South Lawndale, Chicago

South Lawndale
Community area
Community Area 30 - South Lawndale
Location within the city of Chicago Location within the city of Chicago
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
City	Chicago
Neighborhoods	list Little Village South Lawndale
Area
• Total	4.4 sq mi (11.5 km2)
Population  (2000)
• Total	91,071
• Density	21,000/sq mi (7,900/km2)
	population up 12.22% from 1990
Demographics
• White	2.1
• Black	.05
• Hispanic	97.1
• Asian	0.01
• Other	0.02
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	parts of 60608 and 60623
Median income	$32,320
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

South Lawndale located on the west side of the city of Chicago, Illinois and more commonly known as the Little Village neighborhood, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas.

Neighborhoods

Little Village

Little Village (part of the South Lawndale Community Area) was originally settled by Irish and Eastern European immigrants in the late 1800s, after the Great Chicago Fire sent the population of Chicago rippling out from the city's center to the outlying countryside. Jobs created by industrial development in the early twentieth century also attracted residents to the Little Village area, adding to the community's strength and viability as its own independent borough. By the mid-1900s, Little Village saw a marked increase in Polish immigrants, escaping the ravages of war-torn Europe, and in the '50s a large influx of Mexicans moved to the neighborhood. Many of these new residents were transplants from neighboring Pilsen. They were displaced during the construction of the University of Illinois Chicago campus, which chewed up a large section of residential land, pushing inhabitants further west from downtown.

But is the injection of Latino culture that gives the Little Village neighborhood its vibrant and distinct character today. In fact, the neighborhood is called "Mexico of the Midwest" by many of its residents. Little Village celebrates Mexican Independence Day every September with a parade down 26th Street. It's the second largest Hispanic parade in the city behind Chicago's Puerto Rican day parade and fest in the Puerto Rican enclave of Paseo Boricua, Humboldt Park,with and attendance of 1.9 million in the parade and an attendence of 1.2 million at the Puerto Rican Fest . the Mexican Independence parade down 26th st attracts thousands of spectators each year who flock to the neighborhood to show support and pride for their heritage. Of course, Little Village has a wealth of great Mexican restaurants that also help to reinforce the community's strong cultural ties. The family owned Taquerias Atotonilco has been in business for over 25 years. This friendly neighborhood spot is simple, inexpensive and delicious. Prefer a menu with a Mexican-American mix? Los Dos Laredos is a popular place to eat out that features huge platters of authentic Mexican cuisine with a Tex-Mex twist.

For a little music with your meal, stop in to La Justicia on a Friday night to catch live entertainment. The lineup isn't limited to just a traditional "cancion" here and there (although the musicians may sing in Spanish), you're just as likely to see a metal band as a band of mariachis at this place, so be prepared for anything! The list of Mexican restaurants in Little Village goes on (Sabor Mexico, Moreno's, Los Candiles, El Vitor Naco Tacos, El Fandango), but if you're looking for some good American fast food made Chicago-style, there's George's Hot Dogs and Maxwell Street Original. While George's does dogs up right, Maxwell Street serves up the original Maxwell Street Polish, piled high with grilled onions and mustard (a Chicago staple since the 1930s). But what's an American neighborhood without a local Chinese food takeout? Every dining district has at least one Chinese restaurant and Shanghai Restaurant is Little Village's. So, if you're craving oodles of noodles, egg rolls or wonton soup, you know where to go!

For cowboys and cowgirls, Little Village has two great options to spice up your dude ranch wardrobe. Herrera Western Wear and Mariano's Western Wear both have a large selection of clothing, boots and accessories. If you're in the market for a pair of shoes then you're in luck - just head to 26th Street. There's Delgado Shoe Store and Perez Shoes for more formal men's and women's footwear. For sportier kicks, check out Linda's Sport Shoes or Foot Locker. Atlantic Mall features a wide variety of toys and treats for kids as well as all sorts of party favors including piñatas, a must for any child's birthday bash. Bargain shoppers who don't know what they're looking for until they find it will love Village Discount Outlet. This mega mark-down store stocks all kinds of odds and ends in addition to clothes for "big and tall" gentlemen and ladies.

For green spaces and recreation in Little Village, residents can make a visit the community parks. Washtenaw Park has a baseball diamond and offers up a variety of arts and crafts classes for adults as well as day camps for kids. Shedd Park is a little park in Little Village named for John G. Shedd (known to most Chicagoans as the founder of the Shedd Aquarium). There may not be an abundance of fish and sea life here, but there's plenty of room for land lubbers to have a picnic or lay out and enjoy the summer sun. Piotrowski Park is the neighborhood's largest public park and is the most popular outdoor retreat for Little Village residents. With an outside pool, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and jogging paths (plus a soft surface play ground for tots), this good-size patch of green has something for every member of the family.

Famous past residents of Little Village include Mayor Anton Cermak, who lived in the 2300 block of S. Millard Avenue, across the street from Lazaro Cardenas Elementary. Pat Sajak was also a Little Village resident. He attended Gary Elementary Schools and Farragut High School. The bulk of Little Village falls within the aldermanic boundaries of the 22nd ward (Muñoz). The commercial strip along 26th Street is said to have the second highest business revenue in the city after N. Michigan Avenue.

Marshall Square

Marshall Square is a neighborhood on Chicago's West Side, in the northeast corner of the South Lawndale Community Area, named to designate the square formed by Marshall Boulevard, 24th Boulevard, Cermak Road, and California Avenue. It is bounded roughly by Kedzie Avenue. on the west, 26th Street on the south, the BNSF Railway tracks (2000 S.) on the north, and the north/south railroad tracks (2500 W.) on the east. The bulk of the Marshall Square neighborhood falls within the aldermanic boundaries of the 12th Ward. According to the Chicago Public Library Marshall Square Branch webpage, James A. Marshall, for whom Marshall Boulevard was named, came to Chicago in 1832, opened a dancing school and served as secretary of the Chicago Real Estate Board.

Points of interest include: the art-deco Marshall Square Theater at Cermak Road and Marshall Boulevard, which was originally a vaudeville venue, later a silent movie theater, and currently a venue for banquets, weddings, and Latin music under the current name of "Apollo's 2000"; The massive Carter Harrison High School at 24th Boulevard and Marshall Boulevard, now an elementary school named for Maria Saucedo, an area teacher who lost her life in a fire in 1981, and is the alma mater of clarinet player Benny Goodman and newspaper columnist Irv Kupcinet; and the highly visible statue of Marquette and Joliet which stands at the junction between Marshall and 24th Boulevards.

External links

• Official City of Chicago South Lawndale Community Map
• Little Village Chamber of Commerce
• Chicago Historical Society Profile: Pilsen & Little Village
• Marshall Square Online
• Maria Saucedo bio
• Marshall Square Theater
• St. Agnes of Bohemia in Little Village