Hermosa, Chicago

Hermosa is one of the 77 community areas of Chicago in Illinois, United States, located on the northwest side of Chicago. It contains the Kelvyn Park and Hermosa neighborhoods. The area includes the birthplace of Walt Disney and is the former headquarters of the Schwinn Bicycle Company. While being one of the smaller community areas, Hermosa is one of the city's most densely populated neighborhoods.

Today, Hermosa is a predominantly Hispanic blue collar community, with a sizable manufacturing base. Many of the people who reside in Hermosa have done so because of its convenient location to work, its relative proximity to downtown, and because of its healthy public transportation options. The Consulate-General of Honduras in Chicago is located in Hermosa at 4439 West Fullerton Avenue.

On December 31, 2018, the Hermosa Bungalow Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Background

The Hermosa area originated as one of the many suburban crabgrass communities of Jefferson Township. The first verifiable proof of European settlement in the area occurred in the early 1880s after railroads were constructed through the area. In 1872, an extension of the Chicago and Pacific Rail Road was extended, passing through Hermosa from east to west. The Keeney Company actively promoted the growth of Hermosa and ultimately helped convince the railroad to build a station in the area, which Mr. Kenney constructed at his own expense. most of these original settlers were Scotch, German and Swedish immigrants. The first schools and churches were established in the area in the late 1880s and 1890s. but began to see rapid growth in the first two decades of the 20th century. Streetcars were extended through the community along Armitage Avenue in 1895, Fullerton Avenue in 1914, and Belmont Avenue in 1917. Schwinn had facilities in Hermosa from 1895 to 1982. The railroads also created many dead-end streets in Hermosa, which isolated residents geographically from surrounding communities, but also created a sense of security.

By the 1930s Hermosa's population had grown to over 23,500 residents. The area was populated primarily by Germans, Scandinavians with newer groups of Poles, Hungarians, and Austrians. The average size of households jumped dramatically in this decade, with large increases in the population of children 13 years or younger.

Demographics

Per the 2020 Census, there were 24,062 people residing in the Hermosa community area. Per the 2018–2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the racial makeup of the Hermosa community area was 12.4% non-Hispanic White, 3.5% non-Hispanic Black, 3.0% non-Hispanic Asian, and 1.1% non-Hispanic some other race. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 80.1% of the population.

Neighborhood boundaries

Located 6 miles northwest of the Loop, Hermosa's borders are mostly defined by railroad tracks and embankments. The Metra Milwaukee District / West Line forms Hermosa's southernmost border, at Bloomingdale Ave (1800 N). The westernmost border is Cicero Ave. (4800 W.) while the easternmost is the Metra Milwaukee District / North Line. Hermosa's northernmost border is Belmont Ave (3200 N.) Zip codes: 60639, 60641, and 60647.

Hermosa

While Hermosa is the namesake for the general community area, Hermosa as a community is generally defined as being the tract of land south of Fullerton (2400 N) to Bloomingdale Ave (1800 N), west of the Milwaukee District/North Line, and east of Cicero Ave (4800 W). Zip codes: 60639, 60647. Unofficially, Hermosa is generally recognized as bounded by the land north of North Ave (1600 N) and west of Pulaski Ave (4000 W).

File:Hermosa - Chicago, IL (Armitage & Keeler).jpg|alt=Business flanking Armitage and Keeler|Armitage Ave. is an important business corridor in Hermosa.

File:Factor 10 house - Hermosa - Chicago, IL.jpg|alt=In 2004, NHSRC's two-story Factor 10 house (red house pictured) at 1919 N. Keeler in the Hermosa neighborhood was named one of the top 10 Green Projects by the American Institute of Architects.|The Factor 10 house (red house pictured) is located in Hermosa and was named a top 10 Green Projects by the American Institute of Architects.

File:Hermosa - Chicago, IL (Keystone & Fullerton).jpg|alt=Row of houses along Keystone Ave located within Hermosa, Chicago, IL.|Many homes in Hermosa are late 19th century simple worker's cottages.

