Ever heard of a place that was once the heart of America’s meatpacking industry? That’s New City in Chicago. This vibrant community area tells a story of immigrants, industry, and incredible resilience.
New City is one of Chicago’s 77 official community areas. It sits on the southwest side, a part of the South Side district. Spanning 4.86 square miles, New City had a population of 43,628 in 2020. That’s about 9,000 people per square mile.
New City comprises two main neighborhoods. These are Back of the Yards and Canaryville. Each neighborhood has its own unique story to tell. Back of the Yards got its name from its location. It was right next to the Union Stock Yards. These yards employed thousands of European immigrants in the early 20th century. Upton Sinclair’s novel “The Jungle” vividly portrayed life here.
The Back of the Yards was full of Eastern European immigrants. Lithuanians, Bohemians, Moravians, and Slovaks called it home. In the 1930s, activist Saul Alinsky helped organize the community. This led to the Industrial Areas Foundation in 1940. It trained community organizers.
Canaryville is one of Chicago’s oldest neighborhoods. It borders Bridgeport. Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine settled here in the mid-19th century. Over time, Mexicans and other Latin American immigrants arrived. Canaryville is now a mix of Irish and Mexican cultures. The name “Canaryville” might come from sparrows. They fed in the stockyards and railroad cars. Or maybe from the “wild canaries,” white youth gangs from the early 1900s.
The Union Stock Yards were a huge deal for New City. From 1865 to 1971, they provided jobs for many. The yards attracted immigrants from all over the world. New City’s population peaked in 1930. Over 87,000 people lived here then.
Things changed when major packinghouses closed between 1952 and 1962. The stockyards shut down in 1971. New industries gradually moved in. By 1991, over 100 companies employed more than 10,000 workers.
Poor living conditions led to community organizing. The Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council formed in the 1930s. They pushed for school lunch programs and fluoride in drinking water. Other groups like the Hispanic United Neighborhood Organization emerged in the 1970s. They offered social services to Latino and African American laborers.
New City is a neighborhood of contrasts. It’s an area where the scent of industry once hung heavy in the air. Today, it’s a place where community gardens bloom. This is where neighbors gather, and where the echoes of history meet the aspirations of a new generation. New City continues to evolve while keeping its unique Chicago spirit alive.