The Chicago City Council assumed its modern form on April 16, 1923, with fifty wards each electing one alderperson. Here is a list of the people who have served as an alderperson since that time.
Since its incorporation as a city in 1837 Chicago had been divided into wards whose number varied but which were almost always entitled to two alderpersons. In the early 20th century it was decided that reducing the number of alderpersons to a ward to one would be a cost-saving measure, and an ordinance to that effect was passed in 1920, taking effect in 1923.
City council elections in Chicago have been formally nonpartisan since 1920. Nevertheless, many alderpersons have had, and continue to have, de facto partisan affiliations that are reflected in this list.
This list is organized by which side of the Chicago River the wards were on as of 1923. Numbering the wards such that those on the South Side received the first numbers, followed by in order the West and North sides was a tradition that had dated to the City's founding and division into wards in 1837. Incumbent alderpersons who started a new term in 1923 are reckoned as having started their term in 1923 regardless of whenever they actually started holding office, which is noted in the "Notes" column.
History
Chicago was incorporated in 1837 and initially comprised six wards.
South Side (Wards 1–19)
1st Ward
Originally covering the Loop, Near South Side, and the northern part of Armour Square, this ward was significantly moved to its current location in 1993 to help stymie corruption.
2nd Ward
Originally covering Douglas and its immediate surroundings, this ward has drastically moved northward to its current location across the Near North Side and West Town.
3rd Ward
4th Ward
5th Ward
6th Ward
7th Ward
8th Ward
9th Ward
- Sheldon M. Govier
- Arthur G. Lindell (Republican)
- Reginald DuBois
- Dominic J. Lupo
- Alexander A. Adduci
- Robert Shaw
- Perry H. Hutchinson
- Robert Shaw
- Melvin Powell Sr.
- Anthony Beale
10th Ward
11th Ward
12th Ward
13th Ward
- Joseph B. McDonough
- Thomas A. Doyle
- John E. Egan (Democratic)
- Michael P. Hogan
- John E. Egan
- David W. Healy
- Casamir J. Staszcuk
- John S. Madrzyk
- Frank Olivo
- Marty Quinn
14th Ward
15th Ward
- Thomas F. Byrne
- James F. Kovarik (Democratic)
- Edward F. Vyzral
- Frank Micek
- Joseph J. Krska
- Francis X. Lawlor
- Kenneth B. Jaksy
- Frank J. Brady
- Marlene C. Carter
- Virgil E. Jones
- Theodore Thomas
- Toni Foulkes
- Raymond Lopez
16th Ward
17th Ward
18th Ward
19th Ward
West Side (Wards 20–41)
20th Ward
21st Ward
22nd Ward
23rd Ward
24th Ward
25th Ward
26th Ward
27th Ward
28th Ward
- George M. Maypole
- George D. Kells (Democratic)
- Patrick P. Petrone
- Anthony G. Girolami
- Alphonse Tomaso
- Angelo C. Provenzano
- Joseph Jambrone
- Jimmy L. Washington
- William Carothers
- Ed Smith
- Jason Ervin
29th Ward
30th Ward
- John S. Clark Jr. (Democratic)
- Edward J. Upton
- Edmund J. Hughes
- Daniel J. Ronan
- Edwin H. McMahon
- Elmer R. Filippini
- George A. Hagopian
- George J. Hagopian
- Carole Bialczak
- Michael Wojcik
- Ariel Reboyras
31st Ward
32nd Ward
33rd Ward
34th Ward
- Edward J. Kaindl
- Thomas Patrick Keane (Democratic)
- Matt Porten (Democratic)
- Herbert F. Geisler
- Rex Sande
- Wilson Frost
- Lemuel Austin Jr.
- Carrie Austin
- Bill Conway
35th Ward
36th Ward
37th Ward
- Wiley W. Mills (Democratic)
- James H. Taylor
- Wiley W. Mills
- Roger J. Kiley (Democratic)
- Francis E. Callahan
- William J. Lancaster
- Paul T. Corcoran
- Thomas J. Casey
- Frank A. Damato
- Percy Z. Giles
- Emma Mitts
38th Ward
39th Ward
- Frank J. Tomczak (Democratic)
- Frank R. Ringa
- Walter J. Orlikoski
- James H. Hurley (Democratic)
- Hyman L. Brody
- Ray N. Jacobs
- George L. Buckley
- Phillip A. Shapiro
- Anthony C. Laurino
- Margaret Laurino
- Samantha Nugent
40th Ward
41st Ward
North Side (Wards 42–50)
42nd Ward
This ward, historically covering most of the Near North Side, has recently moved slightly south to also encompass the northern part of the Loop.
43rd Ward
44th Ward
45th Ward
46th ward
47th Ward
48th Ward
49th Ward
50th Ward
Notes
References
Dates
Partisan affiliations
Ward maps
Bibliography