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.
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
Robert A. Clifford, trial lawyer notable for representing Rachel Barton Pine in her lawsuit against Metra and representing the families of the victims of the respective Alaska Airlines Flight 261 and American Eagle Flight 4184 crashes. He was raised in West Pullman near 121st Street and South Laflin Street.
Arthur R. Swanson, member of the Illinois Senate. He resided at 12556 South Harvard Avenue while serving as a legislator.
