# 4th ward, Chicago

The 4th Ward is one of the 50 aldermanic wards with representation in the City Council of Chicago, Illinois. It is divided into 28 election precincts. Lake Michigan is the ward's eastern boundary for much of its area. Its northwesternmost point, as of 2022, was located at the intersection of West Jackson Boulevard and South Clark Street and its southeasternmost point at the intersection of East 53rd Street and Lake Park Avenue.
David K. Fremon wrote in 1988 that "No other ward has wealth and poverty in such proximity." Today the 4th Ward boasts 93,975 residents, with a racially diverse population that is plurality Black (46.0%), followed by White (30.2%), Asian (13.3%), Hispanic or Latino (6.4%), Multiracial (3.5%), Native (0.2%), and Other (0.5%). Between 2010 and 2018, the 4th Ward saw the second-largest population growth in the city after the 42nd Ward, driven primarily by the population influx in the South Loop.

## History

The 4th Ward was one of six created upon Chicago's incorporation as a city in 1837. At the time its boundaries were the city limits at North Avenue and Wood Street to its respective north and west, Randolph Street to its south, and the Chicago River to its east. In 1847 it was moved to the Loop and Near South Side, being bounded by the Chicago River to its north and west, 22nd Street (modern-day Cermak) to its south, and Wells Street to its east. In 1857 the southern boundary was extended to 31st street and in 1863 the ward was significantly moved eastward, bounded by 16th street, Lake Michigan, 31st street, and Clark Street. In 1869 its southern boundary was retracted to 26th street.
In 1876 it was moved southward, between 26th Street and Egan Street (modern-day Pershing) and Lake Michigan and Clark Street. In 1887 it was moved south yet again, to the area bounded by the Lake, 33rd and 39th streets, and Stewart Avenue. In 1901 it was extended west to once again touch the River, which it would do until 1923. In 1923, coincident with the City being divided into its modern 50 wards, it covered Kenwood and northern Washington Park.

