A Chicago Suburb DESTROYED By Gang Violence | Ford Heights

[@ChrisHarden]

Thanks to these two websites for sharing some awesome documentation and knowledge of the history in Ford Heights, a place that was difficult to find information on: www.chicagoganghistory.com www.southcookexplore.com American Hoods Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLkAKbwTlGHeLYlKLyBm1dGc7MRpNhCBZX Illinois Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLkAKbwTlGHeKoOBxconpFSyUSO32NKREy Chicago Suburbs Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLkAKbwTlGHeILgN75aeaBe0EHvhBHyagP Edit: The Ford Heights 4 were 4 men. The woman that I showed a picture of was a witness who was also wrongfully charged with a crime. Help me grow my 2nd channel! KZbin.com/@chrishardenarchives ==================================================================== EVERYTHING THAT I USE IN THE FIELD: Main Camera: amzn.to/3iS4vvF Side Cameras: amzn.to/2WuCYIs Media Mod for Camera: amzn.to/3j7CMGF Lav Mic: amzn.to/3lsMkz9 Drone: amzn.to/3ITcKBV SD Cards: amzn.to/3C2co9O Camera Mounts: amzn.to/2UXVR6p Cables Required for Longer Recordings: amzn.to/3BYnr3Q Computer: amzn.to/3787b2j External Hard Drive: amzn.to/3lb23Tf WHAT I USE AT HOME: Computer: amzn.to/3rKIdiN Sound Mixer: amzn.to/3C15Ubx Microphone: amzn.to/2VaCjvo Microphone Accessories: amzn.to/3v7A35Z INTERACTIVE MAP that shows you all of the places that I've made videos on: (Doesn't always work on mobile devices. Will always work on PC.) www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?hl=en&mid=1Lhzf04ocimPu-ROkg4cfXEYEvKMNnlI5&ll=35.2437531716631%2C-91.53765609999999&z=5 SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACT INFO: Email: [e-mail] On Twitter: twitter.com/Chris_Harden55 On Instagram: instagram.com/c_harden7 On Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisHardenYT DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. As an Amazon Associate I do earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. As always, thank you for supporting my channel!

[@ashtolbert7466]

Chris all the information pic data is at village hall on ford heights/ east heights

[@aprilsanders8484]

FYI, next time you decide to prepare a documentary, please do interviews from the people that actually live there or have lived there because this reporting is not including a complete picture of what and when the demise of the town. Your reporting does not capture the true essence of how this community was like a family. I grew up here as well as throughout the South Suburban area.

[@dacommish23]

​@aprilsanders8484 ...thank you for saying that, these ppl are the very benefactors of the blight and demise of our communities. One of these ppl will come in backed by politicians and borrowed bank funds scheming so sort of way to squeeze land and equity profits out of Ford Heights. They did it in the South when they seized lands and turned them into PGA golf faiways!

[@RaisedxFist]

​​@@aprilsanders8484 Chill out April, lets see You make a video than ? He made this video the best he could, least You could be is Thankful someone at least TRIED. That's more than enough to ask for, effort is more important then getting it right. He can always improve without people complaining and whinning at him. He did a fantastic job with the time and resources he has available. Next time remember that money doesn't grow on trees and everything takes time and he will learn to improve as time goes on.

[@aprilsanders8484]

@@RaisedxFist stop talking!

[@InstructorMike]

I used to work for the police department for only six months. Everything you said is accurate. I only work dayshift. The shootouts were real. Cook County sheriffs police came in and took over right after we walked off and quit. Yeah. It’s bad.

[@ChrisHarden]

So unfortunate!

[@bigredd690]

I've been on the fire department out here for 10 years man it is finally starting to get better. We got a couple multi-million-dollar projects taking place. There's a plan to build some container homes a lot of the homes that have been burned down have been torn down and rebuilt the mayor is trying to really turn that place around it has been in the gutter for way too long and it's time that he gets back to what it used to be Ford Heights used to be called East Chicago Heights. it was a very thriving neighborhood for some reason it fell apart but it is finally being reimagined to be better than what it was in the past

[@michaelsinclair3321]

This would have been a great place to build tiny homes for the migrants or renovate the houses already there for them and it would rather than have then overlapping in the city and on the streets, I wonder why Johnson or Pritzker didn't couldn't wouldn't think of that idea or is the fix already in for whocthey have chosen to oppress and annihilate.

[@ronu6264]

I worked in that area for 20 years. Bad place with very little hope……never once were we able to retain a local for employment.

[@bigredd690]

@@ronu6264 well I've been on the fire department for 10 years out there and the mayor that we have right now has got multi-million-dollar projects in development he is getting rid of all the houses that have been burned out and rebuilding them he is really putting forth an effort to try and turn that town around so don't count them out just yet but man were they headed in a very very very very very very bad Direction

[@jeffreyabbey7817]

Grew up in Park Forest Illinois which is 5 miles west of there on Route 30. One day you should that town too. East Chicago Heights/Ford Heights was always bad and considered the local joke until the rest of the area started to decline also. Thanks for this trip down memory lane as painful as it was.

[@jeffrobodine8579]

Are they ever going to demolish The Executive building next to the police station in Chicago Heights?

[@jameschanin]

Don't forget Robbins.

[@Baja2424]

Iam glad I stay in home wood Flossmoor it’s the best suburb all the rest is trash ghetto

[@ashtolbert7466]

Sorry bro but,east heights in 50 and 60s was middle class black working community. The blight of started when they bought out people to build the projects.

[@jay-kq5kv]

Park forest used to be so nice everybody wanted to move there

[@tjlamparelli6268]

That liquor store is popping 24/7 doesn’t matter the weather.

