
What is the north side of Chicago called?
North Side. The sides of the city are defined by the Chicago river and its branches. The city's North Side extends north of Central−Downtown Chicago, the West Side districts, and the Chicago River to the city's northern and northwestern borders.
What is the difference between the north side and west side?
The North Side is also home to the Chicago Cubs baseball franchise, who play at historic Wrigley Field in Lakeview. The West Side is of historical and cultural significance to Chicago, partly due to its historic purpose as a gateway for immigrants and poorer residents to settle away from the wealthier lakeside and central business districts.
Is there an east side in Chicago?
But there actually is an "East Side" in Chicago -- it's one of the city's 77 community areas, located between the Calumet River and the Illinois/Indiana State Line. In fact, the community got its name because of its location east of the Calumet, and not in relation to the Chicago River.
How are the north and south sides of Chicago divided?
As we discuss in our guide to navigating Chicago, the North and South sides roughly divide according to whether a street address is “North” or “South.” In practice, the south side is often thought to start at Roosevelt Road, which has an address of 1200 South.

What area is northwest suburbs of Chicago?
Welcome to Chicago Northwest! Located just outside of Chicago, the eight communities of Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Itasca, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg, Streamwood and Wood Dale call this region home.
What is considered Chicago West Side?
Major thoroughfares on the West Side include Grand Avenue, North Avenue, Division Street, Chicago Avenue, Madison Street, Jackson Boulevard, Roosevelt Road, Blue Island Avenue, 16th Street, 18th Street, Ogden Avenue, Cermak Road, and 26th Street.
Which side of Chicago is poor?
In Chicago, most of the South and West sides have 40 to 60 percent of residents living below the poverty level. While the Census doesn't follow traditional Chicago neighborhood boundaries, areas of Englewood, Park Manor and Woodlawn have poverty rates above 60 percent.
Which side of Chicago is the nicest?
Here Are the Best Places to Live in ChicagoLakeview. Lakeview is situated right where you think it is, next to the lake. ... Lincoln Park. In this writer's opinion, Lincoln Park is the best neighborhood to live in the city. ... Old Town. ... West Loop. ... Wicker Park.
Where is the hood in Chicago?
Riverdale and West Englewood are always at the top of the rankings for the worst neighborhood in Chicago. Riverdale also has one of the highest crime rates in the United States.
Does Chicago have a Little Italy?
Chicago's Little Italy is smaller in comparison to other Italian neighborhoods in big U.S. cities, but it's Chicago's oldest, continuously Italian neighborhood.
What is the roughest part of Chicago?
West Garfield Park is the most dangerous neighborhood in Chicago. The total crime rate in this area is 13,135 crimes per 100,000 people, making it one of the most crime dense populations in the nation. The crime in West Garfield Park is 409 percent higher than the national average.
What are the slums of Chicago called?
The West Side is Chicago's “other” ghetto. It is not as well known as the South Side, outside Chicago but many consider it among the worst slum areas in the nation. Its problems typify the hard times experienced by such poor sections even under the best economic conditions.
Where do the rich live in Chicago?
The richest suburbs of Chicago are Hinsdale, Glencoe, Lake Forest, Winnetka, and Oak Brook, Illinois.
What is the safest side of Chicago?
Located in the northwest region of Chicago, Edison Park is the safest neighborhood on this list – with a violent crime rate 77 percent lower than the average. The area is home to many of Chicago's police officers and is very welcoming to families and young professionals.
What is the safest area to stay in Chicago?
There are several safe places to stay in Chicago, especially since all the districts downtown are very safe. However, the safest area in Chicago is Edison Park, with a 77 percent lower crime rate than Chicago's average. The reason might probably be because many Chicago police officers live in the district.
What is the safest Chicago suburb?
For those who want a safe neighborhood in Chicago, you can't beat Buffalo Grove. The crime rate in Buffalo Grove is 71% lower than the Illinois average, so you can feel good about your family being safe here.
Is the West Side of Chicago safe?
Despite all that's there to see, the Far West Side has one the highest rates of shootings and violent crime in the city. Neighborhoods like Garfield Park, North Lawndale, and Austin are no different than the worst areas on the South Side when it comes to this.
Is West Chicago a good place to live?
Living in West Chicago offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In West Chicago there are a lot of restaurants and parks. Many families and young professionals live in West Chicago and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in West Chicago are highly rated.
What street divides east and West in Chicago?
Per a 1908 decision by Chicago's city council, Madison serves as the north–south dividing line for Chicago's street numbering system, while State Street serves as the east–west line. At one point, the intersection between the two streets was considered the "world's busiest corner."
What's considered the Southside of Chicago?
The South Side of Chicago was originally defined as all of the city south of the main branch of the Chicago River, but it now excludes the Loop. The South Side has a varied ethnic composition and a great variety of income levels and other demographic measures.
What is the population of Northwest Side Chicago?
There are 231,466 residents in Northwest Side Chicago, with a median age of 36.6. Of this, 48.88% are males and 51.12% are females. US-born citizen...
What is the level of education in Northwest Side Chicago?
