Beiermann Farms, Illinois

Beiermann Farms is a city in Wabash County, Illinois. The city is an inner suburb in the Kennedy-Wabash Heights-Jacksonville MSA. It ranks as the poorest city in the county and is known for it's abandonment, with a vacancy rate of 28.7%.

History
Beiermann Farms first experienced development around 1921 in order to provide housing for manufacturing workers. The Beiermann Project, headed by architect Lee Jensen Beiermann, cost an estimate of $13.4 million dollars and consisted of two square miles of city blocks.

In 1929, development began to extend outside of the Beiermann subdivision emulating many of the same housing styles. Similar development continued until around 1937.

In the late 1950s, many residents, both white and African American, left the Beiermann Farms neighborhood in favor of Kennedy's suburbs. Homes were left abandoned and in poor condition, which allowed crime and poverty to develop among the residents still living in the neighborhood.

In 1968, the city zoned an area of land to use for industrial and high-rise apartment purposes, based around the local police precinct. The high-rises attracted further crime and poverty to an already declined neighborhood.

Beiermann Farms incorporated as a city in 1983 in an attempt to end negligent government work in the area and begin redevelopment of neighborhoods. As of today, the city has experienced some economic growth, but still remains a hotspot for crime and violence.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,497 people, 24,725 households, and 20,192 families residing in the city.

There were 33,442 housing units at the city, at a density of 5,144.9/square mile.

The racial makeup of the city was 68.21% White, 24.63% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.32% of the population.

In 1990, the median income for a household was $16,478, and the median income for a family was $22,575.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,176, and the median income for a family was $25,921. The per capita income for the city was $11,036.

About 48.7% of families and 54.5% of the population were below the poverty line. Approximately 31.6% of the population was below half of the poverty rate, and 21.8% of households made under $10,000.

In 2008, the unemployment rate in the city was 39.3%.

Education
According to the 2000 US Census:
 * 70.1% did not finish High School
 * 29.9% of citizens were high school graduates
 * 1.6% attended less than one year of college
 * 0.9% attended college for more than one year but did not finish


 * 3.6% of citizens held a college degree
 * 1.4% associates
 * 1.8% bachelors
 * 0.3% masters
 * 0.1% doctorate

Crime
Beiermann Farms is one of the most dangerous cities in the midwestern states. Crime in the city began around 1956 after many residents began leaving the city and neglecting their homes, leaving them vacant. Gang violence and the crack epidemic also contributed to the rise in crime.

Beiermann Farms has the highest number of gang members in the metropolitian area with around 9.4% of the population being gang affiliated.