[@JesusIsLord464]

cheers

[@williamhermann6635]

Used to work the 911 ambulance in a lot of these towns. Been called to that liquor store many times lol

[@roscomoscow2261]

Fr people are just out and about there

[@rainmant5724]

I lived in Sauk Village from 76 to 97. I am a Bloom Trail graduate. The area has always struggled. The area was build around manufacturing, and for many people who lacked in education and skills, they could find a job in manufacturing and be represented by a union. Around late 70's-, the economy went bad. I remember very well of the manufacturers and chemical companies laying people off, and lots of people left. When the Chicago Robert Taylor Homes (projects) and Cabrini Greene started being closed down, those people came to the only place they could afford. Section 8 gave those people assistance to purchase houses, but since they didn't work for those houses they didn't take care of them. Many people I went to high school with from East Chicago Heights (It was still that name), wanted to do the right thing and be good upstanding citizens of a respectable community, but crime and other stuff paid better. I heard a person that I graduated with had 11 kids before the 10 year high school reunion. Poor people do NOT have to live in filth, they can clean their area and make an improvement.

[@JV-mw7gv]

Went to high school and played ball with people from Ford Heights. They were good people, and I very much enjoyed their company.

[@ricsim78]

I am in Chicago Heights, literally about 5 minutes away from Ford Heights. I do DoorDash, Uber Eats, and GrubHub for side gigs, there are times I have to deliver in Ford Heights late at night. The other day, someone on a bike from the liquor store rode out right in front of my car and then somehow flipped over the handlebars, I almost ran him over. His phone was busted and there was a large crowd which were yelling at him, maybe he stole the bike and tried getting away?

[@williamhermann6635]

Dont you have the option to turn down orders?

[@arsenalfan13]

Sheesh, probably the worst suburb of a 4 million + metro area I've ever seen. I don't know how this ceases to still exist 30 minutes outside of Chicago. Great video as usual, Chris.

[@franklawrence1975]

9 million +

[@Baja2424]

It’s other suburbs out there worser than this like Harvey, calumet city, Robbins, that’s worst than ford heights that’s why it’s mass up cause people from Chicago coming there and bring all that gang violence

[@koolxxxyear]

There is never enough money to fix hopelessness. People in these situations wouldn’t help themselves, has been going on for a few generations.

[@AoifeNic_an_t-Saoir]

This was pretty fascinating! I grew up in Chicago Heights, just west of this town. We had friends who used to live there in this big green house on Woodlawn Ave but it was abandoned and demolished years ago. Even back in the late 80s/ early 90s, it wasn’t a very nice place to live. A lot of family friends used McCullough’s Funeral Services. Also, there used to be a currency exchange somewhere close to the fried chicken/fish shop, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it closed. This whole town is just a sad, sad mess. Chicago Heights was a little better than Ford Heights, but definitely not by much 😒

[@Baja2424]

The currency exchange gone its something else there plus the chicken spot this there and the made a Family Dollar over there too

[@derricklangford4725]

I remember when my family moved to Markham in 82, my siblings all wore glasses 🤓 and are opthalmologist was in Harvey, IL outside of that business the city looked like a dump.

[@jay-kq5kv]

Chicago heights just started getting bad

[@jennifermullen9891]

I lived in Sauk Village and Chicago Heights ( Ford Heights is in between) Chicago Heights wasn't horrible my friends and I were still able to walk around the neighborhood ( I was born in St.James hospital) but I digress... Chicago Heights and Sauk Village have become unrecognizable to me these past 15 to 20 yrs. It's sad.

[@jennifermullen9891]

​@jay-kq5kv yeah it started about 10 maybe 15 yrs ago, just like Sauk Village, and Steger, and Create.

[@dabomb67]

Born in Chicago Heights at ST JAMES HOSP. & RAISED IN East Chicago Heights, iL. It's hard to believe how my Hometown has suffered Over the Decades. You would never Imagine how Great My childhood and East Chicago Heights was for me. I lived right off that main Hwy 14th street in a House. Would U believe we had our own Local radio station called WMPP on AM radio (Hosted AL GREEN & several other celebs) . That abandon grade school U mention once hosted the JACKSON 5 who performed during a talent show. So much lost history but Chris you are def on point on your information.

[@lanierholt9715]

Yep! I was naming the streets as he passed them too. East Chicago Heights/Ford Heights is my hometown too. I grew up in Golden Meadows on Diplomat Lane.

[@carlabarnes-nr4wg]

@@lanierholt9715 I lived there too

[@lreconhayslett6946]

The dude would not know because he is not from there or grew up in the struggle or even walked from the circle to Vietnam across the Bronx to my grandmother's place in little Africa across from the bronx I loved the 80s in the heights

[@glendapalms1686]

Mine Home as well...and proud to say so... it never was bad as this video trying to speak...and others folks who go by " oh I heard " yall always will take the bad...not nothing God giving truth... shame on "you people" brought em damn drugs in ... Yah call these people ( the destroyers of His inheritance) ...vengeance...is His 😮

[@bobby149]

I grew up near 14th and Halsted in Chicago Heights. I would listen to WMPP on my transistor radio in the early & mid 60s. The other r&b soul station was WVON in Chicago, but it didn't come in well on my radio. WMPP's signal was designed to reach Gary, so probably it was a main factor in the musical education of the Jackson family. How I miss it!

[@samlewis6615]

Please do a video on Chicago Heights which is pretty close. Also maybe try getting pics or info from older people about Ford Heights. I remember talking badly about Ford Heights to my neighbor an older white lady and she got so offended and quickly corrected me saying " Ford Heights wasn't always bad"

[@ajohnson9842]

❤I agree I was born and raised there on this street embassy lane and my grandfather passed and his house is still here looking the same don't know how in side may look but outside looks the same and have many beautiful memories of my grandfather home

[@glendapalms1686]

do that video > yourself > at less you should know the whole truth > even to talk to those who live through all that destruction... " a eye witness " this fellow pay to speak drama out < I see many on this internet > driving through these property neighborhoods > calling them waste and criminal and ghetto > who stupid? who the one own and invest into those lands in the first place < then move when they got rich enough > like all those factory ( all around the East and Hgts ) communities...there was plenty of JOBS ...they ship em out to China ?

