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Pullman, Chicago
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Community Area 50 - Pullman Location within the city of Chicago |
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| ZIP Code | parts of 60628 | |
| Area | 12.58 km² (4.85 mi²) | |
| Population (2000) Density |
8,921 (down 4.53% from 1990) 1,609.5 /km² |
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| Demographics | White Black Hispanic Asian Other |
8.49% 81.4% 8.91% 0.17% 1.03% |
| Median income | $30,966 | |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | ||
Pullman is a neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, twelve miles from the Chicago Loop by Lake Calumet. It is also one of the 77 official Chicago Community Areas.
The area known as Pullman encompasses a much wider area than the two historic areas (the older historic area is often referred to as just "Pullman" and the northern annex historic area is usually referred to as "North Pullman"). Please note that this article deals with all areas, though the area built by the Pullman company is the area that was part of the original historic Pullman area which is bounded by 111th Street on the North end, 115th Street on the South end, Cottage Grove on the West end, and the railroad tracks on the East end.
Pullman (Historic Pullman) was built in the 1880s by George Pullman for his eponymous railroad car company, the Pullman Palace Car Company. Pullman's architect Solon S. Beman was said to be so proud of his creation that he asked George Pullman if the neighborhood could be named for himself. Pullman responded to the effect, "sure, we'll take the first half of my name, and the second half of yours."
In a day when most workers lived in shabby tenements near their factories, Pullman seemed a dream, winning awards as "the world's most perfect town." Everything, from stores to townhouses, was owned by the Company. The design was pleasing, and all of the workers' needs were met within the neighborhood. The houses were comfortable by standards of the day, and contained such amenities as indoor plumbing, gas, and sewers.
Pullman's misfortune came during the depression which followed the Panic of 1893. When demand for Pullman cars slackened, the Pullman company laid off hundreds of workers, and cut hours for others. Despite these cutbacks, the Company did not reduce rents for those that lived in the town of Pullman. The Pullman Strike began in 1894, and lasted for 2 months.
George Pullman himself died in 1897. The Illinois Supreme Court required the company to sell off the town which was annexed into the city of Chicago. Within ten years, all non-manufacturing property - the houses, the public buildings - was sold off to the individual occupants.
Along with the whole South Side, the town of Pullman had been annexed to the City of Chicago in 1889. After the strike Pullman gradually became a regular Chicago neighborhood, only with distinguishing Victorian architecture. The fortunes of the neighborhood rose and fell with the Pullman Company.
The Pullman factory made its last car in early 1982 for Amtrak. The neighborhood's decline that began in the 1950s continued, but that economic decline at least spared the district's architecture. In 1960 the original Town of Pullman, approximately between 111th and 115th Streets, was threatened with total demolition for an industrial park. The residents there formed the Pullman Civic Organization and saved their community. By 1972 the Pullman Historic District had obtained National, State, and City landmark status to protect the original 900 rowhouses and public buildings built by George Pullman.
Today Pullman is quickly gentrifying, with many residents involved in the restoration of the district through their own homes and throughout the district as a whole. Walking tours of Pullman are available.
Pullman is served by two Metra stations: 115th and 111th street. All Metra trains passing through the area stop at the 115th Street station and only local trains stop at the 111th street station. Express trains from 115th Street take approximately 22-25 minutes to reach the downtown loop area and local trains take about 30-40 minutes. http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/me/me.shtml has a train schedule for these stops as well as other pertinent information on Metra.
1995 Census date of homebuyers: 61% Caucasian, 27% African-American, 12% Other (Hispanic, Asian, etc.)
1999 Census date of homebuyers: 65% Caucasian, 29% African-American, 6% Other (Hispanic, Asian, etc.)
2001 Census date of homebuyers: 75% Caucasian, 19% African-American, 6% Other (Hispanic, Asian, etc.)
The Census data to the right reflects the entire ward that is now known as Pullman, not just the historic areas, which are generally more diverse.
On November 12, 2006, Historic Pullman was the topic of the HGTV television show "National Open House", featuring a Pullman house on 112th and Langley.
Pullman is one of seven sites up for 8 Chicago area attractions that was nominated for the Illinois Seven Wonders sites in a contest sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Voters can vote online for Historic Pullman to be representative of Chicago as one of Illinois' Seven Wonders at http://www.enjoyillinois.com/sevenwonders/chicago.html through April 30, 2007.
- Official City of Chicago Pullman Community Map
- Historic Pullman Foundation
- Pullman Neighborhood Website
- Image of museum
- Illinois Seven Wonders Voting Through April 30, 2007
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