File:Hermosa - Chicago, IL (Keystone Ave).jpg|alt=A series of 2-story brick multi unit homes located on Keystone near Palmer.|A series of 2-flats located on Keystone Ave. near Palmer Ave. in Hermosa.

File:Hermosa - Chicago, IL (Kelvyn Park).jpg|alt=Kelvyn Park is a part of the Hermosa community area boundaries are Fullerton Ave (2400 N) to Belmont Ave (3200 N), the Milwaukee District/North Line, west to Cicero Ave (4800 W). ZIP codes: 60639, 60641.|Kelvyn Park (pictured) was mostly built out during the 1920s-1940s and is composed mostly of brick bungalows and two-flats.

File:Newly Weds Foods Inc. - Hermosa - Chicago, IL.jpg|alt=Newly Weds Foods Inc. is one of the larger property owners and employers in Hermosa, Chicago. Hermosa is surrounded by industrial developments and railroad tracks on three sides. Newly Weds utilizes an industrial spur line off the Milwaukee District/North Line.|Newly Weds Foods Inc. is one of the larger property owners and employers in Hermosa.

File:Viaduct wall art - Hermosa - Chicago, IL.jpg|A painted viaduct located near Ken-Well Park.

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Aldermanic wards

As of 2014, the majority of Hermosa was located within the boundaries of the 31st ward and the 30th ward. A controversial aldermanic remap has left the Hermosa community area relegated to 4 wards; with the majority of the community still located within the 31st Ward. Hermosa is also located within the 35th ward, 26th ward, and 36th ward starting in 2015. The aldermanic remap has left the Hermosa community area politically fractured.

Police district and beats

Hermosa is located within the 25th District Chicago Police Department and is located within 8 CAPS District and Beat locations:

Beat 2521
Beat 2522
Beat 2523
Beat 2524
Beat 2525
Beat 2533
Beat 2534
Beat 2535

Notable people

thumb|Birthplace of Walt Disney, at 2156 North Tripp Avenue

Chester A. Chesney (1916–1986), member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois's 11th congressional district for the 81st United States Congress. He resided at 2828 North Kolmar Avenue while a member of Congress.
Michael Gross, actor (Family Ties, Tremors). He was raised in the neighborhood.
Mary Gross, actress and Saturday Night Live cast member. She was raised in the neighborhood.

Walt Disney

Hermosa is the birthplace of Walt Disney, born on December 5, 1901. The house Walt was born in was designed and built by his father and mother, Elias Disney and Flora Call Disney, in 1893. The home is located at the corner of Tripp Avenue and Palmer Street at 2156 North Tripp Avenue, formerly 1249 Tripp Avenue before the address system was overhauled in 1909. The home was sold in 2013. The new owners intended to restore the home and hope to obtain landmark status for the structure. The City of Chicago attempted to designate the structure as a Historic Landmark in 1991, but the owner of the property at the time fought the designation. Brent Young, Dina Benadon, and Todd Regan, the executive director, are currently raising funds to repair the siding, install restoration windows and paint the structure.

Religion

thumb|alt=St. Philomena Catholic Church.|St. Philomena Catholic Church.

One of the most notable structures in Hermosa is the St. Philomena Catholic Church, which is located on 1921 N. Kedvale Ave. The church was founded in 1894. Pritzker College Prep is located within the St. Philomena campus.

St. Paul Congregational United Church of Christ, established in 1900, and located on 2257 N. Keeler has the notable distinction of being the location of Walt Disney's childhood baptism. Today, St. Paul is known as Iglesia Evangelica Bautista Betania.

Industry

Industry is a notable component of the built environment in Hermosa. Some 14.8% of all the general land use in Hermosa is for industrial use and 61.7% of all the available employment within the community, totaling 2,215 jobs comes from industry. As a result, manufacturing is the top sector of employment within Hermosa. However, health care is the number one industry sector of employment for Hermosa residents in any neighborhood at 13.9% of total employment.

