Chicago’s Near West Side before and after “urban renewal” and freeway construction.

Much of the neighborhood was demolished in 1963 for the construction of a new campus of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), as well as for the Dan Ryan (I-90) and Eisenhower (I-290) Expressways. Home to a large population of Greek and Italian immigrants and their descendants (making up roughly 46% of the total population of the area) as well as African-Americans (roughly 53% of the population), in 1960 the Near West Side was one of the most integrated neighborhoods in the country. (Source: @chicagomuseum).

Interestingly, UIC was originally named University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, referencing the nearby freeway interchange between I-290 and I-90, making it the only university in the world I’m aware of which was named after freeway infrastructure.

More info on UIC and the Near West Side to come. Stay tuned!