Approximately 35.59% of the population in Northwest Side Chicago holds a high school degree (that's 64,678 residents), while 22.12% have attained a...
What are the employment statistics in Northwest Side Chicago?
White-collar workers make up 73.95% of the working population in Northwest Side Chicago, while blue-collar employees account for 26.05%. There are...
What are the median and average incomes in Northwest Side Chicago?
The average annual household income in Northwest Side Chicago is $88,357, while the median household income sits at $72,507 per year. Residents age...
What are the most common means of transportation in Northwest Side Chicago?
The top three means of transportation people in Northwest Side Chicago use to get to work are: car, bus or trolley bus and walking. A total of 85,5...
What is the marital status of Northwest Side Chicago residents?
A total of 76,611 people in Northwest Side Chicago have never been married (which represents 39.94% of the total population), while 87,564 of them...
How many homeowners and renters are there in Northwest Side Chicago?
There are 85,499 housing units in Northwest Side Chicago, and the median year in which these properties were built is 1946. Of the 78,313 occupied...
How many households are there in Northwest Side Chicago?
There are a total of 78,313 households in Northwest Side Chicago, each made up of around 3 members. Family establishments represent 67.51% of these...
What are the sides of Chicago?
In 1830, a surveyor named James Thompson created the first plat of Chicago, in which Chicago was divided into three "sides" -- the North Side, West Side, and South Side -- by the natural boundaries created by the Chicago River. August 27, 2020.
What is on the North Side of the city?
The North Side is home to the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and other tourist attractions.
What is the West Side?
The West Side is also home to the United Center, where both the Chicago Blackhawks (hockey) and Chicago Bulls (basketball) play their games.
How big was the Chicago area in 1830?
In 1830, commissioned to survey, James Thompson completed a plat of what was then known as the Town of Chicago, an area about 0.375 square miles with streets 80 feet wide and alleys 18 feet wide.
What industries attracted immigrants to the South Side?
Historically, the vibrant steel and meat-packing industries attracted immigrants to the South Side (mostly from the 1840s to the end of WWI), followed by Southern Black families who came north during the Great Migration in the early twentieth century.
Why is the West Side important?
The West Side is of historical and cultural significance to Chicago, partly due to its historic purpose as a gateway for immigrants and poorer residents to settle away from the wealthier lakeside and central business districts.
Is Chicago on the South Side?
Originally, the South Side of Chicago included all the land south of the Chicago River and its branches, but over the years, it has generally been agreed upon that the Loop, which is south of the river, should be excluded from any “side" and treated as a district unto itself.
How long does it take to get to school in Northwest Side?
The average Options high school student in the Northwest Side region travels for 43 minutes to school, which is 11 minutes longer than the district average. 3% travel for less than 15 minutes and 37% travel for more than 45 minutes.
Where are High School Students Choosing to Attend Outside Their Region?
This map illustrates the current “Choice Footprint” of 9th-12th graders residing in the Northwest Side region but attending a school outside of this region (“Residing-Not-Attending”).
Is there a level 1 option in the Northwest Side?
There are no Level 1+/1 Options high school seats in the Northwest Side region.
How many households are there in Northwest Side Chicago?
There are a total of 77,455 households in Northwest Side Chicago, each made up of around 3 members. Family establishments represent 67.75% of these Northwest Side Chicago households, while non-family units account for the remaining 32.25%. Additionally, 34.24% of households have children and 65.76% of households are without children.
What are the most common means of transportation in Northwest Side Chicago?
The top three means of transportation people in Northwest Side Chicago use to get to work are: car, bus or trolley bus and walking. A total of 85,779 residents commute by car, 11,471 prefer going to work by bus or trolley bus and 2,792 by walking.
What is the level of education in Northwest Side Chicago?
Approximately 35.8% of the population in Northwest Side Chicago holds a high school degree (that's 64,854 residents), while 22.06% have attained a college certificate (39,962 locals) and 16.42% have a bachelor's degree (29,750 people).
How many sides are there in Chicago?
Chicago is traditionally divided into the three "sides" of the North Side, West Side, and South Side by the Chicago River. These three sides are represented by stripes on the flag of Chicago. The city is also divided into 50 wards for the purpose of electing one alderman each to the Chicago City Council.
Which is the least populous area in Chicago?
As of 2018. [update] , Lake View is the most populous of the areas with over 100,000 residents, while Burnside is the least populous with just over 2,000. Other geographical divisions of Chicago exist, such as the "sides" created by the branches of the Chicago River, the wards of the Chicago City Council, and the parishes ...
What was the definition of community areas in the 1920s?
The Social Science Research Committee at the University of Chicago defined the community areas in the 1920s based on neighborhoods or groups of related neighborhoods within the city.
What was the purpose of the Chicago community fact book?
After the community areas were introduced, the University of Chicago Press published data sorted by them from the 1920 and 1930 Censuses, as well as a citywide 1934 census to help collect data related to the Great Depression, in what was known as the Local Community Fact Book. With the exception of 1970 (whose data was published in 1980 ), ...
When will Chicago's community snapshots be released?
