Just the Facts

Location: About 15 miles south of the Loop
Bordering Neighborhoods: Roseland, Morgan Park, Pullman, Kensington, Calumet Park
Boundaries: 115th Street to the north, Metra Electric/South Shore Line rail tracks to the east, the Calumet River to the south, and Interstate 57 (Dan Ryan Expressway) and Calumet Park suburb to the west
Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents
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Then and Now

During the 1880s, George M. Pullman ran a railroad car factory south of Chicago's city limits. In order to provide his laborers with housing, he constructed Pullman -- a town governed by his company exclusively for the workers of his company. Since the managers and administrators of the Pullman business controlled both wages and rent, they effectively had complete power over their employees. This struck many as unfair (it struck them as more than unfair later, as they held a strike in 1894) and so, despite Pullman's reputation as one of the world's best towns (it was a beautiful place to live with many amenities), a number of workers began building their own houses in an area to the southwest of Pullman.

As other industrial facilities sprung up in the region south of Chicago, the developments of these Pullman employees were soon joined by those of laborers from other manufacturing plants nearby. Soon the area flourished with the workers and employers of a number of factories, including International Harvester, Whitman and Barnes, and Carter White Lead Paint. The mixed-community of working-class and white-collar residents thrived and was eventually incorporated into the city of Chicago in the 1890s.

In the 1920s, sociologists from the University of Chicago merged a number of smaller communities into the area known today as West Pullman, as part of their task to create a series of neighborhood boundaries that Chicago uses to this day. Overall the large West Pullman neighborhood remains much of what it has always been -- a residential community for people on all ends of the economic spectrum.
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Parks

For a place that got its start as a residence for industrial labor (and an area with its fair share of factories), West Pullman has a surprisingly high incidence of parks, playlots, and other designated recreation spots to just relax and have fun.

The largest of West Pullman's parks is the titular West Pullman Park (401 W 123rd St, 312-747-7090), which dates back to 1915. During the industrial factory days of West Pullman, plant owners often virtually lived next door to their immigrant workers. With the area's dichotomy in mind, West Pullman Park was developed to provide both recreational facilities and social welfare programs. The park began with the construction of a fieldhouse, soon followed by baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and playgrounds. From the social welfare standpoint, the park offered civic education and health programs, as well as childcare information. Today the park remains a beautiful natural area. Mature trees line an ancient riverbank in one of Chicago's few remaining native landscapes.

The parks in West Pullman neighborhood all have their history, and Cooper Park (11712 S Ada St, 312-747-6096) is no exception. Named for Jack Cooper, one of the nation's first African American radio personalities, this 4.3-acre park was officially opened in 1975. By the time Cooper made his Chicago debut in 1929 with his radio show The All-Negro Hour he had already enjoyed a career as a boxer and semi-pro baseball player and broken the color barrier at a Washington D.C. radio station. Keeping with Jack Cooper's sporting legacy, the park features baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts. A resident of a nearby neighborhood, Cooper actively supported area youth groups, such as the South Side Boys Club and the area Youth Association. Additionally, West Pullman youngsters can attend the park's day camps, which keep kids in motion and active with a variety of options, including cheerleading.

These park areas provide a little something for everyone of every age, but if you're looking for something specifically for the kids (jungle gyms, swings, slides, and the like), West Pullman has a number of smaller playlots just for you and your little ones. Morgan Field Park (11710 S Morgan St), White Park (1120 W 122nd St, 312-747-7106), and Kensington Playground Park (345 E 118th St, 312-747-6284) are tucked in among the neighborhood streets and are often bustling with tots, children, parents and designated babysitters.
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Real Estate

Due to its large size and the difference in economic status among early residents, West Pullman is fairly diverse in terms of its housing. The residential streets range from verdant, tree-lined yards that require the care of a good push mower to more urban areas with tightly packed houses stretching into the distance as far as the eye can see. A handful of these homes have garages, but most residents have to park on the street. Not good for that vintage Camaro your neighbor is restoring, but perfectly suitable for the rest of us.

