Pullman, Chicago: Community Area #50 Guide

Pullman is Chicago community area #50, on the Far South Side near 111th Street. It contains the planned company town George Pullman built in the 1880s for his railroad car workers, now Pullman National Historical Park. CMAP estimates its population at 6,744 (2020–2024 ACS).

Fact	Details
Community area number	50
Side of the city	Far South Side
Population (2020–2024 ACS estimate, CMAP)	6,744
Neighborhoods within	Historic Pullman, North Pullman, Cottage Grove Heights
Main Metra stations	Metra Electric: 111th St./Pullman, 115th St./Kensington
Major parks	Pullman National Historical Park

Boundaries

The Metra Electric main line forms Pullman’s western border with Roseland. The historic company town ran from 103rd to 115th streets between Cottage Grove Avenue and the railroad, and the community area also takes in land north toward 95th Street.

Neighborhoods within Pullman

Historic Pullman, the original company town.
North Pullman, largely African American, which became a city landmark in 1994.
Cottage Grove Heights.

History

George Pullman built the town in the 1880s for workers at his railroad car company. The 1894 Pullman Strike, over wage cuts while rents stayed the same, lasted about two months and ended with federal intervention. After Pullman died in 1897, the Illinois Supreme Court ordered the company to sell its residential property.

Residents beat back a 1960 proposal to demolish part of the town. The historic district gained National Historic Landmark status around 1970 (sources give 1969 and 1971) and became a city landmark in 1972. The Pullman Car Works built its last railroad car in 1981. President Obama designated Pullman National Monument in February 2015, and it was redesignated a national historical park in December 2022.

Pullman National Historical Park

The park’s visitor center is in the restored Clock Tower and Administration Building at 610 E. 111th Street, at Cottage Grove Avenue; it opened in September 2021. Key sites include the Hotel Florence, the Greenstone Church and the former factory grounds. Daily tours leave the visitor center at 1 p.m., subject to cancellation.

Landmarks and parks

Clock Tower and Administration Building (visitor center).
Hotel Florence, the largest public building in the town.
Greenstone Church and the Market Square complex.
Olive-Harvey College’s main campus.

Getting there

Take the Metra Electric to 111th St./Pullman, a local stop about 30–40 minutes from downtown; the visitor center is a short walk east to Cottage Grove and north one block. Express trains stop at 115th St./Kensington, about five blocks away. By car, take I-94 to the 111th Street exit (66A) and head west.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pullman a national park?

Yes. Pullman National Historical Park is a unit of the National Park System; it was designated a national monument in 2015 and redesignated a national historical park in 2022.

How do I get to Pullman National Historical Park by train?

Take the Metra Electric to 111th St./Pullman. The visitor center is at 111th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue.

What was the Pullman Strike?

An 1894 strike by Pullman workers over wage cuts while rents stayed the same. It lasted about two months and ended with federal intervention.