Politics

The Hermosa community area has supported the Democratic Party in the past by overwhelming margins. In the 2016 presidential election, Hermosa cast 5,219 votes for Hillary Clinton and cast 587 votes for Donald Trump (86.59% to 9.74%). In the 2012 presidential election, Hermosa cast 4,271 votes for Barack Obama and cast 489 votes for Mitt Romney (88.41% to 10.12%).

Education

Chicago Public Schools

thumb|alt=Kelvyn Park High School.|Kelvyn Park High School.

Kelvyn Park High School is a CPS 4-year high school, with 933 students attending. Kelvyn Park High is currently being converted into a 7-12 grade school to compensate for the loss of Ames Middle School which was converted into the Marine Math and Science Academy. The conversion of Ames is considered controversial among community stakeholders and is currently being contested.
North-Grand High School is a CPS 4-year high school, with 926 students attending.
William Penn Nixon Elementary School is a CPS PK-6 grade school, with 1,061 students attending.
Barry Elementary School is a CPS PK-6 grade school, with 838 students attending.
McAuliffe Elementary School is a CPS PK-8 grade school with 678 students attending.

Charter schools

Pritzker College Prep is a public four-year charter high school, with 858 students attending. Before turning into a charter in 2006, Pritzker was known as the St. Philomena School. Philomena School was closed in 2005, along with 23 other Catholic elementary schools in mostly African American and Latino communities.

Private schools

There are several private PK-K schools located throughout Hermosa as well as a PK-4 grade private religious school, called the Chicago Christian Academy.

Parks

thumb|alt=Kelvyn Park.|Kelvyn Park. Kelvyn Park is part of the Chicago Park District. It is located at 4438 W. Wrightwood Avenue. At eight and one-half acres, Kelvyn Park is the largest park in the Hermosa community area. The park offers two walking paths, two softball fields, a combination football/soccer field, a basketball court, a volleyball court, two tennis courts, horseshoe courts, plus a playground and spray pool. A large field house located on premises offers a fitness center, gymnasium, auditorium, several meeting rooms, and a small kitchen.

Hermosa Park is a part of the Chicago Park District. It is located 2240 N. Kilbourn Ave. Hermosa Park is a little over four acres. The Park features two walking paths, one senior and two junior baseball fields, one softball field, a combination football/soccer field, a basketball court, a volleyball court and a playground with spray pool.

thumb|alt=Ken-Well Park.|Ken-Well Park.

Ken-Well Park is a part of the Chicago Park District. It is located at 2945 N. Kenosha Ave. Ken-Well Park is a small three acre park. The park features a junior baseball field, a softball field, a combination football/soccer field, a basketball court, and a playground with a spray pool. The park's name combines those of the two adjacent streets, Kenosha Avenue and Wellington Street. It borders the Milwaukee District North Line.

Keystone Playlot Park is part of the Chicago Park District. It is located at 1653 N. Keystone Ave. The park, along with the street, are named after Pennsylvania, long known as the "Keystone State."

The southeasternmost edge of Hermosa is less than a quarter mile walking distance of the westernmost edge of the Bloomingdale Trail.

Transportation

Hermosa receives a high walkability score and is served by several CTA bus routes, the Blue Line and the Milwaukee District / North Line.

Metra

Grand/Cicero (Milwaukee District West Line)
Healy (Milwaukee District North Line)

CTA

<code>53 Pulaski</code>
<code>54 Cicero</code>
<code>56 Milwaukee</code>
<code>65 Grand</code>
<code>72 North</code>
<code>73 Armitage</code>
<code>74 Fullerton</code>
<code>76 Diversey</code>
<code>77 Belmont</code>
(Blue Line)

References

External links

Chicago Zip Code and Neighborhood Map City of Chicago
Chicago Park District
Hermosa Park
Kelvyn Park