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

Like Chicago. Used to be nice on the west side and now it’s a war zone. Used to be nice on the NW side now it’s dodgy and even there isn’t great

[@PhoenixEvolution]

The gas station there off the highway, there was a yt man that came through and stopped for gas. He was taken back there and lynched in a tree. I lived all over the area, especially crawford countryside in matteson (if you haven't done a video yet) and all over park forest/ south suburbs/ oak lawn etc) thanks for all these awesome documentaries! It's so sad how quickly things turned even when i was growing up there. It's like a depression hole, but it's home. Matteson from what I've seen the last few years is just terrible. The Crack epidemic was definitely hard, especially near the abandoned gas station in Chicago Heights, 5th Avenue etc and the keyhole (the hill) the kingpins, corruption, gangs, and drugs were a plenty

[@itsmerobeauto]

I remember in the mid 90s they made a dude walk home after arresting his friend that was driving. Someone lit him on fire. His name was Richard will.

[@GreatLakesDrifta]

Bizarre place, gangbangers on one side of the street, and fields/farmland on the other side. Also try Robbins, thats also a terrible south suburb

[@Baja2424]

Robbin’s is worse

[@Cindy1776g]

Very interesting and informative video. I worked as a teacher's aide at Bloom Trail for 36 years and didn't know much of this.

[@danielwahlen7336]

Im an electrician and did work at the phone company central office. I grew up on the Southside, would go into the Taylors and Cabrini. Ford heights was so sketchy. The post office stopped delivering mail. They had to get their mail at the Harvey post office.

[@Semper_Iratus]

Turns out people do not like living in a shooting gallery.

[@JanWoods-d3p]

That usual population ❗️

[@kanoawai]

Grew up in Chicago Heights. West 16th place by the St. James Hospital. Ford Heights was depressing to pass by. Half of Ford Heights locals would be in front of Jacks Liquor 😂 all the OG’s. Don’t miss the area glad I’m back in Hawai’i.

[@WarszawaScream]

I do a lot of land and property research for my job - if you’re ever looking for historical maps (especially platt maps, which will show you which areas were designated with their own neighborhood names), check out that area’s County Clerk office. You’ll likely have to navigate via tax map parcel numbers, which you can usually find on a GIS site for that area, but there’s a wealth of research info to be found that way.

[@TheRealRaz909]

I grew up just outside this area and I tell ppl all the time I never want to go back and people will argue with me for days about how it's not the same and it's better now and I'm just exaggerating how bad it is. This video says enough.

[@MarcoLiftz]

Who else used to buy $5 loud bags out there in high school? 😂

[@timothystevenhoward]

My grandpa worked in Chicago Heights, lived in Kankakee and worked on water pumps for fire trucks. He was one of the reasons I got interested in engineering. I had no idea East Chicago Heights existed until this video. I thought that entire area to the State Line was all Chicago Heights.

[@timothystevenhoward]

Glad to see you using the topo maps. I use topoview all the time to look at old maps and building locations. also you can utilize Cook County GIS as well. I wonder what data they have on this area.

[@Southgate210]

In the day when it was called, 'East Chicago Hights,' it was great looking areas. If there were gangs living, there in the 70's? I must not have had a clue?

[@MrSmith-ot9ei]

it might as well be all Chicago Heights.....Chicago Heights, Ford Heights and Sauk Village share the same area code.

[@JV-mw7gv]

There’s a bit of Lynwood right on the border of Indiana.

[@alisasanders3]

I grew up here. I still go to church here. As a kid it really wasn't that bad. By the time i was almost out of high school is when it was starting be bad. Did you do any interviews?

[@alisasanders3]

I grew up in Vietnam, as they called it. They were torn down a few years later which is why everyone moved. The lower income houses you were showing was 15th and 16th street. That wasn't the Bronx or Vietnam, they both were torn down.

[@ChrisHarden]

Nope

[@kevinwasilewski598]

This suburb was not destroyed by "gangs". it was destroyed by capital B's

[@valreethomas2762]

From the mid 70's to the late 80's Ford Heights, Harvey, and Chicago Heights when the s Steel mills and other manufacturers took their businesses overseas. The beginning of China before it is like today.

[@JimmyJam_61]

Choco-Cities... Gotta' Love'em.

[@iPEADY]

My buddy and his family lived there in Vietnam I believe, it’s been almost 30 years since I use to go hang out there. Spent many days waking up in FH.

[@johnnyh409]

They don't count people on welfare as being unemployed. I worked for a sod company in the early 1990's and we had to deliver two loads of sod for every one needed to the public housing subdivision on the north side of 30. You would see people out along US30 with pile of sod for sale and no one did a thing about it. Had to go a long way around to get to the truck to avoid riding up on dryg deals on the corners.

[@davehawash2255]

Great video by the way, this is the first video I saw of yours

[@MommaM101]

They should fix up the apartment buildings for people in need of housing

[@belindamohar]

I was born on the south east side of Chicago, I lived in the same home from 1958-1983

[@ninadaly7639]

Wait, this is how far from Chicago? The same Chicago where migrants are being housed in hotels?? A $25 million renovation is a drop in the bucket compared to what it’s costing the city now? Do you know if that has been proposed?

[@samlewis6615]

It's about 20 mins awau

[@TheMidwestWaterproofing]

Chicago politicians would never give up the Federal Government's largess. It's never about efficiency, it's about the endless money grab.

