Chatham is one of the 77 community areasofChicago, Illinois, on the city's South Side. It includes the neighborhoods of Chatham-Avalon, Chatham Club, Chesterfield, East Chatham, West Chatham and the northern portion of West Chesterfield. Its residents are predominantly African American, and it is home to former SenatorRoland Burris. Housing many city employees and other officials, Chatham has been a central area for Chicago's middle-class African Americans since the late 1950s.[2]
Historically, the Chatham community area consisted of three neighborhoods; Avalon Highlands, Chesterfield, and Chatham Fields.[3] The community area also contains two districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to two residential historic districts, Chatham is also the location of the Four Nineteen Building, a building which demonstrates the domestic style of gas station architecture, in which stations were designed to resemble small houses.
The Garden Homes Historic District is a residential district bound by South Wabash Avenue to the west, East 87th Street to the north, South Indiana Avenue to the east, and East 89th Street to the south.[4] The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 2005.[5]
The West Chatham Bungalow Historic District is a residential district bound by South Perry Avenue to the east, West 82nd Street to the south, South Stewart Avenue to the west, and West 79th Street to the north. The district includes 283 Chicago bungalows built between 1913 and 1930 along with a smaller number of other residential buildings.[6] The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 19, 2010.[7]
Ernie Banks (1931–2015), professional baseball player for the Chicago Cubs between 1953 and 1971. Banks resided at East 82nd Street and South Rhodes Avenue during his time in Chicago.[14]
Chance the Rapper (born 1993), rapper, record producer, activist, and actor. He was raised in West Chatham.[15]
Taylor Bennett (born 1996), rapper, singer, and songwriter. He was raised in West Chatham.[15]
Keni Burke (born 1953), singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He and his siblings, who made up the Five Stairsteps, were childhood residents of Chatham.[16]
Roland Burris (born 1937), U.S. Senator from Illinois from 2009 to 2010. He is a resident of Chatham.[17]
Charles Chew (1922–1986), member of the Illinois Senate from 1967 to his death in 1986. He resided at 8156 S Champlain Ave. during his political career.[18]
^"Corporal John Peter Fardy, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on September 26, 2005. Retrieved April 6, 2006.
^Staff Report (August 8, 1948). "20 Streets in New City To Be Named for Men in War II". Chicago Tribune – via ProQuest.
Chatham-South Shore travel guide from Wikivoyage
