Settlement began around 1836 when Irish immigrants working on the Illinois & Michigan Canal took squatter 's rights to small tracts of land in the area .
McKinley Park has been a working - class area throughout its long history .
Settlement began around 1836 when Irish immigrants working on the Illinois & Michigan Canal took squatter 's rights to small tracts of land in the area .
McKinley Park has been a working - class area throughout its long history .