South Side, Chicago in the context of "Jackson Park (Chicago)"

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⭐ Core Definition: South Side, Chicago

The South Side is one of the three major geographical "sides" of the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Geographically, it is the largest of the three sides of the city, with the other two being the North and West Sides. It radiates from and lies south of the city's downtown area, the Chicago Loop.

Much of the South Side came from the city's annexation of townships such as Hyde Park. The city's Sides have historically been divided by the Chicago River and its branches. The South Side of Chicago was originally defined as all of the city south of the main branch of the Chicago River, but it now excludes the Loop. The South Side has a varied ethnic composition and a great variety of income levels and other demographic measures. It has a reputation for crime, although most crime is contained within certain neighborhoods, not throughout the South Side itself, and residents range from affluent to middle class to poor.South Side neighborhoods such as Armour Square, Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, and Pullman host more blue collar and middle-class residents, while Hyde Park, the Jackson Park Highlands District, Kenwood, Beverly, Mount Greenwood, and west Morgan Park range from middle class to more affluent residents.

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In this Dossier

South Side, Chicago in the context of Chicago Outfit

The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Outfit, the Chicago Mafia, the Chicago Mob, the Chicago crime family, the South Side Gang or the Organization, is an Italian American Mafia crime family based in Chicago, Illinois, and throughout the Greater Chicago area, originating in the city's South Side in the early 1910s.

The Outfit rose to power in the 1920s under the control of Johnny Torrio and Al Capone, and the period was marked by bloody gang wars for control of the distribution of illegal alcohol during Prohibition. The Outfit's power was solidified by Capone's leadership, consolidating the family into the larger American Mafia. Since then, the Outfit has been involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including loansharking, illegal gambling, prostitution, extortion, political corruption and murder. Capone was convicted of income tax evasion in 1931 and the Outfit was next run by Paul Ricca. Ricca and Tony Accardo shared power from 1943 until Ricca's death in 1972; Accardo became the sole power in the Outfit upon Ricca's death and was one of the longest-sitting bosses of all time upon his death in 1992. The family’s longest-serving boss was Joey Aiuppa, serving from 1971 until 1986.

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South Side, Chicago in the context of Calumet River

The Calumet River is a system of industrialized rivers and canals in the region between the south side of Chicago, Illinois, and the city of Gary, Indiana. Historically, the Little Calumet River and the Grand Calumet River were one, the former flowing west from Indiana into Illinois, then turning back east to its mouth at Lake Michigan at Marquette Park in Gary. Now the system is part of the Chicago Area Waterway System and through the use of locks flows away from Lake Michigan to the Cal-Sag Channel.

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South Side, Chicago in the context of Hyde Park, Chicago

Hyde Park is a community area on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, located on and near the shore of Lake Michigan 7 miles (11 km) south of the Loop. It is one of the city's 77 community areas.

Hyde Park is home to the University of Chicago and several seminaries and graduate schools of theology: Catholic Theological Union, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, the Chicago Theological Seminary, and McCormick Theological Seminary (in addition to, UChicago's own Divinity School). The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and two of Chicago's four historic sites listed in the original 1966 National Register of Historic PlacesChicago Pile-1, the world's first artificial nuclear reactor, and Robie House—are also in the neighborhood. In the early 21st century, Hyde Park received national attention for its association with U.S. president Barack Obama, who, before running for president, was a Senior Lecturer for twelve years at the University of Chicago Law School, an Illinois state senator representing the area, and U.S. senator from Illinois. The Barack Obama Presidential Center is currently under construction in Jackson Park, on its border with Hyde Park.

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South Side, Chicago in the context of Douglas, Chicago

Douglas, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of Chicago's 77 community areas. The neighborhood is named for Stephen A. Douglas, Illinois politician and Abraham Lincoln's political foe, whose estate included a tract of land given to the federal government. This tract later was developed for use as the Civil War Union training and prison camp, Camp Douglas, located in what is now the eastern portion of the Douglas neighborhood. Douglas gave that part of his estate at Cottage Grove and 35th to the Old University of Chicago. The Chicago 2016 Olympic bid planned for the Olympic Village to be constructed on a 37-acre (15 ha) truck parking lot, south of McCormick Place, that is mostly in the Douglas community area and partly in the Near South Side.

The Douglas community area stretches from 26th Street, south to Pershing Road along the Lake Shore, including parts of the Green Line, along State Street and the Metra Electric and Amtrak passenger railroad tracks, which run parallel to Lake Shore Drive. Burnham Park runs along its shoreline, containing 31st Street Beach. The community area also contains part of the neighborhood of Bronzeville, the historic center of black culture in the city, since the early 20th century and the Great Migration.

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South Side, Chicago in the context of Grand Boulevard, Chicago

Grand Boulevard on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the city's Community Areas. The boulevard from which it takes its name is now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The area is bounded by 39th to the north, 51st Street to the south, Cottage Grove Avenue to the east, and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad tracks to the west.

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South Side, Chicago in the context of Washington Park, Chicago (community area)

Washington Park is a community area on the South Side of Chicago which includes the 372 acre (1.5 km) park of the same name, stretching east-west from Cottage Grove Avenue to the Dan Ryan Expressway, and north-south from 51st Street to 63rd. It is home to the DuSable Museum of African American History. The park was the proposed site of the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Aquatics Center in Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

It and surrounding neighborhoods have gone through notable and often turbulent racial transitions.

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South Side, Chicago in the context of Grand Crossing, Chicago

Greater Grand Crossing is one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the city's South Side.

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South Side, Chicago in the context of Chatham, Chicago

Chatham is one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, Illinois, on the city's South Side. It includes the neighborhoods of Chatham-Avalon, Chatham Club, Chesterfield, East Chatham, West Chatham and the northern portion of West Chesterfield. Its residents are predominantly African American, and it is home to former Senator Roland Burris. Housing many city employees and other officials, Chatham has been a central area for Chicago's middle-class African Americans since the late 1950s.

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