I was skimming over Chicago on Google Maps and noticed that at about 13400 S and 400-900 E (just north of the Little Calumet River) there were several streets which looked to possibly not be paved, were very narrow, and very sparsely populated. Some appeared on Google Streetview though the streets seem not to appear on a paper map of Chicago I have (Spring 2007 Chicago Bike Map). Anyways anyone know whats up with this area? I find it suprising that an area within the city could remain so rural when the suburbs stretchg for a good 6o miles from the loop.
Also anyone know what the most rural area within the city is? Any operating farms? Thanks for any help.
The last operating farm in the city was turned into the Agricultual School in early 80's. It's on south side of 111th st between Pulaksi and Hamlin.
I'd also say the Lake Calumet area on SE side is most, maybe only rural part.
Up until the early 70's the far NW "O'hare neighborhood" around Bryn Mawr/Foster and Cumberland/East River Rd was rural, with some cornfields and Evelyn Lane had secluded ranch houses. All long gone with high rises, condos, and 3 flats bunched together now.
For a long time, the far NW side areas of Dunning, Norwoord Park and Ohare had side streets with no curbs or sewers. They were called WPA roads and were finally updated in 70s and 80s, now all citified.
Re: Rural Chicago
Posted by:
Jacob
(---.arm-bsr1.chi-arm.il.cable.rcn.com)
Date: March 10, 2008 10:41PM
There is indeed a trailer park in Hegewisch on the far Southeast side, but it is currently abandoned and due to be redeveloped with new housing. I can't think of another one.
I've never been back there, but judging from streetview images, I'd say that whole area between 134th and the river is about as rural as it gets within city limits.
Good find!
I assumed that it was a reference to that, I'll have to check that area out when it warms up a bit. Reminds me of an area south of Buffalo along Lake Erie, the area was developed as a cottage community back in the '40s or so, but the area has largely fallen out of favor as a resort area, and now is more inhabited by year-round residents.
^You saw E 134 Place and S. Corliss, right? These run off of 134 st. There are a few other streets like this but they don't show up on Google maps. I'm wondering if these are public streets, they may not even be paved.
Is the "twilight zone" the trailer park? Just a little further some of the Leopold/Loeb occurred. In fact they don't really know for sure where they took that kid that day in it's totallity. Those two had some pretty strange ideas (actually brilliant) of constantly changing their stories and sequence of events that first day. Only one detective in that cast of thousands took actual somewhat verbatim notes. The rest were sketching their foreheads and asking for autographs.
jsk1983 Wrote:
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> > Also anyone know what the most rural area within
> the city is? Any operating farms? Thanks for any
> help.
There are operating farms in the city, but not in rural areas. There's Citifarm near Cabrini-Green, and Green Youth Farm operates a site near Ogden & Central Park in North Lawndale. There's supposed to be a much bigger farm development coming to North Lawndale soon, too.
This area north of the Little Calumet River (and south of Altgeld Gardens) in the community area of Riverdale was once the Jon Ton farm and a stop on the historic Underground Railroad. Community farming continues today along 134th Place, and visitors can occasionally spy a vintage red tractor tilling the land!