Archer Heights, Chicago

Archer Heights is a community area in Chicago, Illinois, one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago.
Archer Avenue runs from south of Chicago's downtown area, through the southwest side of Chicago and beyond into the southwest suburbs, along what was once a Native American trail. The neighborhood is bounded by the Stevenson Expressway to the north, the CTA Orange Line to the south, the Corwith railyard to the east, and the railroad tracks/Knox Avenue to the west.
History.
Archer Heights was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, but they had little use for its swampy prairies. Starting in the nineteenth-century, land speculators and farmers sparked interest in the swampy lands. The land became a primary focus for real-estate developers and manufacturers. It gained exceptional interest from William B. Archer, an Illinois & Michigan Canal commissioner and land speculator from whom Archer Heights gained its name.
After speculators came in in 1900 and developed the southern sections of Archer Heights for residential use, railroads sustained control of the north side real estate. Due to horse cars in the late 1890s, and electric streetcars gaining popularity in the early 1900s, immigrant laborers started to pour into Archer Heights. Starting in the 1920s and 1930s, Archer Heights had its largest population growth coming from the Polish, Italian, Czech, and Russian Jewish communities. During this time modern urban groundwork and two Catholic parishes, St. Bruno's (1925) and St. Richard's (1938), helped stimulate population growth.
After World War II population began to make a comeback; between 1930 and 1950, the Archer Heights community grew from 8,120 to 8,675. In the following years the population sprouted to 10,584, peaking by 1970 at 11,143. However, by 1980, the population fell off to 9,708, and continued to do so in 1990 falling to 9,227.
For over 90 years, the Archer Heights community has been predominantly white (96 percent in 1990), with a large contingent of foreign-born residents (27 percent in 1990), and a strong Polish cohort. In the 1990s, Hispanics, and primarily Mexicans, rose to 8 percent of the population. "While Archer Heights continues to be home to a large Polish community, since 2000 it became the latest swath of the Southwest Side bungalow belt where Hispanics have become the majority."
At the end of the twentieth century, approximately 60 percent of the area was dedicated to manufacturing and bulk transportation facilities, 30 percent to residences, and 10 percent to commerce.
Services.
Education.
CPS District-Run Schools.
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has two district-run schools in Archer Heights:
S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60632
http://www.curiehs.org
4815 South Karlov Avenue, Chicago, IL 60632
http://edwardsib.org
CPS Charter Schools.
The United Neighborhood Organization operates the charter schools in Archer Heights
4248 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60632
http://www.ucsnschools.org
4248 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60632
http://www.ucsnschools.org
4647 W. 47th St. Chicago, IL 60632
http://schoolinfo.cps.edu/schoolprofile/schooldetails.aspx?SchoolId=400009
4248 W 47th St Chicago, IL 60632
https://web.archive.org/web/20160625180632/https://www.incschools.org/school/ucsn-spc-daniel-zizumbo/
Catholic schools.
5025 S. Kenneth Ave. Chicago, IL 60632
http://www.strichard.net
4839 S. Harding Ave. Chicago, IL 60632
http://stbruno.com
Library.
Archer Heights Public Library
The Archer Heights public library is a 6 million dollar, 14,000 sq/ft building located at 5055 S. Archer Ave. Chicago Illinois. The library is home to over 49,000 materials ranging from books, magazines, book tapes, and newspapers.
Link
Transportation.
Historically, transportation between downtown Chicago and the Southwest Side was limited to express buses that traveled down the Stevenson Expressway. The Orange Line was created in 1993 to solve this issue. Pulaski station was built as an Orange Line stop at the corner of Pulaski Road and 51st Street near Archer Avenue.
Politics.
The Archer Heights community area has supported the Democratic Party in the past two presidential elections by overwhelming margins. In the 2016 presidential election, the Archer Heights cast 2,803 votes for Hillary Clinton and cast 527 votes for Donald Trump (81.22% to 15.27%). In the 2012 presidential election, Archer Heights cast 2,140 votes for Barack Obama and cast 494 votes for Mitt Romney (80.03% to 18.47%).
Non-Profit Organizations.
Archer Heights Civic Association.
Founded in 1938, "Archer Heights Civic Association" (AHCA) is the oldest active neighborhood organization in Southwest Chicago, serving the Archer Heights community. In 1968, AHCA had meetings with local aldermen and the Chicago Park District Superintendent to present a list of improvements needed at Archer Park, including a field house. The Archer Park field house eventually opened in 1970. Originally formed as a homeowner's association, AHCA also functions as a community watchdog, for example, pressuring for enforcement of zoning laws.
Government.
Archer Heights is split by two United States congressional districts, these districts are the 3rd and 4th. Marie Newman (3rd district) serves the South West, and Jesús "Chuy" García serves the North East Side of Archer Heights.
Alderman Edward M. Burke has been serving the 14th ward for over 30 years. Alderman Ricardo Muñoz serves the 22nd ward of Chicago. Michael R. Zalewski is the Alderman for the 23rd ward.
Archer Heights is also represented in the 1st district of the Illinois Senate and House, their Senator is Assistant Majority Leader, Democrat Antonio Munoz and their House Rep. is Assistant Majority Leader, Democrat Daniel J. Burke.
Jeffery R. Tobolski was elected as the Cook County Commissioner from the 16th District on November 2, 2010. Tobolski is the Vice-Chairman of the Labor Committee; also at the Cook County Board he chairs the Homeland Security committee, Veterans Committee, as well as the Preserve's Zoo Committee.
John P. Daley is the Cook County Commissioner of the 11th District. He serves on the Cook County Board Committee as the Audit and Finance Chairman.
Politics.
The Archer Heights community area has supported the Democratic Party in the past two presidential elections
by large margins. In the 2016 presidential election, Archer Heights cast 2,803 votes for Hillary Clinton and cast 527 votes for Donald Trump (81.22% to 15.27%). In the 2012 presidential election, Archer Heights cast 2,140 votes for Barack Obama and cast 494 votes for Mitt Romney (80.03% to 18.47%).
Newspapers.
South Chicago Post.
http://www.swchicagopost.com
Southwest news Herald.
http://swnewsherald.com