Brighton Park, Chicago

Brighton Park is a community area located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It is number 58 of the 77 community areas of Chicago.

Brighton Park
Community area
Community Area 58 - Brighton Park
Street scene along Archer Avenue.
Location within the city of Chicago
Coordinates: 41°49.2′N 87°42.0′W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
City	Chicago
Neighborhoods	list Brighton Park
Area
• Total	2.72 sq mi (7.04 km^2)
Population  (2018)
• Total	45,031[1]
• Density	16,566.7/sq mi (6,396.45/km^2)
Demographics 2018[1]
• White	6.83%
• Black	1.16%
• Hispanic	83.12%
• Asian	8.04%
• Other	0.88%
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	parts of 60632
Median income	$41,176[1]
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

Brighton Park is bordered on the north by the former Illinois & Michigan Canal and the current Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, on the east by Western Avenue, on the south by 49th Street, and on the west by Drake Ave.[2]

The neighborhood is a mix of residential areas, commercial zones, industrial works and transportation (primarily railroad and trucking) facilities. It is relatively peaceful, according to Chicago Police Department statistics (2004 CPD Annual Report).

History

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	46,552		—
1940	45,030		−3.3%
1950	41,345		−8.2%
1960	38,019		−8.0%
1970	35,671		−6.2%
1980	30,770		−13.7%
1990	32,207		4.7%
2000	44,912		39.4%
2010	45,368		1.0%
Est. 2018	45,031		−0.7%

Brighton Park took its name from the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, which was famed for its cattle market. Brighton Park was incorporated as a village in 1851 and annexed into the city of Chicago in 1889[3] (some earlier maps show the north section of the neighborhood as part of Cicero, Illinois[4]). It was formed originally near the intersection of the Blue Island Plank Road, now Western Avenue, and the old portage trail between the Chicago River and the Des Plaines River, a trail that eventually evolved into Archer Road, now Archer Avenue, which is now the main thoroughfare through Brighton Park. In 1855, Chicago mayor "Long" John Wentworth built the Brighton Park horse racetrack (whose name conveniently alluded to the more famous Brighton Racecourse in England) directly east of the village, in what is now the Chicago Park District's McKinley Park.

By 1871, the year of the Great Chicago Fire, Brighton Park was served by the Archer Avenue horsecar and the Alton Railroad. (Brighton Park was not affected by the fire). The railroad built a roundhouse in the neighborhood, and various factories were built.[5] Later the streetcar was electrified and extended and interurban electric railway service was provided by the Chicago and Joliet Electric Railway[6] until 1934. Most of the residential buildings now in Brighton Park were built in the early part of the 20th century, between 1905 and 1925, after more electric streetcar lines (on Western Ave, Kedzie Ave, 35th St and 47th St) had been extended into the neighborhood,[7] providing cheap & quick transport to work.

By the turn of the century, Brighton Park was becoming a destination for many European immigrants, particularly those arriving from Italy, Poland and Lithuania.[5] The neighborhood's Polish identity was evidenced along Archer Avenue, which became the neighborhood's main street for Polish owned businesses.[8]

Transportation

A sign for the Corwith Intermodal freight facility.

Chicago's role as transportation gateway has always been a major influence on the demographics and economy of Brighton Park. Two major railroad landmarks exist in Brighton Park. The Corwith Intermodal freight facility, once known as Corwith Yards, covering nearly a square mile, is one of the major industrial features of Brighton Park. Brighton Park crossing, near Western Avenue and Archer Avenue, is a major Chicago railroad junction and the former site of Brighton Park's railway station.

Access to, property values, and economic growth in the neighborhood have been improved by the 1964 opening of the Stevenson Expressway, Interstate 55, the 1993 opening of the Orange Line rapid transit line, and the revitalization of the nearby Midway International Airport.

Government and infrastructure

Brighton Park branch of the Chicago Public Library.

The United States Postal Service operates the Elsdon Post Office at 3124 West 47th Street. Post Office is closed as of June 2010.[9] The neighborhood branch of the Chicago Public Library is located at 4314 South Archer Avenue.

Politics

The Brighton Park community area has supported the Democratic Party in the past two presidential elections. In the 2016 presidential election, the Brighton Park cast 6,930 votes for Hillary Clinton and cast 842 votes for Donald Trump (85.63% to 10.40%).[10] In the 2012 presidential election, Brighton Park cast 5,699 votes for Barack Obama and cast 874 votes for Mitt Romney (85.47% to 13.11%).[11]

Education

Chicago Public Schools operate the following public schools: Burroughs School, CPS Brighton Park School, Calmeca Academy, Columbia Explorers School, N. Davis School, Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy, Shields Elementary, and Shields Middle School.

The United Neighborhood Organization operates the Sandra Cisneros School, UNO Brighton Park School and the Officer Donald J. Marquez School in Brighton Park.[12]

See also

References

1. "Community Data Snapshot - Brighton Park" (PDF). cmap.illinois.gov. MetroPulse. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
2. "Brighton Park" (PDF). Cityofchicago.org. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
3. "Archived Document". Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2006-03-02.
4. "Map of Chicago and Environs, 1888". Chicago Historical Society and The Newberry Library. 2005. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
5. "Brighton Park". Chicago Historical Society and The Newberry Library. 2005. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
6. "C&JE MAP". Chicagorailfan.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
7. "CHICAGO STREETCARS - 1914". Chicagorailfan.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
8. "Poles". Chicago Historical Society and The Newberry Library. 2005. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
9. "Post Office Location - ELSDON". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
10. Ali, Tanveer (November 9, 2016). "How Every Chicago Neighborhood Voted In The 2016 Presidential Election". DNAInfo. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
11. Ali, Tanveer (November 9, 2012). "How Every Chicago Neighborhood Voted In The 2012 Presidential Election". DNAInfo. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
12. "UNO Charter Schools Archived April 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine." United Neighborhood Organization. Retrieved on June 16, 2012.

External links

• Official City of Chicago Brighton Park Community Map