That they may all be one...that the world may believe. - John 17:21
It was the Illinois & Michigan Canal in 1836 that awakened the first activity in the area of Chicago named Bridgeport. Lumber yards, manufacturing plants, and packing houses opened along the river and canal as Bridgeport residents primarily worked in local industries. Residents began to see some change after the Civil War through municipal government employment.
The neighborhood has also been home to five mayors, including Richard J. and Richard M. Daley. Also a part of Bridgeport’s history is racial and ethnic strife: clashes between Germans and the Irish in 1856, pro-Confederate rallies during the Civil War, and Polish and Lithuanian gangs in the twentieth century have all had their strife.
Bridgeport remains a largely working-class community, and the number of Mexican and Chinese residents has grown. Because of its convenient geography, in direct line to the Loop, Bridgeport maintains a high possibility for future investment and development. In addition, the rise of the artist community has started to have its stake in this growing neighborhood, changing the cultural climate of the area.
information courtesy of Moody Publishers
"Chicago Neighborhood Prayer Guide" by Dr. John Fuder with Elizabeth Koenig