4th ward, Chicago

History

The 4th Ward was one of six created upon Chicago's incorporation as a city in 1837. At the time its boundaries were the city limits at North Avenue and Wood Street to its respective north and west, Randolph Street to its south, and the Chicago River to its east. In 1847 it was moved to the Loop and Near South Side, being bounded by the Chicago River to its north and west, 22nd Street (modern-day Cermak) to its south, and Wells Street to its east. In 1857 the southern boundary was extended to 31st street and in 1863 the ward was significantly moved eastward, bounded by 16th street, Lake Michigan, 31st street, and Clark Street. In 1869 its southern boundary was retracted to 26th street.

In 1876 it was moved southward, between 26th Street and Egan Street (modern-day Pershing) and Lake Michigan and Clark Street. In 1887 it was moved south yet again, to the area bounded by the Lake, 33rd and 39th streets, and Stewart Avenue. In 1901 it was extended west to once again touch the River, which it would do until 1923. In 1923, coincident with the City being divided into its modern 50 wards, it covered Kenwood and northern Washington Park.

David K. Fremon wrote in 1988 that "No other ward has wealth and poverty in such proximity." Today the 4th Ward boasts 93,975 residents, with a racially diverse population that is plurality Black (46.0%), followed by White (30.2%), Asian (13.3%), Hispanic or Latino (6.4%), Multiracial (3.5%), Native (0.2%), and Other (0.5%). Between 2010 and 2018, the 4th Ward saw the second-largest population growth in the city after the 42nd Ward, driven primarily by the population influx in the South Loop.

List of alderpersons

1837 – 1923

Before 1923, wards were represented by two aldermen.

1923 – present

Main article: List of Chicago alderpersons since 1923

Since 1923, wards have been represented by a single alderman. Elections have also been nonpartisan, though officeholders often still publicly affiliate with parties.

In 2021, the state government enacted legislation to change the designation for members of the city council from "aldermen" to "alderpersons".

References

References

1. "Ward 4". City of Chicago.
2. (January 31, 2023). "Ward 4 Precincts".
3. (May 19, 2022). "4th Ward Map".
4. "Centennial List of Mayors, City Clerks, City Attorneys, City Treasurers, and Aldermen, elected by the people of the city of Chicago, from the incorporation of the city on March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1937, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the years during which each official held office.". Chicago Historical Society.
5. David K. Fremon. (October 1988). "Chicago politics, ward by ward". Indiana University Press.
6. Plan, Chicago Recovery. "Geography - Ward 4".
7. Gettinger, Aaron. (2021-04-06). "Redistricting update: estimates show population gain in 4th Ward, loss in 20th".
8. (1892). "Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council".
9. [https://books.google.com/books?id=jQlQDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT30 Rogues, Rebels, And Rubber Stamps: The Politics Of The Chicago City Council, 1863 To The Present by Dick Simpson, Routledge, Mar 8, 2018 (page 30)]
10. "Foss, Robert H.".
11. (1885). "History of Chicago: From 1857 until the fire of 1871". Higginson Book Company.
12. (1886). "Political History of Chicago: (covering the Period from 1837 to 1887) Local Politics from the City's Birth; Chicago's Mayors, Aldermen and Other Officials; County and Federal Officers; the Fire and Police Departments; the Haymarket Horror; Miscellaneous". Donohue & Henneberry, printers and binders.
13. "Cook Co., IL Bio - Jesse Spaulding". Source: Album of Genealogy and Biography, Cook County, Illinois with Portraits 3rd ed. revised and extended (Chicago: Calumet Book & Engraving Co., 1895), pp. 7-9.
14. (1886). "History of Chicago: From the fire of 1871 until 1885". A. T. Andreas.
15. (7 April 1886). "Roll of the New Council, Including Holding-Over Aldermen and Those Elected Yesterday". Chicago Tribune.
16. (27 Jan 1896). "All Fond of the Council". The Chicago Chronicle.
17. (1896). "Public Officials of Chicago (1895–1896) The Municipal Herald of Chicago Containing a Portraiture of the City of Chicago Consisting of Portraits of the Mayor, City Treasurer, City Attorney, City Clerk, Members of the City Council, and Leading Officials of the George B. Swift Administration of 1895–96 and All Desirable Information Regarding the Same Chicago". John C. Sterchie.
18. (1899). "The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Political Register for 1899". Chicago Daily News.
19. (1900). "Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book for 1900". Chicago Daily News, Incorporated.
20. (March 1, 1919). "The Common Council Full List of Aldermen Composing the Governing Body of the City of Chicago". Chicago Eagle at Newspapers.com.
21. (December 9, 1918). "Ald D. R. Hickey Dies After Five Days' Illness". Chicago Tribune.
22. (2021-06-18). "Pritzker signs law that will make alderman name more inclusive".
23. "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB0825".
24. (January 25, 2011). "Newsome Fills Interim Seat For Fourth Ward Alderman".
25. "Ald. Will Burns Resigns, Leaves 4th Ward Seat Vacant, Will Go To Airbnb".
26. "City of Chicago :: Ward 4".