# 6th ward, Chicago

The 6th Ward is one of the 50 aldermanic wards with representation in the City Council of Chicago, Illinois.

## History
### 19th century

At its incorporation as a city in 1837, Chicago was divided into six wards. The 6th ward represented areas north of the Chicago River, and east of North Clark Street. Beginning February 16, 1847 (when the city increased its number of wards to nine), the ward represented areas west of the Chicago River and north of Randolph Street. The Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed in 1848, running through the district.
Beginning February 16, 1857 (when the city increased its number of wards to ten), the ward represented areas of Chicago's West Side that were to the north of West Randolph Street. Beginning in 1863 (when the city increased its number of wards to sixteen) the ward was bounded by Van Buren Street (at its north), Jefferson Street (at its east), and the south branch of the Chicago River (at its south).
Beginning in 1869 (when the city expanded its number of wards to twenty), the "6th ward" numbering was given to a ward which represented much of the area that had been in the previous incarnation of the 7th ward. The ward's northern boundaries were defined by 16th street and the south branch of the Chicago River (including a segment of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal). Its southern boundary was defined by Egan Street (the former 39th Street, which was later renamed Pershing Road). Its eastern boundary was defined by Clark Street. This district was on the South Side. Located within its boundaries were the neighborhoods of Bridgeport, Mt. Pleasant (today known asM McKinley Park), as well as the area that is today home to the Armour Square neighborhood (including the land today occupied by Wentworth Gardens and Rate Field, and Chinatown).
Beginning on March 22, 1876 (when the city decreased the number of wards to 18) the district's boundaries were defined at its north by 16th street as well as the South Branch of the Chicago river (including a portion of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal); at its east by the city limits (the lakeshore), at its south by Pulaski Road/40th Avenue, and at its west by the city limits and the south branch of the Chicago River. This included all of the areas that had been in 1869 incarnation of the district, and also included further territory. The new territory added to the ward included Oakland, the area that is today known as "Douglas", and the Near South Side.
Beginning in 1890 (when Chicago expanded its number of wards to thirty-four) the ward's boundaries were defined at its north by 33rd street and portions of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (along the south branch of the Chicago River); on its east by Halsted Street, on its south by 39th Street (today known as "Pershing Road"); and on its west by Western Boulevard. This contained the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood (today known as McKinley Park) and a portion of the Bridgeport neighborhood.

### 21st century
## Past alders

The current alderperson for the 6th ward is William Hall.

