During the peak of the "Great Migration," the population of the area increased dramatically when thousands of African-Americans fled the oppression of the south and emigrated to Chicago in search of industrial jobs. 

First known as the “Black Belt.” Later called “Black Metropolis,” or “Bronzeville,” the area became a parallel and vibrant city unto itself, now famous for its rich cultural heritage. The name, "Black Metropolis," became firmly established with the publication of a 1945 sociological study of the same title. In later years the area was referred to as "Bronzeville," a term attributed to an editor at the Chicago Bee.