One in five Chicagoans live in a new ward now
After once-a-decade redistricting, roughly 20% of Chicagoans live in a different ward, according to a WBEZ analysis. Hang on to this interactive ward map for future reference.
By Ola Giwa, Matt Kiefer
One in five Chicagoans live in a new ward now
After once-a-decade redistricting, roughly 20% of Chicagoans live in a different ward, according to a WBEZ analysis. Hang on to this interactive ward map for future reference.
By Ola Giwa, Matt KieferIf you used to live in Chicago’s 34th Ward, you probably don’t anymore.
Every decade, the city redraws its ward boundaries, based on population shifts revealed in the most recent decennial headcount by the U.S. Census Bureau. After a protracted redistricting process, the Chicago City Council settled on a new 50-ward map last year that reflects current demographics: 18 majority- or plurality-white wards, 17 majority- or plurality-Black wards, 14 majority-Latino wards and the city’s first majority-Asian ward.
The result: Approximately 20% of Chicago’s population ended up in a different ward than the previous decade, according to a WBEZ analysis of block-level data from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and U.S. Census Bureau.
Tap a ward to see its demographic breakdown above the map.
The biggest reconfiguration took place on the Far South Side, around West Pullman, which occupied much of the 34th Ward until the most recent redistricting process. West Pullman is now part of a larger 21st ward; the 34th has shifted about 15 miles north to cover parts of the Loop and West Loop.
Another major shift occurred in the 36th Ward, which now follows Grand Avenue all the way from West Town to the Far Northwest Side.
Many of the changes reflect population changes across Chicago, with the sharpest declines occurring in South Side communities and the greatest gains happening in and around downtown.
Correction: A previous version of this story displayed an old ward map.
Ola Giwa and Matt Kiefer are data journalists with WBEZ.