The most common type of West Pullman real estate is the Cape Cod design. The newer section of the neighborhood (with "newer" being a relative term, as many of the homes were constructed in the 1950s) features scores of Cape Cods, as well as several bungalows, split-levels and a handful of ranches. The older bits of West Pullman encompass homes that date back to the beginning of the 20th century. Most of these are inexpensive frame homes that would require a bit of refurbishing.

The average price for a two- or three-bedroom single-family detached home in West Pullman neighborhood is about $107,000 however, there are plenty of places that sell for $50,000 or less. A larger house with four or five bedrooms puts the value up to $115,000 on average. Again, if you shop around you'll find several properties in much lower price ranges.

West Pullman Residential Real Estate Info

Speaking of houses, we should turn our attention to one of particular note in West Pullman -- a home created by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright, perhaps the most illustrious American architect ever (for both his groundbreaking structural ideas as well as his turbulent personal life), designed a number of residences throughout Chicago, where he worked and lived. West Pullman neighborhood boasts the Foster House and Stable (12147 S Harvard Ave), a home constructed for Stephan Foster, a lawyer for the real estate group that helped develop this portion of the West Pullman community. Now a Chicago landmark, the Foster House is a great example of Wright's changing style. It features both his famous use of geometry and surrounding landscape, as well as incorporating elements of Japanese patterns. For a close-up view of one of Chicago's most celebrated citizens' work, be sure to take a stroll past the Foster House, and for more information about Frank Lloyd Wright himself be sure to visit your local library!
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What's on the Menu?

Even though this part of Chicago was originally developed as a residential haven for factory workers, West Pullman manages to display a fine variety of hearty dining options to satisfy the appetite of its current inhabitants.

For those who love the smoky flavor of barbequed pork, West Pullman has some mighty fine establishments you'll want to make a note of. If you're a vegetarian, well then you might want to skip this section. Anyhow, if ribs are your game, look no further than I57 Rib House (1524 W 115th St, 773-429-1111). The I57 Rib House boasts some of the finest wet ribs (ribs lathered in sauce, as opposed to the dry, sauce-free kind) in the whole Chicago area. The ribs are offered with either medium or hot sauce (we're not wimps; we say leave medium for grandma and opt for the deliciously zingy hot) and are served atop white bread and fries. The fries are likewise delicious when dipped in the patented I57 sauce. This West Pullman neighborhood fixture is a pick-up establishment, so you're going to have to bring those tasty ribs home. Expect to wait about twenty minutes for your order, although you could wind up waiting close to an hour on the busy weekends when everyone seems to want a slab to go. If you're looking for alternatives to ribs but still like the BBQ flavor, you could check out Best Bar B Que (1648 W 115th St, 773-239-1522), which grills up all manner of meats (chicken, pork, beef), as well as their own ribs. The small casual dining area is a bit sparse on style, but the mouthwatering cuts of meat more than make up for it.

For a bit more variety with your meat, check out Harambee House (11901 S Loomis St, 773-785-3300) for some of the finest (and most plentiful) soul food around. Harambee House is a banquet hall that specializes in large, heaping plates of southern favorites, as well as offering a plentiful sit-down buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Take in the beautiful atmosphere and exemplary service, and enjoy some catfish with pasley potatoes or a Cornish hen with black-eyed peas. Or organize that family reunion you've always been meaning to plan, and take advantage of their reasonably priced banquet setup where you can choose either a plated dinner or buffet style. Either way you go, you get a great deal and even better food.

We can understand if you don't have time for a banquet (how many of us do?), so it's lucky that the West Pullman neighborhood also has plenty of places where you can get decent food ASAP. Buffalo Fish and Chicken (1219 W 115th St, 773-821-5393) offers quick service of (not surprisingly) fried fish and chicken. Either option includes thick tasty fries. If you need sustenance and are in a situation when you don't even have time to leave the house (a last minute Super Bowl party or the season finale of Lost come to mind) call over to South China Kitchen (11631 S Halsted St, 773-568-882), purveyors of delicious Chinese food that, for the most part, arrives at your door quickly and deliciously. Well, the arrival isn't so much delicious as the general's chicken and egg foo young are. South China Kitchen also features a massive delivery area, so they'll get your food to you pretty much wherever you are in West Pullman.
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Best Shopping Stops

For such a large neighborhood, West Pullman features very few stores and shops. A much better selection lies just north in neighboring Roseland. Still, if you are looking to spend your cash in West Pullman, we can steer you in the right direction.

