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Journey Through Calumet
Introduction

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Hegewisch
A rapid assessment of the assets in Hegewisch was conducted by CCUC researchers in 1998, but was not a field site for intensive ethnographic research during the summers of 2001 and 2002. An outside party is conducting similar intensive research in this community. Therefore, assets from Hegewisch were not intensively studied or photographed for this project and are not featured on this site. That said, the story of the region would not be complete without the mentioning of this vital community in the Calumet Region.

Boundaries and Major Infrastructure

  • Hegewisch's official boundary extends to the Indiana border, southerly to the Chicago city limit at 138th Street, and to the west, I-94 , Burley Ave. and Torrence Ave.
  • The residential areas are located east of Brainard Ave.
  • Residents of Hegewisch consider Hyde Lake part of their community.
Hegewisch

Biodiversity

  • Hegewisch Marsh is a breeding ground for many birds including herons and migrant landbirds. The site at 130th Street is being acquired by the City of Chicago as a refuge and educational center.
  • A combination of open water, marsh, sand prairie, and sand savanna can be found at Powderhorn Lake and Prairie. Numerous rare species also live here, including the banded killifish and Franklin's ground squirrel.
  • Wolf Lake and the areas around its shores are known to harbor migrant birds, several rare fish and several rare plants.
  • The city of Chicago has developed nature preserves at Hyde Lake Marsh and at Hegewisch Marsh. Residents of Hegewisch frequent these natural areas.

Important Facts

  • Plans are underway for the construction of the Ford Calumet Environmental Center at Hegewisch Marsh.
  • Avalon Trails, Harbour Point Estates a mobile home park and Arizona were built in the middle of the 20th century. Hegewisch proper was built at the end of the 19th century.
  • In 1990, a proposal was made that would have demolished the homes in Hegewisch and replaced them with Chicago's third major airport. Local community groups burgeoned after this announcement and the airport plans for the Calumet area fell through.

Contemporary Demographics
2000 Total Population: 9,781

Hegewisch is predominantly white of Slavic descent, but has a growing Latino population (27% Hispanic in 2000 and 13% Hispanic in 1990). Median household income according to the Census 2000 was $44,000.


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Introduction
Place
Riverdale
Pullman
South Deering
East Side
Hegewisch
Hammond
Asset Maps
Communtiy, Action and Everyday Life
Communities in Motion
Site Map
Useful Links
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