Remember the 1853 train crash that killed 18 people? That event inadvertently spurred the growth of Greater Grand Crossing. It is one of Chicago’s 77 community areas. Greater Grand Crossing sits 8 miles south of the Loop.
Greater Grand Crossing includes several smaller neighborhoods. These are Grand Crossing, Park Manor, Brookline, Brookdale, and Essex. The area was annexed to Chicago in 1889. It was part of Hyde Park Township back then.
After the train accident, industry developed around the intersection. Trains had to stop completely there. Paul Cornell, a real-estate developer, saw potential. He thought the area was ideal for suburban development. Transportation to Chicago was assured by the railroads. In 1855, Cornell started buying large tracts of land. He subdivided the area and offered lots for sale. He initially called the subdivision Cornell. He changed the name to Grand Crossing. He learned of another village named Cornell.
Early residents were of Irish, English, and Scottish descent. They developed railroad settlements. These settlements were just south of Oak Woods Cemetery. German factory workers, farmers, and craft workers arrived in the 1890s. They built frame cottages in Brookline.
The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 further boosted growth. Single-family homes, two-flats, and apartments appeared. This accommodated the growing population between 1895 and 1912. Infrastructure also improved. The Calumet electric street railway extended to Cottage Grove and 93rd. In 1912, the dangerous train intersection was finally elevated.
White City amusement park opened in 1904. It stood over Greater Grand Crossing. It was located from Grand Boulevard to Calumet Avenue and 63rd to 67th Streets. White City closed in 1933. The structure was torn down in 1950. This made way for Parkway Gardens. Parkway Gardens is a public housing project.
By 1920, Greater Grand Crossing was largely residential. Its population was 44,538. Swedish and Italian people joined the Irish and German residents. As African Americans moved in, other ethnic groups moved out. During the 1950s, the Black population increased dramatically. It went from 6 percent to 86 percent. Since 1980, the community has been about 99 percent African American.
Apart from Parkway Gardens, construction has been limited since the 1930s. The community has experienced depopulation since the 1960s. In 1960, the population was 63,169. By 1990, a fifth of the population lived at or below the poverty level. However, a third of the residents were second and third-generation property owners.
Today, Greater Grand Crossing boasts exceptional transportation. There is easy access to the CTA, Metra, I-94, and the Skyway. Recent private investments have supported community engagement. The Gary Comer Youth Center and schools are examples. The community has a strong presence of local businesses and medical facilities. The city invests in Park District programming and a new public library. Greater Grand Crossing is near cultural centers. These include the South Shore Cultural Center and the future Obama Presidential Center.