In the market for home electronics? (Something we're constantly in the market for in today's age of technology.) Then the West Pullman Radio Shack (11613 S Halsted St, 773-468-7777) will be a welcomed neighborhood staple. The modest showroom features a helpful staff and an excellent stock of personal computers, phones, digital cameras, camcorders, and everything you'd need for your home theater system, including speakers and cables. You can really never have enough cables.

Now, after you supe up that home entertainment system, what's the first thing you should do? Why, host a fancy dress party of course! How else would you show off your new surround sound speakers? Book the caterer, buys some new CDs and make up a guest list. If you're in need of a new suit for the night (or other gala event, wedding, work, or really any reason) Revay's Men's Store (543 W 119th St, 773-785-7718) is the place to go. With a sizable stock of suits, shirts, ties, shoes, and other men's accessories (sorry ladies!), Revay's is the place to go for all your menswear needs. They even tailor suits to fit on premises.
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Night on the Town

Nightlife in West Pullman neighborhood is on the low-key side, with few really hopping locations. Still, that doesn't mean there's nowhere to go when the sun goes down.

Magnolia's Sports Bar (12217 S Halsted St, 773-568-1090) is a laid-back sports pub and dance club with a DJ on the weekends to provide a change in atmosphere from the usual big game blasting from the big screen TVs. When there isn't dancing or a Sox game going on, numerous dartboards provide entertainment, although on Tuesday nights Magnolia's transforms again, this time into a karaoke bar. The full bar is well stocked with spirits and they offer a number of specialty drinks such as the Foxy Brown or the Foxy Cleopatra. Or just have them mix your favorite to order. Magnolia's can get pretty raucous, so if you're looking for a quieter place to drink your beer, you might want to head over to Cherry's Lounge (11592 S Michigan Ave, 773-264-9292), a cozier, more hole-in-the-wall establishment with less focus on entertainment and more focus on enjoying your beverage in peace.
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Getting Around

As with the rest of the city, West Pullman is a neighborhood we enjoy walking through. A good stroll or jaunt will take you pretty much wherever you'd want to go along the house-packed streets. But when that weather outside gets frightful, or when a speedy trip across town seems most delightful, then it's time to turn to Chicago's public transportation system (the CTA).

A number of different Chicago Transit Authority bus lines crisscross through this south side neighborhood. Wherever you pick them up in West Pullman (from the #119 bus off 119th Street to the #34 bus off Michigan Avenue) you can take most local routes to the 95th/Dan Ryan station to transfer to another bus that can take you pretty much anywhere in the city. From this station, you also have the option of hopping on Chicago's elevated train (widely known as the "El"), which offers travelers a stop on its Red Line here. The Red Line runs north into Chicago's downtown Loop area and beyond, providing a quick and easy manner for getting about the metropolis.

The El isn't the only train in town and it's most defiantly not the only train in West Pullman. The Metra Rail is a train system (not elevated or underground -- just a standard train) that connects the downtown Loop with outlying suburbs, boasting stops throughout Chicago along the way. With increased service during peak periods (namely the morning and evening rush hours), the Metra is a great way to tackle that work commute. West Pullman is actually serviced by a number of Metra stations, as two different Metra lines run through it. The Metra Electric Blue Island Branch runs right through the middle of West Pullman and has stations at State Street, Stewart Avenue, and Racine Avenue, to name a few. The Metra Rock Island Suburban Line to Joliet slices through the northwest corner of West Pullman, offering stops at 115th and 119th streets. With an average of half an hour to get downtown, if you ask us, the Metra is a fine and easy way to travel.