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning continues this work by periodically publishing "Community Snapshots" of the community areas and suburbs, the most recent being data from 2018 published in June 2020. [update] . Only two major changes have occurred in the boundaries of the community areas.
Is Chicago a city of neighborhoods?
The areas have become a part of the culture of Chicago, contributing to its perception as a "city of neighborhoods" and breaking it down into smaller regions for easier analysis and local planning.
Do cities have analogous divisions?
most cities in the United States still lacked analogous divisions. The areas do not necessarily correspond to popular imagination of the neighborhoods. For example, the Pilsen and Back of the Yards neighborhoods are much better known than their respective community areas Lower West Side and New City. In the case of New City this was ...
How many neighborhoods are there in Chicago?
There are 77 community areas (official term) in Chicago that are used to breakdown the city for official city purposes. However, there are over 200 neighborhoods claimed by some. As you can guess, neighborhoods are often contained within communities areas or other, larger neighborhoods.
Why is there no east side of Indiana?
There is no “East Side” because Lake Michigan and Indiana sit to the east of downtown. People tend to be more familiar with the North Side and South Side designations, and admittedly things would be easier to map out with only two sides.
What is the closest formal area to assign that term to?
The closest formal area to assign that term to would be the Loop . The Loop is a neighborhood in Chicago that is bounded by the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, and Roosevelt Road (the southern border is the most disputed).
What is the typical response when someone asks where I'm from and I say Chicago?
This is a constant source of confusion. If someone asks where I’m from and I say “Chicago” a typical response is “what part ?”
What does Chicago have on its envelope?
As a city, it has its own local government that sets most major policies for the entire city. It has its own police department, fire department, and transit authority. If you are mailing something to someone who lives in Chicago, you will write “Chicago, IL” on the envelope.
Is the Loop smaller than Downtown?
The Loop is definitely smaller than the common understanding of the term “downtown”, though, as it excludes, for example, the Magnificent Mile.
Is Chicago a part of Chicago?
Chicago is in Chicagoland. Chicago is a part of Chicago land ( or the Chicago Metropolitan Area), which is a term used to refer to Chicago and its nearby suburbs.
How many neighborhoods are there in Chicago?
There are sometimes said to be more than 200 neighborhoods in Chicago, though residents differ on their names and boundaries. A city ordinance prescribing and mapping 178 neighborhoods is almost unknown and ignored even by municipal departments.
How many community areas are there in Chicago?
The City of Chicago is also divided into 77 community areas which were drawn by University of Chicago researchers in the late 1920s. Chicago's community areas are well-defined, generally contain multiple neighborhoods, and depending on the neighborhood, less commonly used by residents.
Where is the White Eagle brewery located?
The now-demolished plant of the White Eagle Brewing Company was in Bridgeport and designed by architect John S. Flizikowski. Victory Monument and Ida B. Wells-Barnett House in Bronzeville. Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chicago's Chinatown. St. Simeon Mirotočivi, a Serbian Orthodox church located in East Side.
Where is Chicago located?
It’s no surprise that the Windy City has been dubbed the Best Large City in America by visitors, three years in a row. Located in northeastern Illinois, Chicago is home to nearly 3 million people, with almost 10 million residents in the greater Chicagoland area.
What is North Center in Chicago?
North Center, one of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods, is located on the city’s North Side. It includes the communities of North Center, Hamlin Park, St. Ben’s, and Roscoe Village. Settled by Germans in the latter part of the 19 th century and early 20 th century, North Center residents worked in the industrial corridor along Ravenswood Avenue, and the large industrial plants to the west.
What Are The Safest Neighborhoods in Chicago?
Undeniably, the entire city of Chicago has been struggling with high crime for years. When you start analyzing by neighborhood though, you need to pull in all the necessary data. According to documented crime statistics, the violent crime in Chicago is exceptionally concentrated to a fairly small number of communities, most of which suffer from high poverty rates.
What is Norwood Park?
Norwood Park consists of the smaller communities Oriole Park Norwood Park East, Norwood Park West, Old Norwood Park, Big, Oaks, and Union Ridge. Originally named Norwood for a New England town in a Henry Ward Beecher novel, the village was renamed to Norwood Park when it was revealed that another Norwood was already established in the state. The village of Norwood Park was first incorporated in 1874 and then annexed to the city of Chicago in 1893.
What is North Center?
The history of North Center is deeply rooted in European culture, which is evident in homes and buildings dating back to the 19 th and early 20 th centuries. Today, North Center continues to grow and become more culturally diverse. The community features three city parks, bowling alleys, a nearby movie theater complex, a unique town square, and so much more.
What is Jefferson Park in Chicago?
Positioned 10 miles northwest of the Loop, Jefferson Park lives up to its nickname as the “Gateway to Chicago.” The community is a long-standing transportation link and hub to the city . Named after President Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson Township was formed in 1850. By 1884, an estimated 500 people called Jefferson Township home and after this time it became known as Jefferson Park.
How many people were killed in the Chicago area in 2020?
On May 31, 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder 18 people were murdered, resulting in the single most violent day in Chicago in sixty years. The following table analyzes the year to date crime complaints in the city of Chicago, reported by the Chicago Police Department.
