The Brief
- North Lawndale has lost thousands of Black residents over several decades, while nearby Little Village has seen an increase in Black residents drawn to its businesses, services and sense of community.
- Residents and business owners describe growing connections between Black and Latino communities, though some newcomers report mixed experiences and longstanding tensions remain.
- As Little Village becomes more diverse, residents are also concerned about rising housing costs and gentrification pushing out longtime families.
CHICAGO – North Lawndale and Little Village sit just a few miles apart on Chicago’s West Side, but the two neighborhoods are experiencing very different demographic changes.
North Lawndale has long been one of Chicago’s predominantly Black communities. But decades of population loss and disinvestment have left parts of the neighborhood with vacant lots, boarded-up buildings and fewer businesses.
Shifting demographics
By the numbers:
The numbers show how much the community has changed.…