Cook County Poor Farm, Illinois
| Cook County Poor Farm | |
|---|---|
Main gate, Dunning | |
Interactive map of the Cook County Poor Farm area | |
| Alternative names | Dunning, Dunning Poorhouse and Insane Asylum |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Poorhouse and Insane Asylum |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Location | Bounded by Irving Park Road, Naragansett Street, Montrose Ave, Oak Park Avenue, Dunning, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°57′22″N 87°47′28″W / 41.956°N 87.791°W |
| Opened | 1854 |
| Closed | 1912 |
| Owner | Cook County, Illinois |
| Technical details | |
| Grounds | 320 acres |
The Cook County Poor Farm (also known as the Dunning Poorhouse and Insane Asylum) was a public almshouse and institutional complex operated by Cook County, Illinois, established in 1851 to house the indigent, infirm, and mentally ill. The 320-acre site, located northwest of Chicago in what later became the Dunning neighborhood, included a poorhouse, insane asylum, cemetery, farm, and later a tuberculosis hospital and infirmary.
For much of the late 19th century, the Poor Farm served as Cook County’s principal public welfare institution and burial ground for indigent or unclaimed dead, but it was repeatedly criticized for overcrowding, neglect, and abuse. Responsibility for its facilities was assumed by the State of Illinois in the early 20th century, and the property was sold to the state in 1912. The original buildings were later demolished, and the site was redeveloped.