[@Southgate210]

I remember back in the 70's my grandmother lived in that area when it was called ‘East Chicago Heights,' and it was nice, clean and neat! The opposite of what it was back then. Today? You get what you pay for and/or allow in terms of relaxed refusal of following rules, regulations, certain kinds of behaviors that is looked past, ignored and/or allowed to go on. I don't blame the people whose hanging out and/or squatting or legally living there it all boils down or shall I say up to Directors of Housing down to a people who is hired to do maintained and/or upkeep. If? If they power in being would 1st do their dammed dime, officials come evaluate the whole situation! Who is in charge from top to bottom, etc., time for papers to fly, jobs to be either taken or rewarded to qualified of a people now let’s get to the other side of the corn! Residency? Who's living in the apartment/units? Professionals should go unit to unit, from apartment to apartment of course not just showing up at a people door, 'we would not want them to cry their privacy is not being respected so beforehand! They, 'folks who work in the office need to go into their data bases getting the names, etc., of a people who legally occupies the unit/apartment. Send out mailing's regular mail/certified for whoever gets the mail via Certified would have to sign for it! Say action should be given time for mail to be received and/or returned nor signed for? Next will be legal people will by law should go, ring doorbells, knock etc., to see if somebody is home (Officials will wear body camera for safety plus armed law enforcement officers will be in their company). So, while all the white-collar work is being done maintenance people will start cleaning up the area, trash removed and empty of unit/apartments be secured! Now as per, 'how Gang Violence Destroyed the South Chicago Suburb of Ford Heights? A person(s) found to be living in the unit/apartment will show ID and it must match the name of head of household who is occupying the unit/apartment if not matched with information in data base they will be served by process servers to vacate the unit/apt. Then after all that's been done and there is a people, 'legally,' occupying the unit will have to be interviewed with ID with, sign a lease with names of who else will occupy the unit, etc., in the meantime there should be a block/street of apartment being rehabbed and ASP people given choices of units, 'as per what is stated on paperwork,' and long story short done right this time. If, 'gang or shall I say if a known/certified gang member,' is found to be living in the unit? 1 warning will be given if the head of household does not comply? Found to have violated their warning and the lease will get 14 days to vacate the unit/apartment, and this should become an active action. There won't be any more gang violence and at best a person who does not want to accept responsibility for their action simply will be gone by 14-days. That is how,' Gang Violence,' will ultimately disappear out of Ford Hights. Each until will have designated parking places. There will be 24/hour video surveillance and armed security guarding the area and/or to the end streets of them. The front office to the higher up's much stay on every day business trying to make Ford Height a safe livable place for all. Gang members do not pay taxes and therefore they cannot claim streets, blocks etc., being their own and can ONLY use streets as routes going and coming. If found standing on streets, corners and/or in front of business or residence will be ID and dealt with. They can't claim NOTHING as there’s. There will be surveillance 24-7 plus they won't know where the cameras are located at to begin with, but they best take the warning of no Lottering seriously. If a people who occupies apartment is found to aid, abet, harbor, hide and/or obstruct justice will be evicted, not allow to have residency in any more government housing, subsidized housing and hopefully private owners will also follow this same rule.

[@terrygibson2581]

Drug dealers / gangs do not build up neighborhoods .so no investments are coming to those areas .Legitimate businesses can not operate their because of the violence .

[@Mikebuddy2229]

Can you do Dolton Illinois?

[@cjk8249]

The super intelligent voters of Dolton are getting plenty of news coverage right now.

[@q.heffner3612]

Dolton might be the most infamous town in America right now.

[@Mikebuddy2229]

@@cjk8249 What news coverage??

[@cjk8249]

@@Mikebuddy2229Quite a bit because of it's corrupt mayor.

[@Imissyoulou]

@@cjk8249 If you would just a little RESEARCH, you will understand how Tahoe Tiff, got elected.

[@129stacey]

I learned that Southern Illinois could easily live without Cook county especially if Cook County would just evacuate and demolish town and the others you covered 😂🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🙄

[@schellenbergenator]

How did you get a satellite photo from 1938?

[@sizzlersracing8996]

Stop it at 16:21 and look at the tan house at the left of the screen. It is 1306 Werline, It was built by Floyd Fuller. There is a concrete block behind the back stairs bearing his name, He was a God fearing, Union steel worker and He was my Daddy. I lived there from 1962-1982 . So much I could tell you. and Yes you are right on the economic "hey day"

[@TheTeach56]

Don't need to say another word. Haven for Public Housing says it all.

[@AlU-yp1mj]

Used to roll through there in a semi truck, best not to stop. Believe Ford still manufactures off of U.S. 30

[@LouisEmery]

36:00 I was going to say Naperville too.

[@Blacksheep-Ba-Ba]

Just like the rest of the country!! Stay safe in your own community Some people are not able to live among normal society.

[@bayscilla25]

They not that’s why I would not live anywhere near trailer trash and those forsaken homes with wheels on them heck no 😂

[@georgebookwalter3129]

Vote Republican

[@laurachristianson1688]

I wonder as most of these places are rentals and the exteriors are not well maintained as well as the interiors, appliances and what not. Is it the residents or the slum lords?

[@lambda2857]

I just noticed something towards the end of the video. Aside from some passing cars, there are no people in the town! It looks like a shabby version of Pyongyang.

[@paulbernacki641]

This is a tiny town that was built as tenements for low income and is now a ghetto. Used to be named East Chicago Heights. A real dump.

[@metalifan72]

Used to go into Chicago heights back in the early 90s. it was a war zone back then

[@jimdellavecchia4594]

I'm sure they sell tons of grape soda, Henny and Newport's there

[@lenny5312]

Library=homeless shelter

[@livethegimmick24-7]

Even the trees look like they don't want to be there.

