back of the yards?

Question

In Back of the Yards Chicago, where there was little separation between work and home. What contributors have changed cities such as the Back of the Yards into communities where work and home are separate? Are there still areas like Back of the Yards?

Answer 1

One of the reasons for the change in the Back of the yards area was that the world's largest stockyard closed down. It happened gradually but eventually the largest meat packers were gone to other locations. Now there is one small company left. The reasons were transportation and labor costs. The stockyards were developed near rail yards. Modern trucking has taken over. That area is not conducive to heavy truck traffic. Labor unions lost out to cheap foreign workers in other states. Also, many health laws were being updated and the old facilities had to be rebuilt. Everything added up to....more $$$. When the factory, mill or rail yard moves, people lose their jobs or move with the company


Steel companies, railroads and the mining industry also had backyard communities in some areas. Andrew Carnegie had "steeltown" next to his steelmills. Pullman, on Chgo's southside is such another example of a company town. Coalmines were notorious for the same thing.

Probably today, mining and possibly some auto factories in smaller communities have the same effect.