Montclare

      Prayer Points

• The community is a strong mix of whites and Latinos on the edge of the Western suburbs. Pray for stability and compassionate interfacing of the two cultures.

• Religious influence is not as predominant within the culture. Pray for churches to sensitively and creatively engage the community.

• Community concerns revolve around the needs of the family, some of which are quite significant. Pray for the safety of the community, for wholesome activities for children, and for freedom from gang influence.

• There are very limited employment opportunities for low-skilled workers. Pray for stable jobs and employment opportunities for workers to provide for their families.

      Ethnic Breakdown

• Asian (1.4%)
• Black or African American (2.2%)
• Hispanic or Latino (55.5%)
• White (40.3%)

Neighborhood Background

Montclare was established by William Sayre in 1836. Farmers in Montclare would take their produce to downtown markets in Chicago. In 1873, the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad poorly accommodated commuter transport into the area in the form of a single daily train.

As a result, few settlers added to the tiny farming community of around 120 residents. Eventually, Montclare was annexed to Chicago in 1889. With the development of the Grand Avenue streetcar line, the first population growth spurt occurred. Single-family structures dominated the region and Montclare continues to retain this suburban identity on Chicago’s western side.

In the late 1980s, a few African Americans moved into the neighborhood, which lead to racial tension. Community organizations were formed to relieve these tensions. Still, Montclare has only a few African American residents, while the Hispanic population has grown to fifty-four percent.