History of Chicago
Chicago
first settled near a river that flowed into the great Lakes. The Land was flat
and fertile and had nearby deposits of coal and iron. Railroad and steel
industries emerged in Chicago because of its availability of this coal and Iron
to make steel. Chicago began to industrialize which caused an increase of its
population. The British, Scottish and Irish were the wave of immigrants that
first entered Chicago. These immigrants were employed in factories and were
paid in low wages. Pilsen was also affected by these demographic changes in
Chicago, railroads and other industries grew in Pilsen that motivated unskilled
immigrants to work and live in Pilsen.
The Story of Pilsen
Pilsen is situated near the lower west side of Chicago and was first settled in the 1840s by Irish and German immigrants. Economic factors that pulled these two immigrant groups to live in Pilsen, was the Southwestern Plank Road, which was a trade route situated near Pilsen, and the Illinois & Michigan Canal, another important trading route. These routes served as a way for immigrants to travel to Pilsen ,and they also provided employment. Then in the 1780s, an influx of Bohemian immigrants began settling in Pilsen as a result of the construction of the McCormick Reaper Company and other industries. These basic industries provided people in the community with employment, thus money circulated within the community. (encyclopediaofchicago.org) A restaurant named “At the City of Plzen” (a non-basic industry) opened “to honor” the large population of Bohemians in that area, Plzen was a city in Bohemia. Then, during WWI Mexican immigrants began to reside in Pilsen as a result of laws that forbid Mexicans to live near UIC. At this time, UIC was being rebuilt and expanded. (explorechicago.org)
The cultural landscape of the neighborhood began to change as Mexican artist and business owners began embellish the neighborhood with painting, murals, and statues that depicted the Mexican culture. Many industries began to thrive, warehouses and transportation (basic industries) began employing Hispanic residents in Pilsen. Small groceries, restaurants and other non-basic industries also employed the residents of Pilsen. Since rent and property tax were low at that time, the thresholds of certain businesses were low (as compared to now) before, less people were needed to make a profit.
The Story of Pilsen
Pilsen is situated near the lower west side of Chicago and was first settled in the 1840s by Irish and German immigrants. Economic factors that pulled these two immigrant groups to live in Pilsen, was the Southwestern Plank Road, which was a trade route situated near Pilsen, and the Illinois & Michigan Canal, another important trading route. These routes served as a way for immigrants to travel to Pilsen ,and they also provided employment. Then in the 1780s, an influx of Bohemian immigrants began settling in Pilsen as a result of the construction of the McCormick Reaper Company and other industries. These basic industries provided people in the community with employment, thus money circulated within the community. (encyclopediaofchicago.org) A restaurant named “At the City of Plzen” (a non-basic industry) opened “to honor” the large population of Bohemians in that area, Plzen was a city in Bohemia. Then, during WWI Mexican immigrants began to reside in Pilsen as a result of laws that forbid Mexicans to live near UIC. At this time, UIC was being rebuilt and expanded. (explorechicago.org)
The cultural landscape of the neighborhood began to change as Mexican artist and business owners began embellish the neighborhood with painting, murals, and statues that depicted the Mexican culture. Many industries began to thrive, warehouses and transportation (basic industries) began employing Hispanic residents in Pilsen. Small groceries, restaurants and other non-basic industries also employed the residents of Pilsen. Since rent and property tax were low at that time, the thresholds of certain businesses were low (as compared to now) before, less people were needed to make a profit.