1931-33 Set of Chicago Election Ward Maps — 1st, 3rd, 41st, 43rd, and 44th Wards
DESCRIPTION
This collection of five printed election maps presents an intricate portrait of Chicago’s political geography during the 1930s, issued under the authority of the city’s Board of Election Commissioners. Each map delineates ward boundaries and precinct divisions in black and red ink, reflecting the administrative framework that governed Chicago’s local elections and neighborhood organization. Together, they form a fascinating visual record of the city’s political landscape and urban layout in an era marked by rapid population growth, civic reform, and evolving district representation.
The maps were produced under the supervision of Chief Clerk John H. Rauch and County Judge Edmund K. Jarecki, both of whom oversaw election operations in Cook County during this period. Each sheet bears their printed signatures, the ward number, total number of precincts, and a uniform scale (6 inches = 1 mile, except where noted). The designs employ precise linework to show streets, parks, and shoreline features, bordered in red to indicate precinct limits. Collectively, they reveal how Chicago’s political wards were carefully shaped to correspond with neighborhood density, commercial zones, and natural boundaries such as the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
These ward maps can be confidently dated to the early 1930s, most likely between 1931 and 1933, based on both administrative and cartographic evidence. Each bears the names of John H. Rauch, Chief Clerk of the Board of Election Commissioners, and Edmund K. Jarecki, Cook County Judge; officials who served concurrently only during this brief period. The ward boundaries align with those adopted after Chicago’s 1930 Census redistricting, implemented for the 1931 municipal elections and revised again later in the decade
1st Ward – 33 Election Precincts
Centered on Chicago’s downtown and Near South Side, this map captures the city’s civic and commercial heart, extending from the Chicago River south past Grant Park and into early residential districts along State and Michigan Avenues. The inclusion of Grant Park, the rail yards, and the lakefront piers reflects the ward’s mixture of public space and industrial infrastructure.
3rd Ward – 70 Election Precincts
Encompassing much of the Bronzeville and South Side neighborhoods, the 3rd Ward map shows a dense network of streets extending south from Pershing Road toward 47th Street and east to Lake Michigan. With seventy precincts, it represents one of the city’s most populous wards at the time, characterized by rapid demographic change and strong civic participation.
41st Ward – 59 Election Precincts
This map covers Chicago’s far northwest side, including areas such as Norwood Park, Edison Park, and Jefferson Park. It stands out for its suburban-like grid and broad open spaces, with railway corridors and Portage Park serving as major landmarks. The reduced scale (3 inches = 1 mile) accommodates the ward’s expansive geography, emphasizing its lower density and emerging postwar residential development.
43rd Ward – 39 Election Precincts
Depicting Lincoln Park and adjacent lakefront neighborhoods, the 43rd Ward map offers a snapshot of one of Chicago’s most historic and architecturally rich districts. The North Branch of the Chicago River, Lincoln Park, and Lake Shore Drive define its boundaries. The map’s orderly grid and limited number of precincts suggest a mix of established residential zones and parkland.
44th Ward – 40 Election Precincts
Covering the area directly north of the 43rd Ward, this map includes Lake View, Lincoln Park Zoo, and stretches of the Belmont Harbor lakefront. Its forty precincts encompass both compact residential blocks and large open areas along Lincoln Park. The design illustrates a transitional urban space combining early 20th-century housing, parkland, and growing commercial corridors.
Significance
Together, these five ward maps offer a valuable look into Chicago’s mid-century municipal structure and spatial evolution. Beyond their immediate administrative function, they serve as enduring artifacts of the city’s political culture, revealing how geographic boundaries mirrored the social and demographic forces shaping Chicago’s neighborhoods in the decades between the Great Depression and postwar transformation.
CONDITION
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