Englewood was originally swampland and forest, inhabited by the Mascouten Indians. European settlement began in the 1850s, as railroads were extended into what became known as Junction Grove.
Immigrants who worked on the railroad and the later stockyard were the first settlers. The neighborhood became part of the town of Lake in 1865, and of Chicago in 1889. L. W. Beck, a land developer, donated land for the Cook County Normal School (later the Chicago State University).
The increasing presence of industry and business, as well as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 which relocated many residents away from city centers, fueled growth.
The Englewood Shopping Center was a focus of the area for many years, trying to integrate the City of Chicago, businesses to residents and community leaders. However, after the death of Richard Drew, who spearheaded community efforts with the mall, in 1978 the mall lost several anchor tenants and was mostly compromised of smaller businesses.
A $256 million revitalization plan for the area by Mayor Daley in 1999, along with
The CTA’s Red Line and Green Line both run through the area, along with the Dan Ryan Expressway I-90 and I-94.
