I used to live there in the late 60's and early 70's ! Was a great neighborhood then ! I remember the old Saint John of God church and I went to that school . Also Saint Augustine a great girls high school and Libby grammer school!
 

wow.. the 60s and 70s!

well these days it belongs to La Raza

gunshots the other night

but most of the people here are really great people... we love our neighbors!
 

Hello,
I'm looking to move to chicago. I'm a grad student and not planning on working full-time so I'm researching neighborhoods. The name Back of the Yards caught my attention. Quite a history there.
I was living in Kankakee in a mixed neighborhood and loved it. Anything you can tell me about your neighborhood or surrounding? My school is near south water street off michigan ave.
Thanks.
 

Yes there's quite a history here. the neighborhood is definitely up and coming, but I wouldn't say it is "mixed"; It is still very segregated. Most of back of the yards is almost all Mexican-American. We are one of the 3 white families that I've seen around here, although I'm sure there are others.

South of 49th street it abruptly turns African American, which continues on into Engelwood.

There is a lot of gang violence here, but if you aren't involved in the gang scene it doesn't affect you very much (except the risk of being caught in crossfire). We hear gunshots quite a bit. The crime here is mostly gang related, so we haven't experienced other problems (car theft, breakins, etc...).