### Before 1923

Before 1923, wards were represented by two aldermen.
| Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | # Council | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen |
| Alderman | Alderman | Alderman | Term in office | Party | Notes | Cite | # Council | Alderman | Alderman | Alderman | Term in office | Party | Notes | Cite |
| | | Samuel Jackson | 1837–1838 | | | | 1st | | | Bernard Ward | 1837–1838 | | | |
| | | George W. Dole | 1838–1839 | | | | 2nd | | | Grant Goodrich | 1838–1839 | | | |
| | | John H. Kinzie | 1839–1840 | | Later elected alderman again in 1852 in 9th ward | | 3rd | | | Buckner Stith Morris | 1839–1840 | Whig | | |
| | | R.J. Hamilton | 1840–1841 | Democratic | Later elected in 1849 in the 9th ward | | 4th | | | William B. Ogden | 1840–1841 | Democratic | Later elected adlerman again in 1947 in 9th ward | |
| | | George F. Foster | 1841–1842 | | Later elected alderman again in 1850 in 8th ward | | 5th | | | James J.H. Howe | 1841–1842 | | Later elected alderman again in 1855 in 7th ward | |
| | | George O. Bryan | 1842–1843 | | | | 6th | | | George W. Dole | 1842–1844 | | | |
| | | J. Marback | 1843–1844 | | | | 7th | | | George W. Dole | 1842–1844 | | | |
| | | Michael Diversey | 1844–1845 | | Later elected alderman again in 1856 in 9th ward | | 8th | | | Buckner Stith Morris | 1844 | | | |
| | | Michael Diversey | 1844–1845 | | Later elected alderman again in 1856 in 9th ward | | 8th | | | James H. Rees | 1844–1845 | | | |
| | | Mahlon D. Ogden | 1845–1846 | | Later elected alderman again in 1871 in 19th ward | | 9th | | | Richard C. Ross | 1845–1847 | | | |
| | | William M. Larrabee | 1846–1847 | | | | 10th | | | Richard C. Ross | 1845–1847 | | | |
| | | Asahel Pierce | 1847–1849 | | Previously served in 4th ward | | 11th | | | Henry Smith | 1847–1849 | | | |
| | | Asahel Pierce | 1847–1849 | | Previously served in 4th ward | | 12th | | | Henry Smith | 1847–1849 | | | |
| | | Asahel Pierce | 1847–1849 | | Previously served in 4th ward | | 13th | | | G.W. Wentworth | 1849–1851 | | | |
| | | Daniel Richards | 1849–1851 | | | | 13th | | | G.W. Wentworth | 1849–1851 | | | |
| | | Daniel Richards | 1849–1851 | | | | 14th | | | G.W. Wentworth | 1849–1851 | | | |
| | | Daniel Elston | 1851–1852 | | | | 15th | | | James M. Hannah | 1851 | | | |
| | | Daniel Elston | 1851–1852 | | | | 15th | | | Read A. Williams | 1851–1852 | | | |
| | | A.C. Ellithorpe | 1852 | | | | 16th | | | Henry Smith | 1852–1853 | | | |
| | | Thomas B. Dywer | 1852–1854 | | | | | | | Henry Smith | 1852–1853 | | | |
| | | Thomas B. Dywer | 1852–1854 | | | | 17th | | | William Carpenter | 1853–1855 | | | |
| | | William Wayman | 1854–1856 | | | | 18th | | | William Carpenter | 1853–1855 | | | |
| | | William Wayman | 1854–1856 | | | | 19th | | | A.C. Ellithorpe | 1855–1857 | | | |
| | | Henry Greenbaum | 1856–1858 | Republican | | | 20th | | | A.C. Ellithorpe | 1855–1857 | | | |
| | | Henry Greenbaum | 1856–1858 | Republican | | | 21st | | | George Sitts | 1857–1859 | | | |
| | | John Van Horn | 1858–1860 | | | | 22nd | | | George Sitts | 1857–1859 | | | |
| | | John Van Horn | 1858–1860 | | | | 23rd | | | C.A. Reno | 1859–1861 | | | |
| | | James W. Cobb | 1860–1862 | | | | 24th | | | C.A. Reno | 1859–1861 | | | |
| | | James W. Cobb | 1860–1862 | | | | 25th | | | Edward S. Salomon | 1861–1863 | Republican | | |
| | | Francis C. Brown | 1862–1863 | | Redistricted to 9th ward in 1863 | | 26th | | | Edward S. Salomon | 1861–1863 | Republican | | |
| | | Malcolm McDonald | 1863–1864 | | Previously served in 10th ward | | 27th | | | David Walsh | 1863–1865 | | | |
| | | John Wallwork | 1864–1868 | | | | 28th | | | David Walsh | 1863–1865 | | | |
| | | John Wallwork | 1864–1868 | | | | 29th | | | Thomas C. Hatch | 1865–1867 | | | |
| | | John Wallwork | 1864–1868 | | | | 30th | | | Thomas C. Hatch | 1865–1867 | | | |
| | | John Wallwork | 1864–1868 | | | | 31st | | | David Walsh | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | Michael Keeley | 1868–1869 | | | | 32nd | | | David Walsh | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | Michael Keeley | 1868–1869 | | | | 33rd | | | David Walsh | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | Mark Sheridan | 1869–1870 | | Redistricted from 5th ward; later elected alderman again in 1876 in 5th ward | | 34th | | | William Tracy | 1869–1873 | | | |
| | | Daniel Heenan | 1870 | | | | 34th | | | William Tracy | 1869–1873 | | | |
| | | Michael Schmitz | 1870–1874 | | | | 35th | | | William Tracy | 1869–1873 | | | |
| | | Michael Schmitz | 1870–1874 | | | | 36th | | | William Tracy | 1869–1873 | | | |
| | | Michael Schmitz | 1870–1874 | | | | 37th | | | William Tracy | 1869–1873 | | | |
| | | Michael Schmitz | 1870–1874 | | | | 38th | | | Phillip Reidy | 1873–1976 | | | < |
| | | Fred Sommer | 1874–1876 | | Redistricted to 5th ward in 1876 | | 39th | | | Phillip Reidy | 1873–1976 | | | < |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 40th | | | Fred Lodding | 1876–1879 | | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 41st | | | Fred Lodding | 1876–1879 | | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 42nd | | | Fred Lodding | 1876–1879 | | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 43rd | | | John J. Altpeter | 1879–1883 | Socialist Labor | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 44th | | | John J. Altpeter | 1879–1883 | Socialist Labor | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 45th | | | John J. Altpeter | 1879–1883 | Republican and Socialist Labor | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 46th | | | John J. Altpeter | 1879–1883 | Republican and Socialist Labor | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 47th | | | Charles