Ashburn

Ashburn is one of Chicago’s community areas. It is at the southern side of the city. It covers approximately five square miles. The demographic representation of the area records the presence of whites, Hispanics, blacks, Asians, and others. The percentages of Hispanics and blacks are more compared to the rest of the populations. The median income of the area is approximately $70,702. Ashburn’s neighborhoods include: Beverly View, Wrightwood, Marycrest, Parkview, and Scottsdale.

Maps

There are notable neighborhoods in the Ashburn community. The first neighborhood is Beverly View. It situated at the far east of Ashburn. This neighborhood is bounded to the west by Western Avenue, to the north by West 79^th Street, and to the south and east by 81^st Street.

Wrightwood is another major neighborhood in Ashburn. It is situated at the east of Ashburn. The neighborhood is bounded to the north by West Columbus Avenue, to the south by 87^th Street, to east by Western Avenue, and to the west by Kedzie Avenue.

Marycrest is at east central area of Ashburn. The neighborhood is bounded to the north by West 85^th Street, to the south by 87^th Street, to the east by Kedzie Avenue, and to the West by Central Park Avenue.

The Parkview neighborhood is at the central area of Ashburn. The neighborhood is bounded to the northwest by West Columbus Avenue, to the east by Central Park Avenue, to the west by Pulaski Avenue, and to the south by 87^th Street.

The Scottsdale neighborhood is at the western part of Ashburn. It is bounded to the west by Cicero Avenue, to the east by Pulaski Avenue, to the north by 77^th Street, and to the South by 87^th Street.

The Zip code of Ashburn is 60652.

Population

Ashburn is a culturally diverse area in Chicago city. Different communities have a representation in Ashburn, Chicago. There are Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, and other communities living in Ashburn. Blacks have a percentage ratio of 46%, whites have 13%, Hispanics have 38%, Asians have 1%, and others have 0.19%. Evidently, this shows that the dominant population is African-Americans. The family households in Ashburn are 73% while non-family households are 26%. The households with children are more than the ones without children.

The total population of Ashburn is 43,447. The male population is 20,441. The female population is 23,006. In terms of occupational employment in Ashburn, those with white collar jobs are 14,612 while those in the blue collar are 5,397. This translates to a percentage of around 73% for the population working in white collar jobs to a 27% of those working in blue collar jobs. Out of the employment population, the highest number works in the private sector while the self-employed category has the least number of people.

Real Estate

Real estate is an important aspect in Ashburn. Compared to other decades, the housing units that have been in the area since 2010 and after have been fewer. A total of 194 housing units have been developed from 2010 and after. This is a small number compared to the housing units built between 2000 and 2009. From 2000 to 2009, the total number of units built was 282. The highest number of housing units built was between 1940 and 1949. In that year, a total of 557 units were built.

Currently, the number of owner occupied units is at 83% while the renter occupied units are at 18%. An analysis of this statistic shows that a bigger percentage of the people of Ashburn are conscious of the significance of building their own homes. It is of great significance to also point out that there are housing units under mortgage and others without mortgage. The housing units with mortgage in Ashburn are at 76% while those without mortgage are at 24%. There are prospects of more real estate projects in Ashburn and its neighborhoods because of the growth that has been evident there.

Most of the homes in Ashburn are detached single-family houses. Most of them have the ranch or Cape Cold design. A good number of the homes built years ago are now going through renovation to increase space. The renovations are either happening at the back or the attic area of these homes. Apartment complexes are available in Ashburn. However, they are less than two or three flat housing units.

Schools

Educational attainment in Ashburn, Chicago has been a notable component of the community. There are different schools in the area that students enroll into to gain the much-needed knowledge prepare them for the future. Generally, a breakdown of the education levels shows that the percentage of college degrees or associate degree is 34%. The people with bachelor’s degree account for 13% while those with master’s degree account for 7%. Here are schools that are available in Ashburn, Chicago.

Noble Street College Prep

Rating A-

Number of students enrolled 692

Student-teacher ratio 15:1

KIPP Academy Chicago Campus

Rating C

Number of students enrolled 515

Student-teacher ratio 211:1

CICS-Wrightwood

Rating C

Number of student enrolled 703

Teacher-student ratio 234: 1

Saint Clement School

Rating A+

Student enrolment 438

Teacher-student ratio 8:1

Perspectives Rodney D. Joslin Campus

Rating C-

Students enrolled 379

Teacher-student ratio 22:1

Pathways in Education Ashburn

Rating A

Students enrolled 269

Student-teacher ratio: 25:1

Crime Rating

There was an overall drop in crime in Ashburn from 2019 to date. There was a 9% drop in the rate of crime in the area. To begin with, the rate of murders dropped by 10 percent. Secondly, the rate of shooting reduced by 8%. Of great importance still, the rate of car hijacking in the area reduced by 36%. Generally, the level of crime in Ashburn has been relatively low. This makes the area safe for those living in the area and those who visit.

History

Ashburn took its name what used to happen in the city during its conception. Specifically, the people of the city used to throw furnace ash in the area and this is what contributed to it having the name Ashburn. The communities that were first to settle in the area were Swedish, Dutch, and Irish. They settled here in the 1890s. They came in as immigrants and made the Ashburn their home. In the start of the 20^th century, there was a slow growth of the city. There were only 19 homes in the initial 50 years after the area’s inception. A major landmark that was built in Ashburn in 1916 was the Ashburn Flying Field. It was also acted as a training ground during the First World War. The Ashburn Flying Field contributed immensely in the population growth of the surrounding areas. It ended up being shut in 1939.

In the 1950s and 60s, there was a significant increase in population. There were several factors that contributed to the increase in population during this time. The factors included the economic boom after the Second World War, the industrial boom, and the baby boom. Cheap house prices and the nearness to the Chicago Loop played a major role in the boom. Also, the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s led to an increase in the number of blacks and Hispanic communities in the area.

Until the 1990s, the people of the Greater Ashburn were dominantly Irish-Catholic. This started to change when the population of the area started to diversify. There was an increase in the number of African Americans who migrated to the Ashburn area. As the African –Americans were migrating to the Greater Ashburn area, the whites were moving out. When the whites started to move out of the area, the economic stability that was evident in the area was slowly fading away. They took away the establishments that they were controlling and running in the area. Since they had the expertise and technical knowhow of handling the establishments, it was difficult for the economic status to remain the same with them moving out.

A notable aspect in the 1950s in regards to school was the St. Denis Grammar School. More than 2000 children were enrolled in the school and there was overcrowding. These children were in classrooms that accommodated more than 40 students each. As a result of the overcrowding, students were learning in the basement. This was in a bid to ensure that there was space for the learners to learn from. The pastors and teachers sought to expand the facilities to accommodate the increasing number of Catholic children but it was a difficult task for them.

There are neighborhoods that built an important part of Ashburn’s history. Wrightwood became the first neighborhood to be dominantly African-American. Another neighborhood that formed a significant part of Ashburn’s history was Scottsdale. Scottsdale, situated at the west remained predominantly white. There was an important transition into a middle class workforce that was racially blended. The population saw a blend of the following professionals: teachers, firefighters, policemen, and city workers. Since the 1990s, Ashburn has recorded a significant level of racial integration. Among the races present in Ashburn, the black population is more dominant.