K-Town Historic District Explained

K-Town Historic District
Nrhp Type:hd
Nocat:yes
Coordinates:41.8531°N -87.7297°W
Added:September 9, 2010
Refnum:10000724[1]

The K-Town Historic District is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places located in the North Lawndale community area in Chicago, Illinois. A mainly residential area, its borders are West Cullerton Street to the north, South Pulaski Road to the east, West Cermak Road to the south, and South Kostner Avenue to the west.[2]

History

The larger K-Town area received its name in 1889 when the City of Chicago created an alphabetical naming scheme to assist in mapping a significant amount of newly annexed territory. The streets with names starting with K were eleven miles from the state line between Illinois and Indiana.[3] The larger K-Town area was originally settled by Czech immigrants to the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century.[4] During the Great Migration the North Lawndale area, and subsequently K-Town, became predominantly African American.[4]

The area was added to the NRHP in 2010.[1]

Transportation

The Pulaski and Kostner stations on Chicago Transit Authority's Pink Line are located in the K-Town Historic District.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: K-Town Historic District. December 21, 2015. National Park Service. Washington, D.C.. June 25, 2018.
  2. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: K-Town Historic District. July 21, 2010. National Park Service. June 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180626083003/http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/pdfs/223505.pdf. dead. June 26, 2018.
  3. Web site: Seligman. Amanda. K-Town. 2005. Encyclopedia of Chicago. June 25, 2018.
  4. News: Tollefson. Phoebe. K-Town: Greystones, Block Clubs and a Presidential Library Bid. May 7, 2015. West Side Source. Medill School of Journalism. June 25, 2018.