[@flyingspirit3549]

They probably don't!

[@memorabiliamore1086]

Lol they don't!😂

[@cherylday1831]

😂

[@brianalex8883]

Poor tree's 😢

[@reesesm3730]

Damn. That says it all.

[@q.heffner3612]

I almost bought a house in Ford Heights but my family had an intervention 😂😂😂

[@likarish420]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

Lol

[@lanierholt9715]

This is my hometown. It was funny when he talked about trying to find out what The Bronx and Vietnam looked like, as I have vivid memories of them from the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. I'm glad he did the video and talked about the struggles of the place. When I worked at the Chicago Tribune, I still remember the newsroom got quiet for a second when the woman I was talking to heard I was from Ford Heights. She said, "Nobody comes from there..." Yeah, it was a 'different' place. Funny though, it went from 'Black Mayberry' in the early to mid-'80s to Beirut by the late '80s seemingly overnight once drugs hit the village.

[@michelleavant8627]

I think i remember you, i use to live in Ford Heights also, in the Bronx Actually, once my mother left i never went back

[@terrencerandle1184]

So back in the days did the old people refer to the town as Ford Heights or East Chicago Heights?

[@mslizzardroscoe9051]

@@michelleavant8627My uncle built the only remaining church that’s still standing there! The Red brick church that affectionately called the house that Jack built. The kindest man you could ever meet who had a big camper in his yard and loved everyone! May he Rest in Peace!

[@MrSmith-ot9ei]

Myself, also a native of Ford Heights.......I was just getting ready to write something about this video on my hometown, too. Even though he's correct on SOME things, he did get some things incorrect. Chris did point out that you can't find much info on Ford Heights...most of that has to do with the media slowly erasing the village's existence from ANY available data pool. His best option to get the true vibe of Ford Heights would've been just to ask the people of the village itself....especially the old-timers if they're still around...depending on how brave he would've been. lol!! My view on this video is that its just another "hit piece" on East Chicago Heights (Ford Heights)....even if its more than deserved or self inflicted! Ive always wondered why ECH was singled out as most impoverished village in the south burbs when you had towns like Dixmoor, Robbins and Phoenix a few miles away. I agree with your example of comparison though, 'Black Mayberry' to Beirut.....but I was thinking more like early '90s Compton!

[@Kihsiimawa]

It would be interesting to see interviews from long-time residents.

[@carloscochran8307]

Yo Chris Ford heights was booming when people work for Ford motors. That's where Ford heights name come from but people left to Indiana because it's cheaper

[@aimxdy8680]

thèse days you see more chicagoans in Indianapolis than native Indiana residents

[@rhondajohnson494]

Exactly. It wasn't always a dump. The plant close down doesn't help for sure

[@jaythomas3224]

​@@aimxdy8680true I lived there 6 years

[@GeoffreyMorrison-xh2eo]

Chris said that Ford was never there--adjacent. Some jobs--no tax revenue.

[@bctw9004]

“No work boots zone”

[@JanWoods-d3p]

🤣😂🤣❗️👍

[@charlespiper9291]

No book stores allowed

[@MarcIsTheAnswer]

Yep any town with a certain percent of 13's is basically ruined.

[@joywoodworth5615]

except for the trucking companies recently closed

[@NunyaBizznaz]

Also the "fatherless children zone".

[@marquetjohnson905]

Very entertaining video. But it was a time when the three schools in then East Chicago Heights, housed kids from K to 8th grade. Woodlawn, Cottage Grove and Medgar Evers. We competed against each other in everything. Including basketball, volleyball, track and scholastic honors. This would be from 73 to 82 for me. I attended Bloom Trail in the fall of 82 and graduated in 86. Some beautiful times in between living in messed up circumstances. Again, it was a very enjoyable watch. 🙌🏿

[@tombeveridge7453]

Now the demographics of all those towns changed them into high crime towns. Lots of towns in the late 70’s and 80’s were nice.

[@davereiland9921]

Gang violence. So, blax.

[@JudyGurl]

I love how you go in depth and give a history of the neighborhood instead of just driving around it saying "what a sh!thole". Honestly, I don't think I've ever done more head shaking (in disbelief) while watching a video on YT.

[@ryankc6623]

dude should go into the store though. its run by south asians but the local business men stand in the parking lot selling their wares. my coworker took me in there. i was like lol really? this the store you wanted to stop at? okay.

[@yankeejib]

Again and again, how can the manifestations of brilliant liberalism and socialist policies be held up as a desirable example?

[@jeremynv89523]

You haven't been to the rural south lately, have you?

[@yourfavesigma]

Ford Heights is a fascinating place. Used to drive through there often in the 90s. It’s a ghost town surrounded by the rest of Chicagoland. You should do Hammond, East Chicago (include Marktown) and Whiting. All really interesting especially as they go north towards the lake.

[@q.heffner3612]

Hammond IN is brutal. I live there

[@murdamansin559]

What's brutal about Hammond? 😂

[@slicedice577]

Nothing in East chicago.used to be a wonderful city. Got that BLACK MAYOR & well the rest is History.Worst thing that ever happened to that city

[@slicedice577]

​@@q.heffner3612no it's not😂😅HAMMOND POLICE DON'T PLAY & THEY HAVE A MAYOR THAT'S NOT HAVING IT

[@m.e.5482]

HMD is Thee most beautiful city in da World!

[@llee2096]

A college degree means nothing. A trade and basic Math and English SKILLS are what's needed in a place like this... Family and no drugs. Gardening and recreational activities can rebuild this town. The simple things in life not high dollar living MOSTLY NO DRUGS and no stealing from each other makes for a great community.

