This guide includes useful resources for exploring Chicago-related topics. These are only a starting point. For further resources in various disciplines try relevant research guides at https://libguides.colum.edu
Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Block Club Chicago was created by former DNAinfo Chicago editors following the shutdown of DNAinfo and Gothamist in November of 2017.
Full text articles from this prominent Black newspaper. Includes page images of the entire contents, such as classified ads, advertisements, obituaries, and comics.
Excellent in-depth coverage of local news. Click on the Archive link to search back issues. Note: The Lincoln Park Campus Library of DePaul holds back issues of the Reader on microfilm.
City of Chicago site containing facts and figures on Chicago business, housing, employment, health care, weather, and many other topics. For neighborhood data from the 2000 Census, look on this site under Community Areas.
Chicago Community Data SnapshotsThis area of the CMAP website contains a set of Community Data Snapshots that summarize demographics, housing, employment, transportation habits, retail sales, property values, and land use in metropolitan Chicago's 284 municipalities. You may browse the municipalities alphabetically or grouped by county. Snapshots are also available for all 77 Chicago Community Areas. Each snapshot is presented in an easy-to-print PDF file.
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)The official regional planning organization for the northeastern Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. See the DATA tab for especially useful basic statistics.
Published online by the Chicago History Museum, it includes thousands of articles, photos, maps, broadsides, and newspapers related to the history of Chicago and its neighborhoods.
Fire insurance maps give a snapshot of an Illinois city or town during a certain time period, and provide detailed information for some individual buildings. Includes street names, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers. (NOTE: May not be available from off campus.)
Metropolitan Planning CouncilSince 1934, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has been dedicated to shaping a more sustainable and prosperous greater Chicago region. As an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, MPC serves communities and residents by developing, promoting and implementing solutions for sound regional growth.