Chicago’s Austin neighborhood is located seven miles from the Loop, on Chicago’s western border. It is the windy city’s largest neighborhood, both in size and in population with approximately 250,000 residents. Austin is also considered a city, and is the third-largest in Illinois. It is bordered by Cicero Avenue on the east, North Avenue on the north and Roosevelt Road on the south.
The Austin community is adjacent to affluent Oak Park, birthplace of Ernest Hemingway and home to many Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings. Austin began as an upscale village built from railroad wealth in 1865, and attracted upwardly-mobile Germans, Scandinavians, Irish and Italians. These groups built the community’s half-dozen Catholic parishes, which provided the social base for the community.
In the late 1960s, the neighborhood’s demographic profile shifted dramatically, and by 1980 Austin’s population was predominantly black. The area experienced housing disinvestment, vacancy, loss of jobs and commerce. Neighborhood organizations have worked to stabilize the community, and Austin is now benefitting from a strong revitalization effort.
Stately neoclassical and Queen Anne homes, along with several structures by Frank Lloyd Wright, are still visible in the Midway Park area. It has been designated a National Register historic district.
Austin’s Columbus Park is located on 135.12 acres and features a nine-hole golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, fishing lagoon and a beautiful “Refectory” building, a popular destination for weddings and special events.
The CTA Green Line runs through the neighborhood and CTA buses run along the major streets. The Eisenhower Expressway is very close.
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