Belmont-Cragin becomes Chicago’s largest Latino neighborhood
Summary
By: Lourdes Duarte
CHICAGO (WGN) — The Belmont-Cragin neighborhood has a new claim to fame.
The northwest side neighborhood now has the largest concentration of Latinos. Little Village held that distinction for decades and remains a major economic engine for Illinois.
The new numbers come from research at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), with a report shedding some light on just how much those communities have expanded in a short time.
“The Latino population growth has helped stabilize Chicago during a period of broader population decline, but what this report also makes clear is that the Latino Chicago of today is not the Latino Chicago of 20 or 30 years ago,” said Oswaldo Alvarez, executive director of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation.
A 180-page report by UIC’s Great Cities Institute released on Thursday, Sept. 17, titled “Latino Chicago and The Future of the City,” found that Latinos make up nearly 30% of Chicago’s population. Latinos are also the youngest population contributing to the state’s economy.
“Thirty percent of Latino households now earning over $100,000 in household income, of that, 14% of Latinos are now earning over $150,000,” said José Miguel Acosta-Córdova, Ph.D., of the UIC Great Cities Institute.
“Our hope is and continues to be to make sure that we are investing in places like 26th Street commercial corridor across the city of Chicago and Chicagoland that are home to our communities, because we know the impact that has on the state of Illinois,” added Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva (12th District-D).
The report is meant to be a tool for elected leaders to understand what’s needed in those neighborhoods, as they shape policies and secure dollars.
“This is a report that candidates should be taking a look at. If you want to represent the Latino community and you are not up to date on where the Latino community is in Chicago right now, then shame on you,” said Illinois State Senator Omar Aquino (2nd District-D).
Advocates say the neighborhoods should serve as a sign of what’s possible. All told, Chicago’s 16 primarily Latino neighborhoods generated nearly $1.8 billion in taxable sales in 2024. Little Village and Belmont-Cragin both contributed to those numbers, with both now in a friendly battle for the top spot.
“While Belmont-Cragin, right now, may take the lead in terms of the population numbers, Little Village is the heart of Mexican homes in the Midwest,” Villanueva said.
The report makes 12 recommendations on housing affordability and access to public transportation. While studies found that Belmont-Cragin has a large Latino population, it also has the least access to public transit.