## List of alderpersons
### 1837 – 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 | Term in office | Party | Party | Notes | Cite | # Council | Alderman | Alderman | Term in office | Party | Party | Notes | Cite |
| | John S.C. Hogan | 1837–1838 | | | Redistricted to the 2nd ward in 1838 | | 1st | | Asahel Pierce | 1837–1840 | | | | |
| | Francis C. Taylor | 1838–1839 | | | | | 2nd | | Asahel Pierce | 1837–1840 | | | | |
| | John Murphy Jr. | 1839–1840 | | | | | 3rd | | Asahel Pierce | 1837–1840 | | | | |
| | Seth Johnson | 1840–1841 | | | | | 4th | | William Otis Snell | 1840–1842 | | | | |
| | G.W. Rogers | 1841–1842 | | | | | 5th | | William Otis Snell | 1840–1842 | | | | |
| | Eben C. Chalonder | 1842–1843 | | | | | 6th | | Daniel Elston | 1842–1843 | | | Later elected alderman again in 1851 in the 6th ward | |
| | John Murphy Jr. | 1843–1845 | | | | | 7th | | William S. Warner | 1843–1844 | | | | |
| | John Murphy Jr. | 1843–1845 | | | | | 8th | | James Poussard | 1844 | | | | |
| | John Murphy Jr. | 1843–1845 | | | | | 8th | | Asahel Pierce | 1844–1846 | | | | |
| | Thomas McDonough | 1845–1846 | | | | | 9th | | Asahel Pierce | 1844–1846 | | | | |
| | Henry Magee | 1846–1847 | | | | | 10th | | Joseph Wilson | 1846–1847 | | | | |
| | Robert H. Foss | 1847–1852 | | Republican | Later represented ward again (1854-55) | | 11th | | Charles McDonnell | 1847–1849 | | | Previously served in same ward | |
| | Robert H. Foss | 1847–1852 | | Republican | Later represented ward again (1854-55) | | 12th | | Charles McDonnell | 1847–1849 | | | Previously served in same ward | |
| | Robert H. Foss | 1847–1852 | | Republican | Later represented ward again (1854-55) | | 13th | | Amos G. Throop | 1849–1853 | | | Later elected alderman again in 1976 in 11th ward | |
| | Robert H. Foss | 1847–1852 | | Republican | Later represented ward again (1854-55) | | 14th | | Amos G. Throop | 1849–1853 | | | Later elected alderman again in 1976 in 11th ward | |
| | Robert H. Foss | 1847–1852 | | Republican | Later represented ward again (1854-55) | | 15th | | Amos G. Throop | 1849–1853 | | | Later elected alderman again in 1976 in 11th ward | |
| | Charles McDonnell | 1852–1854 | | | | | 16th | | Amos G. Throop | 1849–1853 | | | Later elected alderman again in 1976 in 11th ward | |
| | Charles McDonnell | 1852–1854 | | | | | 17th | | William Kennedy | 1853–1855 | | | | |
| | Robert H. Foss | 1854–January 1855 | | Republican | previously represented same ward (1847–1852); resigned in order to serve as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives; later elected alderman again in 1860 in the 5th ward | | 18th | | William Kennedy | 1853–1855 | | | | |
| | Robert H. Foss | 1854–January 1855 | | Republican | previously represented same ward (1847–1852); resigned in order to serve as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives; later elected alderman again in 1860 in the 5th ward | | 19th | | William Colby | 1855–1857 | | | Later elected alderman again in 1860 in 1st ward | |
| | Samuel Myers | 1856–1862 | | | | | 20th | | William Colby | 1855–1857 | | | Later elected alderman again in 1860 in 1st ward | |
| | Samuel Myers | 1856–1862 | | | | | 21st | | J.M. Kennedy | 1857–1861 | | | | |
| | Samuel Myers | 1856–1862 | | | | | 22nd | | J.M. Kennedy | 1857–1861 | | | | |
| | Samuel Myers | 1856–1862 | | | | | 23rd | | J.M. Kennedy | 1857–1861 | | | | |
| | Samuel Myers | 1856–1862 | | | | | 24th | | J.M. Kennedy | 1857–1861 | | | | |
| | Samuel Myers | 1856–1862 | | | | | 25th | | William Baragwanath | 1861–1863 | | | | |
| | Andrew Schall | 1862–1863 | | | Redistricted in 1863 to 1st ward | | 26th | | William Baragwanath | 1861–1863 | | | | |
| | John T. Edwards | 1863–1864 | | | Redistricted from 1st ward | | 27th | | Benjamin E. Gallup | 1863–1865 | | | | |
| | Samuel McRoy | 1864–1866 | | | | | 28th | | Benjamin E. Gallup | 1863–1865 | | | | |
| | Samuel McRoy | 1864–1866 | | | | | 29th | | H.M. Willmarth | 1865–1867 | | | | |
| | Alan C. Calkins | 1866–1870 | | | | | 30th | | H.M. Willmarth | 1865–1867 | | | | |
| | Alan C. Calkins | 1866–1870 | | | | | 31st | | Samuel McRoy | 1867–1869 | | | | |
| | Alan C. Calkins | 1866–1870 | | | | | 32nd | | Samuel McRoy | 1867–1869 | | | | |
| | Alan C. Calkins | 1866–1870 | | | | | 33rd | | John H. McAvoy | 1869–1873 | | | | |
| | Alan C. Calkins | 1866–1870 | | | | | 34th | | John H. McAvoy | 1869–1873 | | | | |
| | Harvey M. Thompson | 1870–1872 | | | | | 35th | | John H. McAvoy | 1869–1873 | | | | |
| | Harvey M. Thompson | 1870–1872 | | | | | 36th | | John H. McAvoy | 1869–1873 | | | | |
| | George H. Sidwell | 1872–1874 | | | | | 37th | | John H. McAvoy | 1869–1873 | | | | |
| | George H. Sidwell | 1872–1874 | | | | | 38th | | Jesse Spaulding | 1873–1876 | | Republican | |
| | Rensselaer Stone | 1874–1876 | | | | | 39th | | Jesse Spaulding | 1873–1876 | | Republican | |
| | John W. Stewart | 1876–1878 | | | | | 40th | | James H. Gilbert | 1876–1879 | | | | |
| | John W. Stewart | 1876–1878 | | | | | 41st | | James H. Gilbert | 1876–1879 | | | | |
| | Herbert E. Mallory | 1878–1880 | | | | | 42nd | | James H. Gilbert | 1876–1879 | | | | |
| | Herbert E. Mallory | 1878–1880 | | | | | 43rd | | Amos Grannis | 1879–1881 | | Republican | | |
| | William W. Watson | 1880–1882 | | Republican | | | 44th | | Amos Grannis | 1879–1881 | | Republican | | |
| | William W. Watson | 1880–1882 | | Republican | | | 45th | | Oscar D. Wetherell | 1881–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in 3rd ward | |
| | S.D. Foss | 1882–1884 | | | | | 46th | | Oscar D. Wetherell | 1881–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in 3rd ward | |
| | S.D. Foss | 1882–1884 | | | | | 47th | | Oscar D. Wetherell | 1881–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in 3rd ward | |
| | Thomas C. Clarke | 1884–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in the 5th ward | | 48th | | Oscar D. Wetherell | 1881–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in 3rd ward | |
