goes a cow kicked over a lantern setting the hay on fire the farm and the rest of the city. Because everything was made of wood at the time it was the perfect environment to burn. (9)
28. Leaving thousands homeless and thousands of more building destroyed. Chicago began building with brick as a newer city Chicago is modern. But the fact it was all once wood and it burned in great fires that were hard to extinguish Chicago fire pays a big roll on Chicago architecture advancements. (9)
28 One of the biggest companies in the West side of Chicago close to South Lawndale, Western Electric Company is now known as AT&T Technology Systems Inc. The Western Electric Company and Hawthorne works, both massive are hardly talked about anymore. As a great attraction for those who searched work, Hawthorne Company became “a way of life" Western Electrical Company made much advancement to the telephone. (11)
29. The Western Electric Company manufactured many electrical products mainly telephones and accessories. Employing over 5000 workers it grew to be one of the largest manufacturing plants in the world. (12)
30.The company quickly advanced to more high tech products to radars used in the war for airplanes. Soon blacks were employed to work, the number of employed workers at Western Electrical Company grew to 25,000. (12)
31. Cicero neighboring Lawndale is known for Western Electrical and Hawthorne and Al Capone. A "blue collar town was base of the notorious gangster". Hawthorne was the place where manufacturing innovations improved. Inside the company of Hawthorne's was the latest architecture. (13)
32. Stable with concrete brick and steel and tiles, it housed the world’s first high vacuum tube, microphone, sound system that was great factor to the progression of the movie industry. Hawthorne was not only a company but a community where all the workers helped one another. Hawthorne works closed in 1983. (13)
33. Great populations in Chicago, made the city considering using space for park construction. City of Chicago does not meet guidelines 0f 1990 national laws for providing enough play grounds. Urban planners strive to fix this problem. A lot of Chicago's west side space is used in factory spaces, Residents unsatisfied due to lack of parks and not well taken parks filled with weed and broken glass.(15)
34. University of Illinois in Chicago roots back to late 1800's. As the university grew in size many additions were added to it, Champaign and most recently Medical Center in west side of Chicago. Known as UIMC this construction caused many residents to move as the campus took over. UIC has grown immensely and now is" UIC ... leader in the development of a new model of higher education". (21)
