Goose Island (Chicago)
Encyclopedia
Goose Island is the only island
on the Chicago River
in Illinois
. It is an artificial island, formed by the North Branch of the Chicago River on the west and the North Branch Canal on the east. It covers 160 acre (0.6474976 km²), and is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) across at its widest point.
, Ireland that had been the former home many of the immigrants. The squatters eventually moved the Kilgubbin settlement a short distance north to an area on the east side of the river between Chicago Avenue and Division Street, on site of the present-day Goose Island. The original Goose Island had been dredged away by 1865.
The land that was to become the present-day Goose Island lies on a bend in the Chicago River between North Avenue on the north and Chicago Avenue on the south. In 1853 William B. Ogden, who had been Chicago's first mayor, formed the Chicago Land Company, which purchased land on the east side of the river to excavate clay for brick-making. Starting from the south, workers excavated a channel northwards, and by 1857 the channel had rejoined the river forming a shortcut past the bend in the river. The channel was eventually dredged to 50 feet (15.2 m) wide and 10 feet (3 m) deep to make it navigable, and it became known as the North Branch Canal, or Ogden's Canal. The island thus created was also sometimes nicknamed Ogden's Island, a name that some Chicago aldermen proposed to make the official name of the island in 1891. The name Goose Island, may refer to the earlier location of the Kilgubbin settlement close to the original Goose Island, or it may have been in reference to the flocks of geese kept by the settlers on the island.
The settlers were eventually joined by Polish and German
immigrants to the city. For most of the residents, daily life hovered between rural and urban, with many raising livestock while also working in nearby factories. Over 100 units of housing were built in a three-block area to accommodate the new residents. Various taverns and bars also opened, which became the center of activity for the island's residents.
purchased land at the east of the island for industrial plants. The area was nicknamed "Little Hell" because of the smoke produced by the plants. By 1887 there were two grain elevators, eleven coal yards, and a railroad among other industrial institutions. By the turn of the 20th century many residents began to move off the island. Many businesses also deserted the island.
also crossed the island on a viaduct that opened in 1934, but this was demolished in 1992 following the closure of the section of Ogden Avenue that ran to the north-east of the island.
In 1869 Division Street was connected to the island with the construction of bridge across the river; a second bridge across the canal was added in 1870. These bridges were replaced with the present bascule bridges in 1904 and 1903 respectively. In 1877 Halsted Street was connected to the island with bridge across the canal; a bridge across the river was added in 1897 to complete the north-south route.
The Cherry Avenue Bridge
provides railroad access to the island at its northern tip. The Chicago and Pacific Railroad constructed railroad onto Goose Island in the 1870s. This company was absorbed into the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway in 1880. Operation of the surviving railroad on Goose Island was taken over by the Soo Line Railroad
in 1986, and then by the Chicago Terminal Railroad
in January 2007.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
on the Chicago River
Chicago River
The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of the same name, including its center . Though not especially long, the river is notable for being the reason why Chicago became an important location, as the link between the Great Lakes and...
in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. It is an artificial island, formed by the North Branch of the Chicago River on the west and the North Branch Canal on the east. It covers 160 acre (0.6474976 km²), and is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) across at its widest point.
Early history
The name Goose Island may have originally referred to a small natural island at the north side of the confluence of the North and South Branches of the Chicago River that was home to seasonal flocks of birds. In the late 1840s the surrounding area was on the fringes of Chicago and a group of Irish immigrants started squatting on the unoccupied land around what is now Kinzie Street, between Franklin Street and the river. This settlement may have been known as Kilgubbin (or kilgobbin), named after the area of County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland that had been the former home many of the immigrants. The squatters eventually moved the Kilgubbin settlement a short distance north to an area on the east side of the river between Chicago Avenue and Division Street, on site of the present-day Goose Island. The original Goose Island had been dredged away by 1865.
The land that was to become the present-day Goose Island lies on a bend in the Chicago River between North Avenue on the north and Chicago Avenue on the south. In 1853 William B. Ogden, who had been Chicago's first mayor, formed the Chicago Land Company, which purchased land on the east side of the river to excavate clay for brick-making. Starting from the south, workers excavated a channel northwards, and by 1857 the channel had rejoined the river forming a shortcut past the bend in the river. The channel was eventually dredged to 50 feet (15.2 m) wide and 10 feet (3 m) deep to make it navigable, and it became known as the North Branch Canal, or Ogden's Canal. The island thus created was also sometimes nicknamed Ogden's Island, a name that some Chicago aldermen proposed to make the official name of the island in 1891. The name Goose Island, may refer to the earlier location of the Kilgubbin settlement close to the original Goose Island, or it may have been in reference to the flocks of geese kept by the settlers on the island.
The settlers were eventually joined by Polish and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
immigrants to the city. For most of the residents, daily life hovered between rural and urban, with many raising livestock while also working in nearby factories. Over 100 units of housing were built in a three-block area to accommodate the new residents. Various taverns and bars also opened, which became the center of activity for the island's residents.
Industrialization
During the late 19th century Peoples Gas, Light & Coke Co.Peoples Energy
Peoples Energy was the former name of a holding company whose main revenues came from its regulated gas utility subsidiaries Peoples Gas and the North Shore Gas Company...
purchased land at the east of the island for industrial plants. The area was nicknamed "Little Hell" because of the smoke produced by the plants. By 1887 there were two grain elevators, eleven coal yards, and a railroad among other industrial institutions. By the turn of the 20th century many residents began to move off the island. Many businesses also deserted the island.
Access
Goose Island is crossed by Division Street, running east–west, and Halsted Street, which runs north–south across the southeast portion of the island. Ogden AvenueOgden Avenue (Chicago)
Ogden Avenue is an arterial street extending from the Near West Side of Chicago to Aurora, Illinois.The street follows the route of the Southwestern Plank Road, which opened in 1848 across swampy terrain between Chicago and Riverside, Illinois, and was extended to Naperville by 1851.The 1909 Plan...
also crossed the island on a viaduct that opened in 1934, but this was demolished in 1992 following the closure of the section of Ogden Avenue that ran to the north-east of the island.
In 1869 Division Street was connected to the island with the construction of bridge across the river; a second bridge across the canal was added in 1870. These bridges were replaced with the present bascule bridges in 1904 and 1903 respectively. In 1877 Halsted Street was connected to the island with bridge across the canal; a bridge across the river was added in 1897 to complete the north-south route.
The Cherry Avenue Bridge
Cherry Avenue Bridge
The Cherry Avenue Bridge is an asymmetric bob-tail swing bridge in Chicago, Illinois that carries the Chicago Terminal Railroad, pedestrians, and cyclists across the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River. It was constructed in 1901–02 by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St...
provides railroad access to the island at its northern tip. The Chicago and Pacific Railroad constructed railroad onto Goose Island in the 1870s. This company was absorbed into the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway in 1880. Operation of the surviving railroad on Goose Island was taken over by the Soo Line Railroad
Soo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
in 1986, and then by the Chicago Terminal Railroad
Chicago Terminal Railroad
The Chicago Terminal Railroad is a switching and terminal railroad operating over former Milwaukee Road/Canadian Pacific and Chicago and North Western/Union Pacific trackage in northern Illinois. The railroad began its operations on January 2, 2007...
in January 2007.