Example: a Doublescoop Ice Cream Cup in Baskin Robbins Can Be $3.09, $3.39, $3.59, $3.79

Rental

The cheapest neighborhoods of Chicago, are actually not Black neighborhoods, but Mexican. The cheapest Mexican neighborhoods are the ones in the West sides south of Madison(Little Village, Pilsen, and the Hispanic-side of Back of the Yards). With the exception of the gentrifying east Pilsen, those 3 may be the cheapest property tax neighborhoods of Chicago (but no property tax formula is given). As of 2013, you can find 2 bedroom apartments for $475, and 3 bedroom apartments for $650. The cheapest place is likely 2454 S. Spaulding (3300 W.), with rooms starting at $225 (1 bathroom for 14 units, but that bathroom has 2 toilets). Only 3 rooming houses are women-only.

Example: a doublescoop ice cream cup in Baskin Robbins can be $3.09, $3.39, $3.59, $3.79, and even $3.99, depending on the location. The $3.09 is for the Baskin Robbins in Little Village, $3.39 in Humboldt Park, and the latter ones in downtown areas and White neighborhoods. In 2014, for Black neighborhoods in the South side, are $3.39 59th/Ashland and 88th/Stony Island, $3.69 35th/King Drive and 87th/Cottage Grove, and $3.89 61st/Western.

Rental with real estate companies in White and Black neighborhoods tend to require a 12-month lease as well as a security deposit. However, unique to Black neighborhoods offer a “move-in fee” at a cheaper rate, which is a non-refundable security deposit.

Example: a 3-bedroom apartment in a Black neighborhood may be $900, but with a $300 move-in fee, which is non-refundable, compared to other places that may require a full security deposit, which is refundable, but more expensive.

Chicago Public Schools

In the 2007-2008 school year, Latino students surpassed Black students by population for the 1st time. Chicago may be roughly 1/3rd White, Black, and Hispanic, but Chicago has a disproportionate amount of White youths. White students only make up 6%, and the majority of White college students (as well as adults) are from out-of-state.

Legal

To file a civil lawsuit, for county court, go to Daley Center, 50 W. Washington, 6th floor (such as for security deposits). For federal court, go to Dirksen Federal Building, 219 S. Dearborn, 20th floor. Chicago Police Department’s headquarter building, since 2000, is 3510 S. Michigan (100 E.) (formerly 1100 S. State), F.B.I Chicago’s office is 2111 W. Roosevelt (1200 S.). For lost social security cards, go to 77 W. Jackson (300 S.).

Latinos in Chicago (shaded areas)

Guide to Chicago

Blacks in Chicago (shaded areas)

Chicago’s State and Madison streets is where 0 North/South meets 0 East/West in address. The 3rd most spoken language is Polish.

Neighborhoods of Chicago

Chicago is divided into 77 neighborhoods (called community areas). The largest neighborhood by size other than O’hare is South Deering (due to Lake Calumet). By population, is Austin, then Lakeview, and the smallest is Burnside, then Fuller Park. By density, is Edgewater, and with the lowest density, other than O’hare, is Pullman, then South Deering.

Grid System

Chicago’s grid system is every 8 “Chicago” block is 1 mile (or 800 in address). But Chicago’s address system is not consistent with its grid systembetween Madison (0 S.) and 31st street (3100 S.), for 2 reasons, as well as between State (0 E.) and King Drive (400 E.). For example, between Adams (200 S.) and Jackson (300 S.), the distance is actually half a Chicago block. Secondly, some streets are skipped, for example, all of Chicago west of Ashland, there is no 29th street.

Example: Cook County Jail, Chicago’s only local jail (non-federal), resides on California (2800 W.) between 26th street and 31st street. Mathematically, that looks like 5 Chicago blocks, but it is actually 4 Chicago blocks, because 29th street is skipped.

For calculating distances in the South side south of 31st street, subtract 7 in blocks, or 700 in address.

Example: Chicago State University, 1 of 2 state universities in Chicago, starts at 95th street (where the Red Line train ends). So 95 - 7 = 88, so 95th isactually 88 Chicago blocks from Madison(equivalent to 8800 N.).(However, there is no Chicago north of 7800 N., or south of 13800 S.).

All the even number addresses are on 1 side of the street (north and west), and all the odd number addresses are on the other side of the street (south and east).

Streets of Chicago

The longest north-south streets of Chicago are 1.) Western (188 blocks), 2.) Halsted (171 blocks), 3.) Ashland (146.5 blocks), and 4.) Pulaski (144 blocks). The longest east-west streets of Chicago are 8.) 63rd(89 blocks), 10.) 87th(86 blocks), 11.) Belmont (85 blocks), and 12.) Irving Park (82 blocks). (Counting only straight-distances.). See for a longer and detailed,color-coded table.). Consequently, the 163rd to 177th longest street may be a tie between 15 streets that are all 22 blocks long, with 5 that are north-south and 10 that are east-west.

In 1977, under Mayor Michael Bilandic, City Hall calculated the centerpoint of Chicago to be 37th and Honore (1832 W.), which is in the McKinley Park neighborhood. (Which is below Pilsen, despite Pilsen being nicknamed Heart of Chicago.). Between 1977 and 1979, there were signs posted at the intersection saying this was the centerpoint, but in 1979, under Mayor Jane Byrne, she had them taken down, and they have since been removed. However, new signs were put back in early Nov. 2015.

For 2010 and 2011, the top 5 C.T.A. buses with the highest yearly ridership, are 79th, Ashland (1600 W.), Western (2400 W.), Chicago (800 N.), and Cottage Grove (800 E.)(all have 24-hour service).The next bus routes vary by year, but in 2012, Ashland bus route surpassed 79th.

All the residential north-south streets east of Ashland have different names on the North and South sides, but the streets west of Ashland have the same names,with 4 exceptions. 3400 W.: north of 1600 N. is Kimball, south of it is Homan, 3432 W.: north of 1600 N. is Bernard, south of it is Trumbull, 3632 W.: North side is Monticello, South side is Millard, and 4032 W.: North side is Keystone, South side is Komensky.

Gangs of Chicago

Gangs in Chicago have united to form alliances. The 1st 2 and largest alliances are People Alliance (affiliated with a 5-point crown and down pitchfork), and Folk Alliance (affiliated with a 6-point crown and up pitchfork). An upside-down crown is affiliated with a way to disrespect the other alliance. About 1 in 8 Black or Hispanic male are in a gang.

The largest 5-crown Hispanic gang is North side Latin Kings, then South side Latin Kings. The largest 5-crown Black gang is Black P. Stones, then Vice Lords. The largest 6-crown Hispanic gang is M.L.D. (Maniac Latin Disciples), then SDs (Satan Disciples). The largest 6-crown Black gang is GDs (Gangster Disciples), then BDs (Black Disciples).

Unique to Chicago’s crime is the concept of drive-by shootings, (for the purpose of gang initiation or and to put a filled-teardrop tattoo), a concept that originated in the Stateville prison in the mid-‘70s, and can ultimately be blamed upon 4 individuals (at that time, the prisons strongly ruled the streets, the streets did not rule prison).

When you are walking around in a Hispanic or Black neighborhood, never wear a cap that is tilted slightly to the left or right. Wear it completely straight or completely backwards. Tilting signifies alliance membership, which would mean others think you are in a gang or rival gang. Chicago’s only non-downtown indoor mall, Ford City Mall, for example, has this rule.