The Town of Pullman

Company housing in Pullman, Illinois, 1890.  Photo credit: Library of Congress.

Pullman Car Works, 1885.  Image credit: Library of Congress.

Throughout the 19th century, many different company towns were built in the United States.  Completed in 1884, the town of Pullman, Illinois sat on roughly 4,000 acres of land¹.  The town of Pullman was a place where employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company both worked and lived.

Pullman housing improved considerably upon previous company towns, providing amenities to residents such as gas, water, and proper sanitation¹.  This massive company town was conceptualized by George Pullman with the hopes of improving workers' productivity².  

In 1893, less than ten years after its construction, Pullman had roughly 12,000 residents².  By all measures, Pullman was the ideal company town of the time.

¹“The History of Pullman.” Historic Pullman Foundation, July 21, 2021. https://www.pullmanil.org/the-history-of-pullman/.

²“The Pullman Neighborhood: Chicago, Illinois.” American Planning Association. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/neighborhoods/2011/pullman.htm.