Garfield Ridge is Chicago community area #56, on the Southwest Side about 10 miles from the Loop. It is best known as the home of Midway International Airport and the Orange Line’s Midway terminal. About 36,700 people live there, according to CMAP’s 2026 snapshot.
Garfield Ridge key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community area number | #56 of 77 |
| Side of the city | Southwest Side |
| Population | 36,732 (2020–2024 American Community Survey five-year estimate, CMAP Community Data Snapshot, June 2026 release) |
| Neighborhoods within | Garfield Ridge, LeClaire Courts, Sleepy Hollow, Vittum Park, Archer Limits (historic name) |
| Main L and Metra stations | CTA Orange Line: Midway (4612 W. 59th St.) |
Location and boundaries
Garfield Ridge sits on the city’s Southwest Side, roughly 10 miles from downtown. Archer Avenue, which follows a former Native American trail, crosses the area.
Midway Airport fills a large part of the area; the airport’s southern portion lies in neighboring Clearing.
Neighborhoods within Garfield Ridge
The area includes Garfield Ridge, LeClaire Courts, Sleepy Hollow and Vittum Park. Archer Limits was the area’s earlier name.
History
- 1835: William B. Archer buys 240 acres in the area.
- 1889: Chicago annexes the first parts of the area.
- 1926: Chicago Municipal Airport is built; it is renamed Midway in 1942.
- 1950: LeClaire Courts opens as Chicago’s first integrated low-rise public housing.
- 1970: the population peaks at about 43,000.
- 2009–2011: LeClaire Courts is emptied and demolished.
Landmarks
- Midway International Airport.
- The Midway Orange Line terminal at 4612 W. 59th St.
- The Clearing Post Office at 5645 S. Archer Ave.
- Kennedy High School and St. Daniel the Prophet School.
Getting there
The CTA Orange Line runs from Midway to the Loop. The Midway station is inside Garfield Ridge and also serves nearby West Elsdon and West Lawn.
See our airports guide for more on Midway and other ways to reach downtown.
Frequently asked questions
What community area is Midway Airport in?
Most of Midway sits in Garfield Ridge (#56); the airport’s southern portion is in Clearing (#64).
What community area number is Garfield Ridge?
Garfield Ridge is community area #56.
How do you get from Garfield Ridge to downtown?
Take the CTA Orange Line from the Midway station to the Loop.
What was LeClaire Courts?
LeClaire Courts was a public housing complex that opened in 1950 as the city’s first integrated low-rise development; it was demolished between 2009 and 2011.
Related guides
- Archer Heights community area guide
- West Elsdon community area guide
- Clearing community area guide
- West Lawn community area guide
- O’Hare and Midway airports guide
- CTA Orange Line guide
- All 77 Chicago community areas
Sources
- CMAP Community Data Snapshot: Garfield Ridge (June 2026)
- Wikipedia: Garfield Ridge, Chicago
- Wikipedia: Midway station (CTA)
- Wikipedia: Clearing, Chicago
Last updated: October 31, 2026