POLIT/AFCNA 234 Black Metropolis: From MLK to Obama

Below is a list of how Chicago is broken down geographically by the city, residents, and real estate companies. These distinctions are important when gathering demographic and statistical data. 

Community Areas (77)-well-defined (static)

Census Tracts (866)-well-defined (static although the number system has changed over time)

Neighborhoods (200+)-subjectively defined by residents and real estate companies (shifting)

Cardinal Regions (3)-well-defined by the city (static)

Intercardinal Regions (6) subjectively defined by residents and real estate companies (shifting)

Aldermanic Wards (50)-well-defined although some have changed over time (static and shifting based on population fluctuations)

The Chicago City Council consists of 50 aldermanic wards (electoral districts) represented by alderpersons who are elected every four years. This system has been in place since 1923. To ensure equal representation, ward borders are adjusted after every federal census to reflect changes in population (redistricting maps can be found here). Some wards consist of many community areas/neighborhoods. To find an alderperson or access a ward map of Chicago click this link.

Great Migration Map: traces the migration patterns of Black migrants between 1920-2010

Mapping Inequality: Redlining in New Deal America: includes over 150 interactive maps and "area descriptions" from the Home Owners' Loan Corporation records during Depresion-era American cities. 

Chicago Zip Code Map: interactive map of zip codes in Chicago. 

Dreamtown Maps: interactive neighborhood/community area, sides of town, transit, and zip code maps courtesy of the real estate company Dreamtown.

Renewing Inequality: Urban Renewal, Family Displacements, and Race 1950-1966: shows the number of families that cities reported displaced through federally-funded urban renewal programs between 1955 and 1966.

Chicago Neighborhood Guide: lists various websites, books, maps, and articles about Chicago neighborhoods at the Newberry Library (an independent research library in Chicago). 

DNAinfo Chicago: online media source focusing on neighborhood news in Chicago. The website is no longer in publication, but the archive is still available.

Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University: provides reliable, impartial, and timely data and research to inform housing policy decisions and discussions about the state of housing in the Chicago region and nationally. 

Chicago Community Areas: Flickr account with photos and videos of each community area. 

Aerial Chicago: Flickr account with photos that were shot during helicopter tours of Chicago.

Geoffrey Baer Chicago Neighborhood and Community Area Tours: a series of videos hosted by historian Geoffrey Baer covering Chicago neighborhoods, the Chicagoland area, the Chicago River, the L (Chicago's transit system), and other places throughout the city.