The Austin neighborhood is currently the largest area by population and second largest geographically (behind South Deering), and received its name from Henry Austin, the real estate magnate who purchased and subdivided the land ~1866 calling it Austinville Subdivisions. The land was purchased fromHenry DeKoven settled in the area originally in 1835 and formed the Town of Cicero in 1857 along with modern day Cicero, Oak Park and Berwyn.
In a controversial vote, residents of the Cicero Township voted to allow Chicago to annex the Austin area in an 1899 referendum after the Lake Street Elevated was allowed to extend into the Oak Park area, angering residents. Austin residents who were dominant in politics, but were heavily outnumbers in voting, voted against the referendum.
The extension of street railways and transportation stimulated settlement in the early decades of the 20th century with the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway beginning construction in 1949.
The community includes four distinctively different neighborhoods: Galewood, The Island, North Austin and South Austin.
Galewood Station, a once-abandoned rail yard, was turned into a $60 million development that helped attract homes and a movie theater to the area. Two stations on the Milwaukee District West Line are located here. Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner was raised here; and the neighborhood is home to former Governor Pat Quinn.
The Island neighborhood is indeed an island isolated by an industrial corridor to its east and railroad tracks and Interstate 290 to the north.
South Austin is home to numerous historic buildings including six landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places; and seven buildings that have Chicago landmark status. Homes include vintage brick walk-ups, courtyard buildings and bungalows along with more modern designs. Homebuyers are attracted to the neighborhood’s wide boulevards, inexpensive housing and parks and recreation.
North Austin includes plenty of landscaped parks and recreation, rows of brick bungalows and wood-frame homes. The neighborhood has been home to several comedians and actors, including Hannibal Burress, stand-up comedian, actor and television writer. Steve Harris, actor in Diary of a Mad Black Woman and The Practice and Wood Harris, actor in The Wire, Remember the Titans and Creed both attended elementary school in Austin.
The CTA’s Green Line and Blue Line pass through the area, as well as the I-290 which connects Chicago to the Western Suburbs.
