2. Transportation
Little Italy is located southwest of Loyola.
We took the red line to Jackson, then switched to the blue line. On the blue
line we got off at Racine. Once we got off we took W Van Buren St to S
Ashland Ave to W Taylor St.
3. History
•Italians arrived in Chicago in the late nineteenth century and quickly developed their
own area where their culture, religion, and other social backgrounds could flourish.
•In 1900 there were around 16,000 Italians in the city and that number multiplied by
five in just thirty years.
•There were Italians throughout Chicago but Little Italy had the most densely
populated area.
•The Italian immigrants and Little Italy had a major impact on the city of Chicago.
The Italian Socialist Federation was founded in 1908 and many Italian parishes were
developed throughout the city. The Italian mafia in the ‘20s also impacted Chicago.
4. Demographics
Total Population: 7,129
Ethnic/Racial Breakdown: 89.8% African American, 0.1% American Indian, 0.8%
Asian, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 5.5% White
Gender Ration: 55.3% female, 44.7% male
Age Distribution: 7.4% under 5, 33.8% under 18, 6.8% over 65, 59.4% between
18 and 65
Median Income: $48,173
5. Activities and Landmarks
We ate dinner at a restaurant called Pompei, we all had hand rolled pizza
and cannolis. The menu was pretty extensive at the restaurant, we had a
choice between different sandwiches (Italian sausage, eggplant
parmesan, etc.), pasta dishes (hand cut and made), stuffed pizza, hand
rolled pizza and plenty of dessert choices.
We went to the Piazza DiMaggio which was built in 1998, this is a fountain
right across the street from the hall of fame museum- this was a gift
from the city of Chicago to the Little Italy village.
We wanted to take a look in the National Italian Sports Hall of Fame, but
it was closed by the time we got there. The hall of fame not only includes
famous athletes like Tommy and Jo Lasorda, there is also a rooftop
terrace and a Frank Sinatra Performing Arts center.
6. Reflections
Gabrielle: After researching Little Italy, it became evident how historical the neighborhood
we went to really was. Seeing how the culture still remains present today after such a long
period of time is very interesting.
Mary: It was really interesting to see a different side of the city. Not being from this area, I
haven’t been able to explore much, so this gave me an opportunity. I really want to explore
more parts of the city and get to know places that I might like going to more often.
Claudia: After having visited the neighborhood, it opened my eyes to the different cultures
that surround us in the city of Chicago. This little exploration has encouraged me to look
into other neighborhoods in order to expand my understanding of cultural diversity. I
enjoyed the food and the way the village lit up as it started to get a bit darker
Izabela: I’ve been to Little Italy before with my parents and I enjoyed going again. Growing
up right outside of Chicago, I always feel like I’ve experienced most of it, but going to
places like this makes me realize I really haven’t. Going on this exploration makes me want
to explore other little neighborhoods or villages like it to experience different cultures.
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12. Works Cited
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1776935.html
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/758.html
http://www.chicagotraveler.com/neighborhoods/little-italy-feature.htm
