Country United States County Cook Neighborhoods list
West Elsdon Area 3.06 km² Hispanic population 79% Population 18,109 (2010) | State Illinois City Chicago Time zone CST (UTC-6) Asian population 1.2% Black population 1.4% | |
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Restaurants El Solazo, Positano's Pizza, New China Tea, China Ho Restaurant, Jacky's Hot Dogs Hotels Midway Inn, Crossroads Hotel, Wattles Worth | ||
West Elsdon, one of the 77 official community areas, is located on the southwest side of the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is noted as a twin neighborhood of West Lawn. It has a population which includes a mix of dwindling Polish-American residents and increasing Mexican-American residents who currently constitute a clear majority. It has its own association, "West Elsdon Civic Association," which privately organizes the neighborhood. St. Turibius grade school, a Roman Catholic elementary school, located at 57th and Karlov, closed in 2013 and is currently inactive though the building remains and is adjacent to St. Turibius Roman Catholic church. The former Lourdes Roman Catholic girls' high school located from 55th to 56th street from Komensky to Karlov Avenue is now a Chicago Public Schools magnet high school, John Hancock High School.
Contents
Map of West Elsdon, Chicago, IL, USA
History
Before the early 20th century, the area now designated West Elsdon was a marshy remnant of an ancient lake. The early settlers were German-Americans and Irish-Americans. During the 1930s, housing was built and Polish-Americans and other Central Europeans settled the area. The land remained rural until World War II, when growth resumed and brick houses were built. Mexican-Americans settled in the eastern part of the community. Soon public schools were registering more Hispanic-Americans, and the CTA Orange Line was built to connect Midway Airport to Downtown.
Actress/Author Jenny McCarthy grew up in the area and is a graduate of St. Turibius grammar school.