F. L. Doerner | 1883–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 48th | | | Charles F. L. Doerner | 1883–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 49th | | | Charles F. L. Doerner | 1883–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 50th | | | Charles F. L. Doerner | 1883–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1876–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward, redistricted to 9th ward in 1888 | | 51st | | | Charles A. Monear | 1887–1888 | Independent Democrat | Redistricted in 1888 to 8th ward | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1888–1892 | | Previously served as alderman in the 5th ward | | 52nd | | | George Emmerich | 1888–1889 | | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1888–1892 | | Previously served as alderman in the 5th ward | | 53rd | | | William H. O'Brien | 1889–1893 | | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1888–1892 | | Previously served as alderman in the 5th ward | | 54th | | | William H. O'Brien | 1889–1893 | | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1888–1892 | | Previously served as alderman in the 5th ward | | 55th | | | William H. O'Brien | 1889–1893 | | | |
| | | Henry Stuckart | 1892–1894 | | later represented same ward again | | 56th | | | William H. O'Brien | 1889–1893 | | | |
| | | Henry Stuckart | 1892–1894 | | later represented same ward again | | 57th | | | Thomas Reed | 1893–1895 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1894–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 5th ward in 1901 | | 58th | | | Thomas Reed | 1893–1895 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1894–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 5th ward in 1901 | | 59th | | | Henry Stuckart | 1895–1897 | | previously had represented the same ward; later represented the 4th ward | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1894–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 5th ward in 1901 | | 60th | | | Henry Stuckart | 1895–1897 | | previously had represented the same ward; later represented the 4th ward | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1894–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 5th ward in 1901 | | 61st | | | William H. O'Brien | 1897–1899 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1894–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 5th ward in 1901 | | 62nd | | | William H. O'Brien | 1897–1899 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1894–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 5th ward in 1901 | | 63rd | | | James J. McCormick | 1899–1901 | | Later elected alderman again in 1904 in the 5th ward | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1894–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 5th ward in 1901 | | 64th | | | James J. McCormick | 1899–1901 | | Later elected alderman again in 1904 in the 5th ward | |
| | | William Mavor | 1901–1904 | Republican | Redistricted from 32nd ward; Died in office | | 65th | | | Linn H. Young | 1901–1909 | Republican | | |
| | | William Mavor | 1901–1904 | Republican | Redistricted from 32nd ward; Died in office | | 66th | | | Linn H. Young | 1901–1909 | Republican | | |
| | | William Mavor | 1901–1904 | Republican | Redistricted from 32nd ward; Died in office | | 67th | | | Linn H. Young | 1901–1909 | Republican | | |
| | | Edward C. Potter | 1904–1906 | Independent Republican | | | 68th | | | Linn H. Young | 1901–1909 | Republican | | |
| | | Edward C. Potter | 1904–1906 | Independent Republican | | | 69th | | | Linn H. Young | 1901–1909 | Republican | | |
| | | Arthur S. McCoid | 1906–1910 | | | | 70th | | | Linn H. Young | 1901–1909 | Republican | | |
| | | Arthur S. McCoid | 1906–1910 | | | | 71st | | | Linn H. Young | 1901–1909 | Republican | | |
| | | Arthur S. McCoid | 1906–1910 | | | | 72nd | | | Linn H. Young | 1901–1909 | Republican | | |
| | | Arthur S. McCoid | 1906–1910 | | | | 73rd | | | Theodore K. Long | 1909–1915 | | | |
| | | William R. Parker | 1910–1912 | | | | 74th | | | Theodore K. Long | 1909–1915 | | | |
| | | William R. Parker | 1910–1912 | | | | 75th | | | Theodore K. Long | 1909–1915 | | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1912–1918 | Republican | | | 76th | | | Theodore K. Long | 1909–1915 | | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1912–1918 | Republican | | | 77th | | | Theodore K. Long | 1909–1915 | | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1912–1918 | Republican | | | 78th | | | Theodore K. Long | 1909–1915 | | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1912–1918 | Republican | | | 79th | | | Alexander A. McCormick | 1915–1921 | Republican | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1912–1918 | Republican | | | 80th | | | Alexander A. McCormick | 1915–1921 | Republican | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1912–1918 | Republican | | | 81st | | | Alexander A. McCormick | 1915–1921 | Republican | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1912–1918 | Republican | | | 82nd | | | Alexander A. McCormick | 1915–1921 | Republican | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1912–1918 | Republican | | | 83rd | | | Alexander A. McCormick | 1915–1921 | Republican | | |
| | | Charles S. Eaton | 1919–1923 | Republican | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to 5th ward | | 84th | | | Alexander A. McCormick | 1915–1921 | Republican | | |
| | | Charles S. Eaton | 1919–1923 | Republican | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to 5th ward | | 85th | | | Alexander A. McCormick | 1915–1921 | Republican | | |
| | | Charles S. Eaton | 1919–1923 | Republican | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to 5th ward | | 86th |

