The Chicago City Council assumed its modern form on April 16,[dates 1] 1923, with fifty wards each electing one alderperson. Here is a list of the people who have served as an alderperson since that time.
Since its incorporation as a city in 1837 Chicago had been divided into wards whose number varied[a] but which were almost[b] always entitled to two alderpersons. In the early 20th century it was decided that reducing the number of alderpersons to a ward to one would be a cost-saving measure, and an ordinance to that effect was passed in 1920, taking effect in 1923.
City council elections in Chicago have been formally nonpartisan since 1920. Nevertheless, many alderpersons have had,[parties 1] and continue to have, de facto partisan affiliations that are reflected in this list.
This list is organized by which side of the Chicago River the wards were on as of 1923. Numbering the wards such that those on the South Side received the first numbers, followed by in order the West and North sides was a tradition that had dated to the City's founding and division into wards in 1837.[1] Incumbent alderpersons who started a new term in 1923 are reckoned as having started their term in 1923 regardless of whenever they actually started holding office, which is noted in the "Notes" column.
History
Chicago was incorporated in 1837 and initially comprised six wards.
South Side (Wards 1–19)
1st Ward
Originally covering the Loop, Near South Side, and the northern part of Armour Square, this ward was significantly moved to its current location in 1993 to help stymie corruption.
2nd Ward
Originally covering Douglas and its immediate surroundings, this ward has drastically moved northward to its current location across the Near North Side and West Town.
^They were six in 1837 and 35 immediately prior to 1923.
^The 3rd and 5th wards were entitled to one alderman each until 1839.
References
^"Ward Map – 11 February 1837". Chicagology. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
Dates
^"Englewood Happenings". Suburbanite Economist. April 13, 1923. Retrieved September 16, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c d"Resign Council seats to take other offices". Chicago Tribune. December 2, 1926. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
^ a b"City Hall will close in homage to Van Norman". Chicago Sunday Tribune. October 13, 1929. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
^"Jeremiah P. Leahy Takes Oath as Council Member". Chicago Tribune. April 26, 1930. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
^ a b"Ald. Adamowski will be buried next Saturday". Chicago Tribune. July 18, 1929. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
^ a b cEvans, Arthur (November 6, 1929). "22 Candidates on Democratic slate swept in". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
^"Williston Wins Council Seat by 2,419 over Dever". Chicago Tribune. May 7, 1930. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
Partisan affiliations
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay"The New City Council". Chicago Tribune. April 5, 1933. Retrieved April 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a bFremon p. 25
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s"Final Results on Aldermen". Chicago Tribune. Vol. 82, no. 81C. April 4, 1923. p. 4. Retrieved April 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Democracy's leaders urge the nomination of Judge Henry Horner". Chicago Tribune. April 10, 1932. Retrieved March 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a bFremon p. 180
Ward maps
^ a b c d"1930 Census Chicago, Illinois Ward Boundaries". A look at Cook. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
^"Ward 27" (PDF). CityOfChicago.org. City of Chicago. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
^"Ward 32" (PDF). CityOfChicago.org. City of Chicago. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
^"Ward 42" (PDF). CityOfChicago.org. City of Chicago. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
^"Ward 50" (PDF). CityOfChicago.org. City of Chicago. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
Bibliography
Fremon, David K. (1988). Chicago Politics Ward by Ward. Bloomington, Indiana and Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-31344-9.