| | Thomas C. Clarke | 1884–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in the 5th ward | | 49th | | Oscar D. Wetherell | 1881–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in 3rd ward | |
| | Thomas C. Clarke | 1884–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in the 5th ward | | 50th | | Oscar D. Wetherell | 1881–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in 3rd ward | |
| | Thomas C. Clarke | 1884–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in the 5th ward | | 51st | | Oscar D. Wetherell | 1881–1888 | | Republican | Previously served in 3rd ward | |
| | John W. Hepburn | 1888–1896 | | Republican | | | 52nd | | Harry D. Hammer | 1888–1889 | | | | |
| | John W. Hepburn | 1888–1896 | | Republican | | | 53rd | | Martin B. Madden | 1889–1897 | | Republican | | |
| | John W. Hepburn | 1888–1896 | | Republican | | | 54th | | Martin B. Madden | 1889–1897 | | Republican | | |
| | John W. Hepburn | 1888–1896 | | Republican | | | 55th | | Martin B. Madden | 1889–1897 | | Republican | | |
| | John W. Hepburn | 1888–1896 | | Republican | | | 56th | | Martin B. Madden | 1889–1897 | | Republican | | |
| | John W. Hepburn | 1888–1896 | | Republican | | | 57th | | Martin B. Madden | 1889–1897 | | Republican | | |
| | John W. Hepburn | 1888–1896 | | Republican | | | 58th | | Martin B. Madden | 1889–1897 | | Republican | | |
| | John W. Hepburn | 1888–1896 | | Republican | | | 59th | | Martin B. Madden | 1889–1897 | | Republican | | |
| | William S. Jackson | 1896–1901 | | Republican | Redistricted to the 3rd ward in 1901 | | 60th | | Martin B. Madden | 1889–1897 | | Republican | | |
| | William S. Jackson | 1896–1901 | | Republican | Redistricted to the 3rd ward in 1901 | | 61st | | Abraham A. Ballenberg | 1897–1899 | | Democratic | | |
| | William S. Jackson | 1896–1901 | | Republican | Redistricted to the 3rd ward in 1901 | | 62nd | | Abraham A. Ballenberg | 1897–1899 | | Democratic | | |
| | William S. Jackson | 1896–1901 | | Republican | Redistricted to the 3rd ward in 1901 | | 63rd | | Milton J. Foreman | 1899–1901 | | Republican | Redistricted to the 3rd ward in 1901 | |
| | William S. Jackson | 1896–1901 | | Republican | Redistricted to the 3rd ward in 1901 | | 64th | | Milton J. Foreman | 1899–1901 | | Republican | Redistricted to the 3rd ward in 1901 | |
| | William E. Kent | 1901–1902 | | | Redistricted from 5th ward; died in office | | 65th | | Frank Doubek | 1901–1903 | | | | |
| | Henry Stuckart | 1902–1904 | | | previously represented the 6th ward | | 66th | | Frank Doubek | 1901–1903 | | | | |
| | Henry Stuckart | 1902–1904 | | | previously represented the 6th ward | | 67th | | James M. Dailey | 1903–1907 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 68th | | James M. Dailey | 1903–1907 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 69th | | James M. Dailey | 1903–1907 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 70th | | James M. Dailey | 1903–1907 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 71st | | John W. McNeal | 1907–1909 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 72nd | | John W. McNeal | 1907–1909 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 73rd | | James M. Dailey | 1909–1911 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 74th | | James M. Dailey | 1909–1911 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 75th | | Joseph F. Ryan | 1911–1915 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 76th | | Joseph F. Ryan | 1911–1915 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 77th | | Joseph F. Ryan | 1911–1915 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 78th | | Joseph F. Ryan | 1911–1915 | | | | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 79th | | David R. Hickey | 1915–December 8, 1918 | | Democratic | Died in office | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 80th | | David R. Hickey | 1915–December 8, 1918 | | Democratic | Died in office | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 81st | | David R. Hickey | 1915–December 8, 1918 | | Democratic | Died in office | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 82nd | | David R. Hickey | 1915–December 8, 1918 | | Democratic | Died in office | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 83rd | | Timothy A. Hogan | 1919–1923 | | | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to the 11th ward | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 84th | | Timothy A. Hogan | 1919–1923 | | | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to the 11th ward | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 85th | | Timothy A. Hogan | 1919–1923 | | | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to the 11th ward | |
| | John A. Richert | 1904–1923 | | Democratic | | | 86th | | Timothy A. Hogan | 1919–1923 | | | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to the 11th ward | |

### 1923 – present

Since 1923, wards have been represented by a single alderman. Elections have also been nonpartisan, though officeholders often still publicly affiliate with parties.
In 2021, the state government enacted legislation to change the designation for members of the city council from "aldermen" to "alderpersons".
List of Chicago alderpersons from the 4th Ward since 1923 :
| Alderperson | Party | Term start | Term end | Notes |
| Ulysses S. Schwartz | Democratic | 1923 | 1925 | Previously represented the 3rd ward (1916–1923) |
| Berthold A. Cronson | Republican | 1925 | December 23, 1937 (died in office) | |
| Abraham H. Cohen | | 1939 | 1955 | |
| Claude Holman | Democratic | 1955 | June 1, 1973 | died in office |
| Timothy C. Evans | Democratic | November 27, 1973 | 1991 | |
| Toni Preckwinkle | Democratic | April 2, 1991 | December 6, 2010 | Resigned in order to become president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners |
| Shirley Newsome | | 2010 | 2011 | Appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley |
| William D. Burns | Democratic | May 2011 | April 2016 | Resigned |
| Sophia King | Democratic | April 13, 2016 | May 15, 2023 | |
| Lamont Robinson | Democratic | May 15, 2023 | incumbent | |