Little ItalyIzabela, Gabrielle, Claudia and Mary

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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