Why the Westside is less famous than the Southside and Northside? (Chicago: town, downtown)

[North Side Brandon]

Even in the old days alot of Southside Irish looked down their noses at the Irish on West Side in neighborhoods like Austin, West Garfield Park and Douglas Park. This is at least what older people on my Mother's side tell me. In fact many used to refer to West Siders as North Siders.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by North Side Brandon

Even in the old days alot of Southside Irish looked down their noses at the Irish on West Side in neighborhoods like Austin, West Garfield Park and Douglas Park. This is at least what older people on my Mother's side tell me. In fact many used to refer to West Siders as North Siders.

That's funny because my mother, from Ulster no less, looked down her fine long nose at the South Side Irish, especially those from Bridgeport (where my father's father first went when he got off the boat from Mayo, before going to the West Side).

She never cared much for people from Kerry either.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by treemoni

Bingo. The South Side is where "respectable" blacks live. The West Side is where "country" blacks live.

What happened is that blacks settled on the south side first. So they were there about a generation before those west side black folks left the farm. Then, of course they looked down on the newcomers who were relatively poor and country.

Originally Posted by North Side Brandon

Even in the old days alot of Southside Irish looked down their noses at the Irish on West Side in neighborhoods like Austin, West Garfield Park and Douglas Park. This is at least what older people on my Mother's side tell me. In fact many used to refer to West Siders as North Siders.

Well, Andrew Greeley, a famous Irish priest and author, was from the west side.

[North Side Brandon]

Originally Posted by Manigault

What happened is that blacks settled on the south side first. So they were there about a generation before those west side black folks left the farm. Then, of course they looked down on the newcomers who were relatively poor and country.



Well, Andrew Greeley, a famous Irish priest and author, was from the west side.

That is true St. Angela's Parish.

[Warsie]

Originally Posted by svillechris

One exception I've noticed is that people from Beverly would never say they're from "the South side of Chicago". They say they're from Beverly, and are darn proud of it, understandably so.

I've lived in Beverly for ~10 years (did not grow up there though) and I emphasize I live in Chicago's South Side as opposed to 'Beverly' but mention 'Beverly' when being specific of neighborhood.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by thebizkit

Cabrini Green was the most infamous west side attraction, even though Chicagoans did not really consider it the west side.

Chicagoans did not consider it the West Side because it was (is) very much on the North Side.

[Lookout Kid]

As to the original question, look at the shape of the city. It's long in the north/south direction along the lake, and very short in the east/west direction. It naturally splits in to north and south, and the West Side is much smaller.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

As to the original question, look at the shape of the city. It's long in the north/south direction along the lake, and very short in the east/west direction. It naturally splits in to north and south, and the West Side is much smaller.

Not to mention the density and drive of the city tends to be highest towards the lakefront throughout the city, and then drops off from there are you move west. The west side is really small when to an outsider if you showed them a map of the city they might be more inclined to just divide it into north and south given the fact the city is more tall and slender in shape.

The stereotypes of "the west side" being very run down is pretty small physically. Once you hit south lawndale it's very hispanic and seems to be more "southwest side" as it goes towards midway. Once you get above Fullerton or so it seems to be "northwest" side along with the "north side". West side is pretty small and just sandwiched in. Fairly run down, lots of industrial. Easy to pass over it when talking about the major areas of the city.

[quigboto]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Chicagoans did not consider it the West Side because it was (is) very much on the North Side.

Huh? How do you figure something south of North Ave to be "North Side"?

[urza216]

Originally Posted by quigboto

Huh? How do you figure something south of North Ave to be "North Side"?

The Near North Side is entirely south of North Avenue:

//www.city-data.com/neighborhoo...hicago-IL.html