Lower West Side

The Lower West Side is recognized as the heart of Chicago’s Hispanic community, and the area is home to the city’s largest collection of outdoor murals. It seems that art is everywhere in the Lower West Side, with the major attractions being The Mexican-American Fine Arts Center Museum and the East Pilson Artists’ Colony.

There are many ethnic shops and dozens of authentic Mexican restaurants in the area, with Chicago’s other large Hispanic community, Little Village, in close proximity. There is also Little Italy, an old Italian community with several Italian restaurants, in the area around Oakley. Chinatown isn’t too far away, either.

The area was originally settled by Czech immigrants at the end of the 1800s. Residents of the neighborhood found work in the stockyards and meat-packing plants. As the area grew, the Czech population was surpassed by Germans, then Polish and Irish immigrants. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the Lower West Side became heavily Hispanic.

The University of Illinois-Chicago is nearby, and one can often see members of the student body eating or hanging out in the Pilsen area. Housing here is student-friendly and very affordable, with many multi-unit buildings instead of single-family homes.

Dvorak Park and Addams Park are close by, and there are a number of schools, bus routes, and train stops in the area.