[@7996hobguy]

Blame it on everything but the ones that inhabit these places.

[@412StepUp]

They’re never to blame they are perfect people that are just innocent victims.

[@richardbullwood5941]

They will do this to any neighborhood that they come close to. And the Democrats will do everything in their power to make it happen

[@craignovy2090]

Seeing this reminded me of some things I learned in my medical pathology training. You see what you know and you have to know what is normal before you can identify abnormal. In yet another magnificant Chris Harden video we have all that here. No one person can solve the world's problems but we can each make a difference. Drug dealing is a serious crime as is corruption denying a library to a community. Just simple things matter. Give a warm smile to a child, it might be the only one they see in a long time. Take a little time to point out something positive in someone. During my long career prior to retirement two fellow coworkers exhibited skill sets that they were unaware of. Just a couple of minutes with each led to years later two productive people becoming much more productive and content. Thanks again Chris for shining a light on a very dark corner with explanations of the causes and positive productive thoughts. Craig

[@albertcarello619]

@craignovy2090: Every country no matter where you go has extremely major high crimes like ours . It's even bad in Japan as well you'll notice drugs and homelessness on their subways and stations.

[@jennifermullen9891]

Adding libraries and things of that nature are a waste of tax payers money. They get destroyed almost as soon as they go up. My steg grandfather worked at the Ford Plant in Ford Heights ( it was the only building that wasn't in decline) and the reason why is because of the razorwire fencing and the security they had there. Throwing money at these problems won't help. I lived in Sauk Village when I was younger and my early teens ( which is about 10 to 15 minutes from Ford Heights). Sauk Village was a town where mostly retired Vets lived and families. A lot of us kids in Sauk Village had both parents who worked ( we were latch key kids) they built a rec center on the police station grounds and we would go there everyday after school, the cops would help us with our home work, play pool, basketball, board games etc etc with us and on Fridays they would rent a movie or two and order a pizza for us, once or twice a month we would have a pot luck dinner on Sunday at the rec center... So from my experience ( and the kids I grew up with) the problems can't be solved with money. The problems are solved when communities unite. Us kids could ride our bikes all over that town until 10pm to 11pm and never had to worry because everyone knew each other. It takes a Village to raise a child and those parents weren't afraid to discipline other people's children back than. I knew if my friends mother's caught me acting a fool , I was getting my ass whooped by them and my mom. Lol

[@tombeveridge7453]

You are right and wrong. Unfortunately the towns with high crime either have alot of gangs or if you look at the demographics of the town the majority of the race in the towns can be the problem. Some towns have too many white people and some have too many African Americans not enough diversity.

[@craignovy2090]

Very good points made in the replies! Chris Harden's work is expectional in illustrating places and the why and how behind them. It is like taking a great humanities course and leads me to ponder more my own environment.

[@WillyMcCoy50]

Rename it "Huntersville, Home of The Biden Presidential Library".

[@billhampton8004]

The USPS Creed “neither snow nor rain…” doesn’t mention gang violence. Yet back in the 1990s they stopped mail delivery for a couple weeks when the gangs were shooting at each other. So parts of the town had to pick up their mail from the main office located in Chicago Heights.

[@ruthslone2992]

Public Housing was put there…but no manufacturing or construction jobs or shopping centers. It’s easy to point at blighted areas , but harder to point at the causes. All those vulture capitalists buying up land downstate, or up in WI, are investing in building copycat shopping centers and restaurants. Why didn’t they build any in these villages…? Poor People can’t just be warehoused, far from rich white people, and have ZERO employment opportunities. Crime and blight are a consequence of poor city planning, and corporate racism.

[@wagner52169]

There is a huge Ford manufacturing plant there -- it was located on unincorporated land (before annexed by Ford Heights). So there was some economic draw to that area and it makes wonder if corporate racism can include huge corporations doing everything to avoid taxes and building up goldrush communities only to abandon them and leave behind blight in the form of concrete and steel.

[@KillerDoc42]

I live in Glenwood, I thank god for the farmland & cemetery in between us.

[@joelsandler1119]

I grew up in Glenwood and Homewood. Ford Heights on route 30 was a place you avoided.

[@MissKimLifeStyle]

I’ve driven through Glenwood - not exactly the upper echelon of society either. 😒

[@joelsandler1119]

@@MissKimLifeStyle Chicago's south suburbs has been on the decline for decades, it's like terminal cancer with no hope for the future.

[@KillerDoc42]

@@MissKimLifeStyletrue, but it’s definitely light years ahead of FORD HEIGHTS!

[@JohnnyFontane528]

“A satellite photo from 1938” Uhhhhh hold up a sec

[@SuburbanDon]

I like how you don't explain the stupidity of that statement.

[@wendymcbain2263]

Apparently Satellite photos could be produced in the 1930s in the United States, but the quality was pretty poor. So these pics are no doubt legit.

[@darrylpayment2365]

The photo from 1938 was an aerial photo obviously, not satellite.

[@reneejr3650]

Chicago has 30K immigrants who should be transported to Ford Hts to either sink or swim. I'm confident that they'll appreciate the town..and swim.

[@ramonjamison373]

Don't send them no where out here

[@jonnydanger7181]

@@ramonjamison373they already did when the tore down Cabrini Green and Robert Taylor homes.

[@richardcranium3579]

Deport

[@marquetjohnson905]

Actually, they were put in University Park already. With funding. Actual money orders in hand.

[@derricklangford4725]

​@@marquetjohnson905WOW 😲

[@ChristianGustafson]

Interesting how the Chicago street names extend out this far - Cottage Grove, Ellis, Greenwood, Woodlawn.

