Illinois's 1st congressional district

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Illinois’s 1st congressional district is a large, mostly urban district in Illinois. It is based in Cook County and centers on Chicago’s South Side, stretching southwest toward Joliet and into parts of Will County.

Quick facts
- Area: about 621.6 square miles (1,610 km2)
- Population (2024): about 735,259
- Median household income: about $69,490
- Racial makeup: roughly 49.7% Black, 36.1% White, 9.2% Hispanic, 2.0% two or more races, 0.4% Asian, with other groups making up the rest
- Political leaning: strongly Democratic

History and representation
- The district has long been a majority-Black district and has had Black representation in Congress since 1929, the longest ongoing run for any seat in the House.
- It has been represented by a Democrat since 1935. The current representative is Jonathan Jackson, elected in 2022 to succeed Bobby Rush.
- The district is known for its deep ties to Chicago’s Black communities and its history of civil rights and urban-policy advocacy.

Where it sits and who lives there
- In Chicago, the district includes many South Side neighborhoods such as Oakland, Auburn Gresham, Washington Heights, Greater Grand Crossing, Chatham, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Woodlawn, and parts of South Shore and Bronzeville.
- Outside the city, it includes parts of Will and Cook Counties, with communities like Midlothian, Blue Island, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Palos Park, Mokena, New Lenox, and Joliet.
- Will County is shared with other districts, so the district’s boundaries cross several town lines.

Economy and institutions
- The area has transitioned from manufacturing to health care and higher education as major economic drivers.
- Notable institutions include the University of Chicago (Hyde Park) and the Illinois Institute of Technology (Douglas), along with several major hospitals.
- The district also contains cultural sites and museums, parks, and a mix of urban and suburban communities.

Politics and elections
- The district is one of the most reliably Democratic in the country. Democratic candidates regularly win large majorities in elections, and the Cook Partisan Voting Index reflects a strong Democratic lean.
- Presidential results in the district have consistently favored Democrats by large margins for decades.

Redistricting
- After the 2010 census, the district was expanded to include more suburban areas in Cook and Will Counties. Its boundaries were drawn to keep Chicago’s Black communities as a core while adding neighboring suburbs.

Overall, Illinois’s 1st district is a diverse, historic, and heavily Democratic area anchored by Chicago’s South Side, with a mix of suburban communities and a strong emphasis on urban issues, healthcare, and education.