Hegewisch, Chicago
Encyclopedia
Hegewisch one of the 77 community areas
of Chicago, Illinois
, is located on the city's far south side. It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Riverdale
and South Deering
to the west, the East Side
to the north, the village of Burnham
to the south and the city of Hammond, Indiana
to the east. It is part of the 10th ward of Chicago. John Pope is the alderman
as of April 2005. The community area is named for Adolph Hegewisch, the president of U.S. Rolling Stock Company who hoped to establish “an ideal workingman's community” when he laid out the town along a rail line in 1883, six years before Chicago annexed the town.
Avalon Trails is North of 130th Street, East of Torrence and West of Baltimore Avenue, it is the youngest part of Hegewisch and is built on wetland area where the original settlers of Hegewisch hunted small game and fished. Next is (Old) Hegewisch; Old Hegewisch comprises the oldest part of Hegewisch and includes the area North of 138th St, South of 130th St., East of Torrence Avenue, and West of Avenue O.
The South Shore Line
stops at Hegewisch
. The train goes as far westbound as Millennium Station in Downtown Chicago and as far eastbound as South Bend Regional Airport
in South Bend, Indiana.
Under the most recent version of CTA Red Line extension plan, the Red Line will stop near Hegewisch, stopping on the edge of Altgeld Gardens housing project.
Bus Service
Hegewisch is served by the following CTA and Pace bus routes:
's Chicago Assembly
Plant is located adjacent to Hegewisch. (The site, at the northwest quadrant of E. 130th Street and Torrence Avenue, is actually within the boundaries of South Deering
).
Community areas of Chicago
Community areas in Chicago refers to the work of the Social Science Research Committee at University of Chicago which has unofficially divided the City of Chicago into 77 community areas. These areas are well-defined and static...
of Chicago, Illinois
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, is located on the city's far south side. It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Riverdale
Riverdale, Chicago
Riverdale, one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois, is locatedon the city's far south side.The town of Riverdale is at the far south end of Chicago extending beyond the Chicago boundary of 138th Street to 144th Street. The town hall is at 157 West 144th Street...
and South Deering
South Deering, Chicago
South Deering, one of the 77 official community areas of the City of Chicago, Illinois, is located on the far south side. It was a very industrial neighborhood, consisting of a small group of homes in the northeast corner and Lake Calumet taking up most of the remainder. It exists in the 10th Ward,...
to the west, the East Side
East Side, Chicago
East Side is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the far south side of the city, between the Calumet River and the Illinois-Indiana state line, approximately south of Downtown Chicago...
to the north, the village of Burnham
Burnham, Illinois
Burnham is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,170 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 60633.Burnham has a Chicago ZIP code, and is often mistakenly considered part of Chicago...
to the south and the city of Hammond, Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
to the east. It is part of the 10th ward of Chicago. John Pope is the alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
as of April 2005. The community area is named for Adolph Hegewisch, the president of U.S. Rolling Stock Company who hoped to establish “an ideal workingman's community” when he laid out the town along a rail line in 1883, six years before Chicago annexed the town.
In the neighborhood
In all, Hegewisch has three distinct areas within the neighborhood. The areas are commonly referred to as Arizona (due to the sandy nature of the original soil and presence of the native cactus Opuntia compressa), it is that area East of Avenue O and north of 138th St. Sometimes this area is also referred to as "the Avenues".Avalon Trails is North of 130th Street, East of Torrence and West of Baltimore Avenue, it is the youngest part of Hegewisch and is built on wetland area where the original settlers of Hegewisch hunted small game and fished. Next is (Old) Hegewisch; Old Hegewisch comprises the oldest part of Hegewisch and includes the area North of 138th St, South of 130th St., East of Torrence Avenue, and West of Avenue O.
Schools
- Saint FlorianSaint FlorianFlorian lived in the time of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and was commander of the imperial army in the Roman province of Noricum. In addition to his military duties, he was also responsible for organizing firefighting brigades....
Catholic Elementary School - Henry ClayHenry ClayHenry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
Elementary School - Virgil I. Grissom Elementary School
Bus & Rail Transportation
Rail ServiceThe South Shore Line
South Shore Line (NICTD)
The South Shore Line is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend Regional Airport in South Bend, Indiana...
stops at Hegewisch
Hegewisch (NICTD)
The Hegewisch Station is a commuter rail station within the city of Chicago, Illinois, that serves the South Shore Line north to Millennium Station and east to the cities of Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, Michigan City, and South Bend, Indiana...
. The train goes as far westbound as Millennium Station in Downtown Chicago and as far eastbound as South Bend Regional Airport
South Bend Regional Airport
South Bend Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of South Bend, a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. This airport is publicly owned by St. Joseph County Airport Authority...
in South Bend, Indiana.
Under the most recent version of CTA Red Line extension plan, the Red Line will stop near Hegewisch, stopping on the edge of Altgeld Gardens housing project.
Bus Service
Hegewisch is served by the following CTA and Pace bus routes:
- #30 South Chicago
- #34 South Michigan (Rush Hour Service)
- #108 - Halsted-95th (School Days)
- #355 Lansing
- #358 Torrence
- #364 159th Street (Rush Hour Service)
Notable current and former residents
- Edward VrdolyakEdward VrdolyakEdward Robert Vrdolyak is a noted Chicago lawyer and politician and a convicted felon. He was a powerful longtime Chicago Alderman and also head of the Cook County Democratic Party before running unsuccessfully for Mayor of Chicago as a Republican...
, Chicago alderman, lawyer - John PopeJohn Pope (alderman)John A. Pope is alderman of the 10th ward of the City of Chicago. He was first elected in 1999 and is currently serving his fourth term.-Early life:...
, Chicago alderman - Eric AndersonEric AndersonEric Anderson may refer to:* Eric Anderson , British educator* Eric Anderson , English soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross* Eric Anderson , American basketball player...
, professional basketball player - Carmel Bernon Harvey, Jr.Carmel Bernon Harvey, Jr.Carmel Bernon Harvey, Jr. was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.-Biography:...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient - Battling NelsonBattling NelsonOscar Mathæus Nielsen, also known as Battling Nelson, was a Danish boxer who held the world lightweight championship on two separate occasions...
, a/k/a The Durable Dane, born Oskar Matthæus Nielsen, a boxer who held the world lightweight championship on two separate occasions.
Industry
Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
's Chicago Assembly
Chicago Assembly
Chicago Assembly is Ford Motor Company's oldest continually-operated automobile manufacturing plant. It is located at E. 130th Street and Torrence Avenue in the Hegewisch community area of Chicago, Illinois...
Plant is located adjacent to Hegewisch. (The site, at the northwest quadrant of E. 130th Street and Torrence Avenue, is actually within the boundaries of South Deering
South Deering, Chicago
South Deering, one of the 77 official community areas of the City of Chicago, Illinois, is located on the far south side. It was a very industrial neighborhood, consisting of a small group of homes in the northeast corner and Lake Calumet taking up most of the remainder. It exists in the 10th Ward,...
).