<<< Main page | <<< Ruined Cities USA

Chicago, IL - South side

Chicago was granted a city charter by the State of Illinois on March 4, 1837. Between the years of 1870 and 1900 Chicago would grow to a city of 299,000 to about 1.7 million. Chicago would eventually become the transportation hub of the USA with its road, rail, water and later air connections. It was the fastest growing city with new residents from rural communities and new immigrants from Europe. Chicago's flourishing economy, growth in manufacturing and retail sectors would allow it to dominate the Midwest region and have a great impact on the United States economy. 

Here is a sad picture story of what happened to the South Side of Chicago, a once flourishing area full of European-Americans. Whites build, Blacks destroy.

A former Swedish Church, now a Black congregation hall.

In Chicago, there are even European style churches for sale in the middle of Black gang-infested neighborhoods.

Whites have long abandoned this neighborhood and the church fell into decay.

A formally White school, now abandoned and overgrown with weeds.

Beautiful architecture left behind as the former White inhabitants abandoned their neighborhoods.

Germanic architecture left behind by the former Nordic settlers of these neighborhoods.

<<< Main page | <<< Ruined Cities USA