Belmont Cragin

      Prayer Points

• Thank God for a local nonprofit housing agency that was awarded a grant to address neighborhood housing concerns. Pray for the stabilization of the housing market as this neighborhood has been impacted by the large number of foreclosures.

• Pray for increased civic involvement and the formation of block clubs, such as neighborhood watch, that help to establish a deeper level of safety in the community.

• Pray for increased literacy in English and that this will help raise the standard of living for many.

• Many instances of domestic abuse take place in this community, many that go unreported because of issues related to immigration. Pray for guidance for the churches and agencies addressing these numerous instances of domestic abuse in this area.

      Ethnic Breakdown

• Asian (1.8%)

• Black or African American (6.0%)

• Hispanic or Latino (72.4%)

• White (18.6%)

Neighborhood Background

Belmont Cragin remained rural until 1882 when Cragin Brothers & Company, an iron processing plant, moved into the area. Job opportunities and rail service brought about a housing boom and an influx of settlers. Residents soon saw another boom when more factories in the 1920s were established in the area.

The housing needs escalated, leading to the erection of bungalows, Cape Cods, and two-flats. The area continued to develop into the Post War years with the Chicago Transit Authority extension of its Belmont Street bus service and into the 1970s with continued construction of shopping malls and businesses.

The Hispanic population also quadrupled from 1980 to 1990. Many Polish immigrants and businesses came to the area during these years. The area experienced a drop in manufacturing employment and a decline in retail activity in the 1980s due to shutting down of various plants. Residents organized home reinvestment and commercial development campaigns to confront the issues of unemployment and rising poverty.