If all this public transportation still doesn't pique your interest, you can always choose to drive. West Pullman is conveniently located right by the I-57 highway, which runs north into the heart of the city's Loop after merging with I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway). The downside to having a car in West Pullman is you're probably going to be parking it on the street as many homes lack private garages. Finding a spot to park isn't usually a problem, but come winter when a street or two are closed off at a time to make room for snowplows, it can be a bit of a scramble. Still, a nice comfortable drive in your own car is worth a couple days of intense parking spot hunting.
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School's in Session

West Pullman families find this south side Chicago neighborhood houses a number of schools where area youths can get a good education. In addition to the following list of West Pullman academic facilities, you can find more information on Chicago area schools at our Chicago Guide Schools page.

Alex Haley Public School 11411 S Eggleston Ave - (773) 535-5340
Edward White Schools 1130 W 122nd St - (773) 535-5671
Higgins Community Elementary School 11710 S Morgan St - (773) 535-562
Metcalfe Magnet School 12339 S Normal Ave - (773) 535-5590
Songhai Learning Elementary School 11725 S Perry Ave - (773) 535-5547
West Pullman Elementary School 11941 S Parnell Ave - (773) 535-5500
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Basic Needs

We've assembled a sampling of some of the places you can get your bare necessities in West Pullman neighborhood, from mouthwash to manuscripts, postage to potatoes.

Chicago Transit Authority (888) 968-7282

Libraries

West Pullman Branch 830 W 119th St - (312) 747-1425

Post Office

Roseland Post Office 11033 S State St (800) ASK-USPS

Pharmacies

Walgreens 833 W 115th St - (773) 568-4034

Emergency Rooms

Roseland Community Hospital Emergency Services 45 W 111th St - (773) 995-3070

Grocery Stores

Aldi 801 W 119th St
The Berry Food Store 101 W 119th St - (773) 785-1000
Express Supermarket 557 W 119th St - (773) 568-2305

The following are just a taste of the dining, shopping, and entertainment West Pullman has to offer. Discover the rest as you explore the neighborhood for yourself.

ENTERTAINMENT

Foster House and Stable 12147 S Harvard Ave

SHOPPING

The Christ Universal Book Store 11901 S Ashland Ave - (773) 568-1666
Radio Shack 11613 S Halsted St - (773) 468-7777
Revay's Men's Store 543 W 119th St - (773) 785-7718

DINING

American Cuisine
I57 Rib House 1524 W 115th St - (773) 429-1111
Best Bar B Que 1648 W 115th St - (773) 239-1522
Harambee House 11901 S Loomis St - (773) 785-3300

Asian Cuisine
South China Kitchen 11631 S Halsted St - (773) 568-882

Fast Food
Buffalo Fish and Chicken 1219 W 115th St - (773) 821-5393
Dania's Gyros 425 W 115th St - (773) 928-3266
Original Maxwell Street Polish 11656 S Halsted St - (773) 568-2932

Mexican Cuisine
Taste of Mexico 12303 S Halsted St - (773) 291-9969

Nightlife/Bars
Cherry's Lounge 11592 S Michigan Ave - (773) 264-9292
Magnolia's Sports Bar 12217 S Halsted St - (773) 568-1090
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The residential real estate in West Pullman is fairly diverse, providing homeowners with a number of housing options from condos to lofts to townhomes. But there is more to your West Pullman home than where you rest your head at night. The area surrounding a property can be just as much a factor in the decision to buy as the color of the carpet or the condition of the foundation. Each Chicago neighborhood has its own unique charm that sets it apart from the rest. Our comprehensive online guide is all you need to explore the many streets of Chicago -- all from the comfort of your own computer. Shopping, dining, entertainment, schools, you name it, we'll show you where it is. Find out whether that fabulous West Pullman condo is immersed in the throes of wild nightlife, or veiled by the tranquility of a quiet residential setting. Like Metromix and the MLS merged into one, this site is your one-stop shop for Chicago neighborhood information.
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