The 4th congressional district of Illinois since 2003
Current Representative Luis Gutiérrez (D)
Population (2000) 653,647
Median income $35,935
Ethnicity 46.5% White, 4.3% Black, 1.8% Asian, 74.5% Hispanic, 0.7% Native American, 42.1% other
Cook PVI D + 32

The 4th Congressional District of Illinois includes part of Cook County, and has been represented by Democrat Luis Gutierrez since January 1993.

It was featured by The Economist as one of the most strangely drawn and gerrymandered congressional districts in the country.[1] It was created to contain two majority Hispanic parts of Chicago.

This district covers two strips running east-west across the city of Chicago, Illinois on the west side continuing into smaller portion of some suburban areas in Cook County, surrounding Illinois' 7th congressional district. The northern portion is largely Puerto Rican, while the southern portion is heavily Mexican. The two sections are on opposite sides of the city and are only connected by a piece of Interstate 294 to the west; the highway is in the district while the surrounding areas are not. It is the smallest congressional district in area outside of New York City and San Francisco.[2] The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of D +32.

Voting

Election results from presidential races
Year Office Results
2008 President Obama 85 - 13%
2004 President Kerry 79 - 21%
2000 President Gore 76 - 19%

Geography

The 4th District includes the Chicago community of Brighton Park, in addition to almost all of Hermosa, Lower West Side and Gage Park; parts of Albany Park, Irving Park, Avondale, Logan Square, West Town, Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin, Austin, McKinley Park, South Lawndale, New City, West Elsdon and Archer Heights; portions of riverfront Bridgeport; the portion of North Center southwest of Clybourn Avenue; and the northwestern tip of Lincoln Park.

History

The Illinois 4th Congressional District was originally formed in 1842. It included 17 counties, which were Cook, Lake, McHenry, Boone, De Kalb, Kane, Du Page, Will, Kendall, Grundy, La Salle, Bureau, Livingston, Iroquois, McLean, Vermilion and Champaign Counties. Beyond this Ford and Kankakee Counties were part of Vermillion and Iroquois Counties respectively at this point and thus in the district's boundaries.[3]

List of representatives

Representative Party Years District home Notes
District created March 4, 1843
John Wentworth Democratic March 4, 1843 - March 3, 1851
Richard S. Molony Democratic March 4, 1851 - March 3, 1853
James Knox Whig March 4, 1853 - March 3, 1855
Opposition March 4, 1855 - March 3, 1857
William Kellogg Republican March 4, 1857 - March 3, 1863
Charles M. Harris Democratic March 4, 1863 - March 3, 1865
Abner C. Harding Republican March 4, 1865 - March 3, 1869
John B. Hawley Republican March 4, 1869 - March 3, 1873 Redistricted to the 6th district
Stephen A. Hurlbut Republican March 4, 1873 - March 3, 1877
William Lathrop Republican March 4, 1877 - March 3, 1879
John C. Sherwin Republican March 4, 1879 - March 3, 1883
George E. Adams Republican March 4, 1883 - March 3, 1891
Walter C. Newberry Democratic March 4, 1891 - March 3, 1893
Julius Goldzier Democratic March 4, 1893 - March 3, 1895
Charles W. Woodman Republican March 4, 1895 - March 3, 1897
Daniel W. Mills Republican March 4, 1897 - March 3, 1899
Thomas Cusack Democratic March 4, 1899 - March 3, 1901
James McAndrews Democratic March 4, 1901 - March 3, 1903 Redistricted to the 5th district
George P. Foster Democratic March 4, 1903 - March 3, 1905 Redistricted from the 3rd district
Charles S. Wharton Republican March 4, 1905 - March 3, 1907
James T. McDermott Democratic March 4, 1907 - July 21, 1914 Resigned
Vacant July 21, 1914 - March 4, 1915
James T. McDermott Democratic March 4, 1915 - March 3, 1917 Re-elected to fill is own seat
Charles Martin Democratic March 4, 1917 - October 28, 1917 Died
Vacant October 28, 1917 - April 2, 1918
John W. Rainey Democratic April 2, 1918 - May 4, 1923 Died
Vacant May 4, 1923 - November 6, 1923
Thomas A. Doyle Democratic November 6, 1923 - March 3, 1931
Harry P. Beam Democratic March 4, 1931 - December 6, 1942 Resigned after being elected judge of the Municipal Court of Chicago
Vacant December 6, 1942 - January 3, 1943
Martin Gorski Democratic January 3, 1943 - January 3, 1949 Redistricted to the 5th district
James V. Buckley Democratic January 3, 1949 - January 3, 1951
William E. McVey Republican January 3, 1951 - August 10, 1958 Died
Vacant August 10, 1958 - January 3, 1959
Ed Derwinski Republican January 3, 1959 - January 3, 1983
George M. O'Brien Republican January 3, 1983 - July 17, 1986 Redistricted from the 17th district, Died
Vacant July 17, 1986 - January 3, 1987
Jack Davis Republican January 3, 1987 - January 3, 1989
George E. Sangmeister Democratic January 3, 1989 - January 3, 1993 Redistricted to the 11th district
Luis Gutiérrez Democratic January 3, 1993 - Present Incumbent

References

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

See also

• List of United States Congressional districts
• United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008
• Gerrymandering

External links

• Washington Post page on the 4th District of Illinois
• U.S. Census Bureau - 4th District Fact Sheet
• U.S. Census Bureau - 4th District mapPDF (1.12 MiB)

Illinois's congressional districts