[@terrencerandle1184]

Chicago is the easiest city in the country to navigate. Washington D.C. is easy too

[@ChristianGustafson]

@@terrencerandle1184 I agree, with the grid and distance standards. My ancestors lived in “K-town” on the West Side.

[@jay-kq5kv]

Yup stony island too

[@jaythomas3224]

I deliver on Stoney Island in Crete, IL . 243rd st. In fact the numbers count to the 300's as a typical address 29995!!

[@russelltaylor3282]

With all of the content Chris provide to you all, your comment is about how far south of Chicago certain street names continued? Boy! Aren’t you all the smartest in your classroom! You get another scoop of ice cream before we tuck you in tonight.

[@ZackPayne-s3n]

Awesome Job! Yeah, I grew up on Drexal Avenue, Berkely Avenue, and Finally 1048 Lexington Circle in East Chicago Heights, Went to Medgar Evers, Woodlawn, and Cottage Grove Schools! My family departed in 1974 for Park Forest. My Family and Aunts, Uncles, Cousins made it out! Now, the East Gate Section of Park Forest is not much better than Ford Heights, Especially Allegheny Street. Keep up the Awesome work. I am sure my family has pictures of East Chicago Heights from 1959-1974. Wow, very Powerful.

[@ChrisHarden]

It’d be so interesting to see pictures from that era

[@theworldwariioldtimeradioc8676]

Jobs leaving the city is what killed it. Poverty and gangs followed. A few years back it had the citizens had the lowest average income in Illinois.

[@raytewell7067]

Chicago is no.different than Philadelphia or Baltimore

[@SignalMan9292]

I didn’t even know this was a place

[@matthewrogers6170]

They Should Put A Statue Of A Crying ABRAHAM LINCOLN!!

[@psilva2565]

We drove all the time through East Chicago Heights/ Ford Heights back in the 70's early 80's to visit my aunt and uncle. And it wasn't much better then, I remember seeing all the abandoned buildings along Lincoln Hwy. Nothing but empty lots now, my relatives lived in Chicago Heights and it was a lot better than it is now. You forgot to mention the murder of Richard Will back in 1999, he was beaten and burned near the Vietnam Projects.

[@Sidewinder1999]

Just looked up the Richard Will murder, looks like it actually happened in 1995, but the article about the sentencing was dated 1999. Sounds like it was horrific.

[@jonnydanger7181]

@@Sidewinder1999yeh the cops told the one guy, “your friend is on fire”

[@albertcarello619]

It seems like all 50 states have areas like Ford Heights and it's getting much much much worse!!!!!!!

[@MrSmith-ot9ei]

its a damn shame about that guy who got sat on fire, but when you go out to areas like that....to feed your addictions....during those times of the night, you take your own life in your hands. That's not just with Ford Heights....that could happen anywhere.

[@fletchkeilman2205]

Ford Heights was a bit more notorious simply because that sort of thing happened quite often, but was rarely reported on

[@asetxx]

I was hoping to see the house right before the Ford Heights Water Tower. Lol, I must be the only asian who lives here and it’s been 3 years already. I hoped to see my own car on this video and the house where I live. Didn’t really know be honest that Ford Heights is a really bad place to live. But I’m not a family man, so I come home just to sleep. Neighbourhood could from time to time, especially during Summer really loud, playing their music for the whole street. Houeses are really old. But to be honest never seen or experienced any crime related things towards me, from the people who lives here. Would be honest, Liquour here is 24/7. You can buy it, even if Police car right in front of the Gas Station/Market. When came here first, since I’m not local or a person grew-up in US, I was fine to live here, didn’t see anything bad or experienced. But after living 2 years, started to notice that this town is really affecting me, that I’m becoming like locals who’s are: Hopeless, No Plans for Future and just who survives. I’ll leave this place at first place as I can one day. Otherwise I’ll pretty sure become like the locals even if I’m Asian, like from other side of the Earth.

[@man_on_wheelz]

Yeah, I just bought a house in Chicago Heights, pretty much as far west as I can be in Chicago Heights where it isn’t too bad, and I actually struggled to identify what is considered “Ford Heights” I see the signage, I see the water tower, I see the Ford plant but it’s like… blink and you’ll miss it! Most of the way down Rte 30 is still considered Chicago Heights and then bam, you’re in Indiana. But yeah, even though where I live in Chicago Heights is no Naperville or Aurora, and we still have a plethora of abandoned homes, it’s definitely not as bad Ford Heights. Plus they’ve been buying a lot of run-down and abandoned homes near me lately and remodeling them, so it’s looking up a little bit over here, especially now they’ve been doing some road resurfacing post-storm drain work.

[@cloutgod2081]

I was on 16th st in 2018 ford heights ain’t got shit but about 5 streets

[@williamhermann6635]

Its basically cottage grove to 394 on rt 30 and the few blocks north and south.

[@ramonjamison373]

Slaves/ Hebrews built that area in the 1800s, Sauk village is ancient Jerusalem, Crow Indian territory..you can see the remnant's of mounds all over an from a arieal view you can see geoglyphs . This land is biblical God's name is in Ancient Jerusalem/ Saginaw Village home of Sauk Fox Tribes. White people burn those towns in the 1800s . Chief Black Hawk was GOD many documentaries are around about the wars that took place in that area. All the corn fields have faces of the Indigenous Blacks Hebrews from a sky view.

[@pookie4660]

Haha, you so funny!

[@cjk8249]

Funny how you call the most cursed Children of Ham blessed Hebrews!!!!

[@lastcommodore9651]

I grew up in the south suburbs. Ford Heights was already a blight during the 1970s.

[@jhy25]

The problem is simply put. It's black run. Robbins Illinois is also a black run problem.

