Hegewisch, at the far southeast corner ot the city, bordering Indiana, is Chicago’s most geographically isolated neighborhood. It’s isolated by nature (marshes, lakes, rivers) and the unnatural (industrial areas and expressways).
Hegewisch is a place where people make things, and used to make a lot more. Reminders of the industry that surrounds the area are always present.
Hegewisch’s isolation lends it the feel of an aging small town, one that’s seen better days. Still, household incomes are above citywide averages, eighty percent of the housing is owner-occupied, and much of the housing stock is single-families and 2-flats, often priced well below $200K. Hegewisch isn’t a transient area but there are newcomers, and they’ve been predominantly Mexican of late.
See a short primer on Hegewisch at the Hegewisch 60633 site. View about 175 YoChicago photos of Hegewisch and its sub-neighborhoods (Arizona, Avalon Trails, Harbour Point Estates and Old Hegewisch) at Flickr.