Thanks Ru;
I'm always looking for new mapping tools. As an aficionado of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and a native Chicagoan sites this really appeal to me.
In my current effort to track down the Timmermann's I'm building a reasonably complete table of geographic subdivisions/designators in and around Chicago (i.e., neighborhoods, community areas, wards, zip codes, townships, etc.).
There are so many ways to describe a given area within Chicago that it confuses even we natives. For instance, I grew up in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood (previously known as Holstein--I thought I lived in Wicker Park but have since been corrected), which is generally considered to be in the Logan Square Comunity Area (CA--not to be confused with the Logan Square neighborhood, which it includes). But Bucktown is also part of the West Town CA. As well, Bucktown is part of the original Jefferson Township (Twp.)--but that little corner of Jefferson Twp. is now part of West Town Twp. In addition Bucktown is variously considered to be on the "North-Side", "West-Side" and "City North-West".
Other city-level designators include wards, blocks, police, fire & school precinct numbers (these change over time), while designators seen at county-level include precincts, tracts, and ranges. Plus, there are sub-neighborhoods, and depending on the course of urban development, new neighborhoods whose names reflect new developments--it all depends on who's describing them. Finally, lets not forget zipcodes and area codes.
Anyway, if my working aid turns out half decent, I'll share it with ya'll.
Cheers, Wayne |