Washington Heights, Chicago

Washington Heights
Community area
Community Area 73 - Washington Heights
Location within the city of Chicago
Coordinates: 41°43.2′N 87°39.0′W / 41.7200°N 87.6500°WCoordinates: 41°43.2′N 87°39.0′W / 41.7200°N 87.6500°W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
City	Chicago
Neighborhoods	list Brainerd Longwood Manor Washington Heights
Area
• Total	2.87 sq mi (7.43 km^2)
Population (2010)
• Total	26,493
• Density	9,200/sq mi (3,600/km^2)
Demographics (2010)[1]
• White	0.46%
• Black	97.36%
• Hispanic	0.97%
• Asian	0.05%
• Other	1.17%
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Codes	parts of 60620, 60628 and 60643
Median income[2]	$42,053
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

Carter G. Woodson Regional Library (a Chicago Public Library)

Washington Heights, one of the 77 official community areas, is located on the far south side of the city of Chicago, Illinois, loosely bordered in the south by 107th street, the north by 89th street, the west by Beverly Avenue and the East by Eggleston Avenue.

Illinois Place Names (Illinois State Historical Society Occasional Publications Number 55, 1989) indicates that the area of Washington Heights historically was also known as Blue Island Ridge, Campbell's Woods, Dummy Junction, and North Blue Island. A Post Office by the name of Washington Heights was established 25 October 1869 and dissolved 6 June 1894. As noted, it is now part of Chicago. It was one of the many small towns and villages that were annexed into the City of Chicago in the late 19th century. At this time, it was predominantly a bedroom community of German and Irish families whose immigration to the Midwestern United States began circa 1880.

The landscape of Washington Heights changed beginning in the late 1960s as a result of two factors. The West Leg extension of the Dan Ryan Expressway, more commonly known as Interstate 57, cut through the southern half of the community, dividing the area and displacing several long-time residents. It opened in October 1967. Simultaneously, a growing number of African Americans began moving into the community. Adjacent Auburn Gresham and Roseland also began experiencing white flight during the 1960s in the same way that communities to the north, such as Englewood and Greater Grand Crossing, experienced the decade prior. In the 1970s the demographics of Washington Heights changed primarily to African-American, as it still exists today. The community continues to retain its middle-class character.

The Major Taylor Trail, which occupies a former railroad right-of way in Washington Heights, is popular among South Side cyclists.

Washington Heights is serviced by three Metra commuter rail stops, which provide daily inbound service to LaSalle Street Station in Chicago and outbound service to Joliet. A CTA red line stop at 95th St. is also available along the Dan Ryan Expressway in nearby Roseland.

Washington Heights has seen redevelopment in recent years. One of the largest single-family home developments in the city, "The Renaissance at Beverly Ridge," is under construction in the southwest corner of Washington Heights at W 105th Street and S Throop Ave on the former Chicago Bridge & Iron Company site. Likewise, a formerly abandoned railroad line that ran along the southwestern edge of the community was acquired by the Chicago Park District and converted into the "Major Taylor Trail" in 2007. It runs between the Dan Ryan Woods in Beverly and the Whistler Woods in suburban Riverdale, crossing the Calumet River and Interstate 57.

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	17,865		—
1940	19,370		8.4%
1950	24,488		26.4%
1960	29,793		21.7%
1970	36,540		22.6%
1980	36,453		−0.2%
1990	32,114		−11.9%
2000	29,843		−7.1%
2010	26,493		−11.2%
[3]

References

1. Paral, Rob. "Chicago Demographics Data". Retrieved 21 September 2012.
2. Paral, Rob. "Chicago Census Data". Retrieved 21 September 2012.
3. Paral, Rob. "Chicago Community Areas Historical Data". Retrieved 3 September 2012.

External links

• Official City of Chicago Washington Heights Community Map
• Ridge Historical Society