Burnside is Chicago community area #47, a small triangle on the Far South Side about 11 miles south of the Loop, enclosed on all sides by railroad tracks. With an estimated 2,304 residents (CMAP, 2020–2024 ACS), it is the least populous of Chicago’s 77 community areas.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Community area number | 47 |
| Side of the city | Far South Side |
| Population (2020–2024 ACS estimate, CMAP) | 2,304 |
| Neighborhoods within | Burnside (historically the Burnside Triangle or Stony Island Triangle) |
| Main L and Metra stations | None inside the area |
| Nickname | The Triangle |
Boundaries
Railroads enclose Burnside on every side, which is why it is called “the Triangle.” The Encyclopedia of Chicago names the Illinois Central on the west, the Rock Island on the south and the New York Central on the east; those corridors are now operated by other railroads.
Neighborhoods within Burnside
The community area is a single neighborhood. The name once covered a larger district now mostly in Roseland and Chatham; University of Chicago sociologists later applied it to the triangle alone.
History
The Illinois Central opened its Burnside station in 1862, named for Ambrose Burnside, a former company official and Civil War general. In the 1890s the railroad built shops south of 95th Street, on land now occupied by Chicago State University, and developer W. V. Jacobs subdivided the triangle.
By 1911 the triangle was home to Hungarian, Italian, Ukrainian and Polish immigrants who worked in nearby rail shops, the Pullman Car Works and Burnside Steel. Raised railroad embankments in the 1920s reinforced its isolation. Middle-class African American families moved in from the 1960s, and the area was 98.3% Black by 1990.
Landmarks and parks
- Our Lady of Hungary Roman Catholic Church, which served Hungarian residents.
- Sts. Peter and Paul Church, which served Ukrainian residents.
- Perry Public School.
- The former Burnside Settlement, which offered citizenship classes.
Getting there
Burnside has no rail station of its own. The Red Line’s 95th/Dan Ryan terminal in neighboring Roseland is the closest L stop.
Frequently asked questions
What is the least populous community area in Chicago?
Burnside, with an estimated 2,304 residents.
Who is Burnside named after?
Ambrose Burnside, a Civil War general and former Illinois Central official, whose name went on an 1862 railroad station.
Why is Burnside called the Triangle?
Railroad tracks surround it on all sides, forming a triangle.
Is Burnside the smallest community area by size?
Sources differ. Oakland, at about 0.6 square miles, is usually listed as the smallest by land area.
Related guides
- Chatham (#44) community area guide
- Avalon Park (#45) community area guide
- Calumet Heights (#48) community area guide
- Roseland (#49) community area guide
- Pullman (#50) community area guide
- Oakland (#36) community area guide
- All 77 Chicago community areas
Sources
- CMAP Community Data Snapshot: Burnside (June 2026 release)
- Encyclopedia of Chicago: Burnside
- Wikipedia: Burnside, Chicago
- Wikipedia: Oakland, Chicago
Last updated: October 31, 2026