### Since 1923

Since 1923, wards have been represented by a single alderman. Elections have also been nonpartisan, though officeholders often still publicly affiliate with parties.
| Alderman | Alderman | Term in office | Councils served in | Party | Notes |
| | Guy Guernsey | | | Republican | Redistricted from the 7th ward |
| | John F. Healy | | | Democratic | |
| | Patrick Sheridan Smith | | | | |
| | Francis J. Hogan | | | | |
| | David R. Muir | | | | |
| | Sydney A. Jones Jr. | | | | |
| | Robert H. Miller | | | | |
| | A. A. Rayner Jr. | 1967–1971 | 98th | | retired from council |
| | Eugene Sawyer | February 28, 1971 – December 2, 1987 | 98th-103rd | Democratic | Resigned after being appointed mayor |
| | Ronald Robinson | 1987–1989 | 103rd | Democratic | Appointed by Mayor Eugene Sawyer |
| | John O. Steele | 1989–December 1997 | 103rd-105th | Democratic | Elected in a special election; resigned after being appointed an associate judge for the Cook County Circuit Court in December 1997 |
| n | Freddrenna Lyle | February 8, 1998 – May 16, 2011 | 105th–109th | Democratic | Appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1998; subsequently elected to three full terms; lost re-election in 2011 |
| | Roderick Sawyer | May 16, 2011 – May 15, 2023 | 110th–113th | Democratic | Son of Eugene Sawyer, who formerly held the same aldermanic seat; retired in 2023 in order to (unsuccessfully) run for mayor |
| | William Hall | May 15, 2023–present | 114th, 115th | Democratic | |