“Zone 2. Next stop West Pullman,” announces the Metra conductor. West Pullman Metra Station stands as a vital link for this Chicago neighborhood. Have you ever considered the history and importance of this station?
West Pullman station serves the West Pullman neighborhood. This station is located on Halsted Street. It lies between 120th and 122nd Streets. The West Pullman Metra Station is 16.7 miles from Millennium Station. That’s the northern end of the line.
West Pullman is part of Metra’s Blue Island Branch. The station is in fare zone 2. In 2018, it was the 232nd busiest station. This ranking is out of 236 non-downtown stations. The average was 13 weekday boardings.
Most of the Blue Island Branch has one track. However, West Pullman has two tracks. Blue Island is the other station with two tracks. It is the line’s terminus. A parking lot is on Halsted Street. It is north of the tracks. The station is near Chicago’s edge. It offers bus connections. These connections are from the CTA and Pace.
The Chicago Plan Commission gave West Pullman a station typology. This typology is Mixed Residential/Industrial Neighborhood. The station serves both homes and industry. Like most MRIN stations, it lacks CTA rail access.
West Pullman connects to several bus routes. These include 8A South Halsted and 352 Halsted. The 352 runs 24/7. Other routes serve rush hours or specific areas. These are 108 Halsted/95th and 359 Robbins/South Kedzie Avenue.
West Pullman’s story reflects Chicago’s broader history. The area was settled after the 1833 Treaty of Chicago. Real estate developers formed the West Pullman Land Association in the 1880s. They aimed to develop the land. Industrial growth was successful. Residential development followed. The Panic of 1893 and the Pullman Strike of 1894 caused economic issues. The association went bankrupt.
West Pullman includes smaller communities. Kensington was founded in 1852. It was at the junction of two railroads. Gano was populated by Pullman workers. These workers wanted their own homes. They desired freedom from George Pullman’s control.
Many ethnic groups lived here. These groups included Italians and Poles. Hungarians and Lithuanians also lived here. Ukrainians and Armenians built churches and centers. One example is St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church.
The Pullman Company closed in 1968. This event hurt the area. Deindustrialization and suburban growth caused racial change. In 1960, West Pullman was 99.8% white. By 1980, it was 94% black.
West Pullman remains a blue-collar community. It is located near railways and the Calumet Sag Channel. Much of the heavy industry disappeared in the late 20th century. West Pullman lags economically. The unemployment rate is higher than Chicago’s average.
Today, West Pullman is working to improve. Old industrial sites are being cleaned up. The EPA helped turn a brownfield into a garden. West Pullman is home to a large solar plant. It generates power for homes in the Midwest.
Consider the West Pullman Metra Station. It is more than just a stop. It connects residents to jobs and opportunities. It links the neighborhood to Chicago and beyond. As you board your train, remember the history. Think about the community that relies on this station every day.