[@michaelsteele4587]

These kinda areas are a prime example of how wasteful our society is as a whole. What needs to be done here is providing everyone left living in these kinda places a better place to call home and cover any expenses to move them...then just bulldoze it all into a pile and revert the land back to park lands and farm fields...bring back some of the farms from states like California that cannot sustain it. Reverse that "urban sprawl" trend that ate up too much of our fertile farmland.

[@russelltaylor3282]

You do realize that many of your ancestors greatly contributed to what Chris has published and now you want there land back, right?

[@GeoffreyMorrison-xh2eo]

It seems to me that it should have started out as a rural community--in the first place.

[@michaelaldrich5975]

So, WHO would be on the hook for "providing everyone left in these kinda places a better place"?

[@Skotheweirdo1]

When I first moved to Chicago Heights from Mississippi, we got off on Lincoln Highway and that liquor store was full of people in the parking lot. My dad said “I never stop in this area” I quickly noticed why. The Cook County Sheriff’s Department is the police in Ford Heights, which says a lot about the economics of the town

[@jennifermullen9891]

I never understood why economics in Ford Heights were so low. They had the Ford Plant out there and 20yrs ago when I lives in Chicago Heights the gas price in Ford Heights was damn near $5 a gallon.

[@jaythomas3224]

The Sheriff sits there 24hr 7 days

[@Jaime-he2ne]

@@jennifermullen9891lazy people that’s why

[@Jaime-he2ne]

@@edwardm9975 lol

[@jennifermullen9891]

@edwardm9975 yeah that never happened.

[@tanyajackson]

First liquor store I bought alcohol at. 👵🤷‍♀️😂😂

[@ChrisHarden]

Lol

[@likarish420]

Me toooooo lol I was graduating high school & they definitely didn't card 😂

[@tanyajackson]

@@likarish420 Hahaha yeah I was 16 at the time myself. 🙄🙄

[@PFLOYD-do9kk]

DEMOGRAPHICS

[@JanWoods-d3p]

One huge waste of American tax dollars that hard-working folks could have used for their selves and their families to have a better life❗️

[@joannunemaker6332]

I am glad you did a video on Ford Heights. I heard awhile back it has a bad reputation, but heard no actual details, just you don't want to go there. So, this is a good video you can watch at home. Sad it was so dangerous even years ago.😮❤

[@tombeveridge7453]

It has been messed up for many years. It has been a bad area for at least 30 years. Look up the demographics. It had several project areas. We accidentally drove through there on our motorcycle and it was day time and we drove through as fast as possible down Lincoln highway. We were so glad we didn’t get shot at for being white. The majority of people there are black with a high murder rate.

[@russelltaylor3282]

Good video? How?

[@IamP3ngu1n]

Da Fuq ! Not a bird in the area...no squirrels, no dogs, no cats...no nuttin' ! 🐦🐿🐶🐱Air planes even avoid flying over the area. Maaaan...it must be one helluva trip driving down some of those streets in "The Bronx" and "Viet Nam" when the Sun goes down. Thanks for the informative post.

[@Peter-u2v]

" FORD HEIGHTS was EAST CHICAGO HEIGHTS BEEN THAT WAY OVER 50 YEARS 😮😮😮😮

[@prettypuff1]

I’m from Matteson and Ford Heights was a no go for me I remember when that strip club was built… it’s nice inside

[@NathanAnderson-cc8qk]

Dude are you for real you have no idea what you're talking about they didn't even put and put satellites in the to space Intel 1953 they did not have satellites in the sky in 1938

[@mattswaggy7804]

Calumet region: home of the king of pop.

[@darrellmortensen9805]

Was his home but they busted tail to get out. Joe Jackson was tough but if they'd stayed all of his children would of been messed up.

[@jeffreygosselin7576]

How depressing! I can’t watch any more of this. I know the real reason why it’s like this. ENOUGH STATING the obvious!

[@ChrisHarden]

Why did you click on it then if you already knew what to expect?

[@bayscilla25]

They know the real reason too 🤫 😆

[@brandynicjones]

You should do the town of Robbins as well! It looks about the same

[@justsayingforafriend7010]

Every Demarcate run City is like this. Nothing new.

[@jamesdinkelmann8704]

I can't say enough about your videos. Keep up the good work.

[@ChrisHarden]

Thanks, will do!

[@bayscilla25]

Are you stopping at any trailer parks on your routes?

[@russelltaylor3282]

Definitely NOT!

[@russelltaylor3282]

I’m sorry, but as I’m taken away by the replies I’m reading through about this video and I’m sure others that you’re following by Chris, but at very most, please don’t ask him to keep up the good work! This ain’t WORK! This ain’t INFORMATIVE! This is the use of my 1st Amendment to spew hatred and racism.

[@glendapalms1686]

This not " good work " ...period ...when us that knows... corrupt corrupt corrupt...people won't talk about that ! now would they.... names that go back even to AL Copo... ( gangster alright )

[@TheApacheTrail]

Ah, democrats

[@macadon041]

1'st

[@macadon041]

Are you going to do Harvey, IL which is next door ???

[@ChrisHarden]

Not right away but yeah eventually

[@poetcomic1]

The brick buildings, low level and all look recently painted are not 'slums' they are destroyed inside by the tenants. I have seen the same thing here in St. Louis.

[@poetcomic1]

Since the 1960's the brick nice 2 story Cabanne Houses here in St. Louis have been destroyed by the tenants and rebuilt three times.

[@sherrybarner7285]

First of all @ chris harden um my daughter just moved from the vera l yates homes they are not projects so get your facts right and the rent is according to income and its not through cha you people make these videos for a dollar and don’t have your facts together stop going to different state to the less fortunate areas and go where the middle class is and make a video of those areas to bash

[@Rah-know]

Damn… I miss the easy greasy!!!! Dip set Fa show!!!! Nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t wanna live there!!!