Hegewisch is Chicago community area #55, in the city’s far southeast corner on the Indiana state line. It began in 1883 as a planned company town for railroad car workers and is known for Wolf Lake, Ford’s Torrence Avenue plant and its own South Shore Line station. About 8,900 people live there.
Hegewisch key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community area number | #55 of 77 |
| Side of the city | Far South Side (southeast corner of the city) |
| Population | 8,927 (2020–2024 American Community Survey five-year estimate, CMAP Community Data Snapshot, June 2026 release) |
| Neighborhoods within | Old Hegewisch, Arizona (The Avenues), Avalon Trails, Harbor Point Estates |
| Main L and Metra stations | South Shore Line: Hegewisch station (no L or Metra station) |
| Major parks | Wolf Lake (William W. Powers State Recreation Area), Mann Park, Powderhorn Prairie Marsh Nature Preserve |
Boundaries
Hegewisch runs from 128th Street on the north to 138th Street (Brainard Avenue) on the south. The Illinois–Indiana state line is its east edge.
On the west, the line follows Burley Avenue, Torrence Avenue and the Bishop Ford Freeway at different points. East Side is to the north, Riverdale and South Deering are to the west, and Hammond, Indiana, is to the east.
Neighborhoods within Hegewisch
Old Hegewisch is the original settlement. Arizona, also called The Avenues, and Avalon Trails, built mostly in the 1960s, are newer. Harbor Point Estates is a mobile home community east of Avenue F.
History
- 1883: Adolph Hegewisch, president of U.S. Rolling Stock Company, lays out a company town along a rail line.
- 1889: Hyde Park Township, which included the area, votes to join Chicago.
- Early 1900s: steel mills draw many Polish immigrants.
- 1980: Wisconsin Steel’s mill in nearby South Deering closes, and local unemployment rises.
- 1990: Mayor Richard M. Daley proposes a Lake Calumet airport, which residents strongly oppose; the plan is later dropped.
Landmarks and parks
- Wolf Lake, part of the William W. Powers State Recreation Area.
- Mann Park and the Powderhorn Prairie Marsh Nature Preserve.
- Baltimore Avenue, the main shopping street.
- Ford’s Torrence Avenue Assembly Plant, the company’s oldest continuously operated plant.
Getting there
The South Shore Line stops at Hegewisch station, the line’s Illinois stop closest to Indiana. There are no CTA L stations in Hegewisch.
Bus routes include CTA 30 South Chicago and Pace 358 Torrence. The Bishop Ford Freeway runs along part of the west edge.
Frequently asked questions
What community area number is Hegewisch?
Hegewisch is community area #55.
What is Wolf Lake?
Wolf Lake is part of the William W. Powers State Recreation Area, a state-run outdoor area in Hegewisch.
Can you take a train to Hegewisch?
Yes. The South Shore Line, which runs between downtown Chicago and northwest Indiana, stops at Hegewisch station.
Who was Hegewisch named for?
It is named for Adolph Hegewisch, the U.S. Rolling Stock Company president who laid out the town in 1883.
Related guides
- East Side community area guide
- South Deering community area guide
- Riverdale community area guide
- CTA bus guide
- All 77 Chicago community areas
Sources
Last updated: October 31, 2026