Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois

'
Community Area 77 - Edgewater Location within the city of Chicago
Latitude Longitude	41°59.4′N, 87°39.6′W
Neighborhoods	Andersonville Bryn Mawr Historic District Edgewater Edgewater Glen Epic Lakewood/Balmoral
ZIP Code	60660 and part of 60640
Area	7. The City of Chicago is divided into seventy-seven community areas. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the Longitude (ˈlɒndʒɪˌtjuːd or ˈlɒŋgɪˌtjuːd symbolized by the Greek character Lambda (λ is the east-west Geographic coordinate measurement A neighbourhood or neighborhood (see spelling differences) is a geographically localised Community within a larger City, Town or The Bryn Mawr Historic District is on the lakefront of the Edgewater Neighborhood of far-north Chicago in Illinois, USA The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 07 km² (2. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 73 mi²)
Population (2000) Density	62,198 (up 2. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different 46% from 1990) 13,962. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) 1 /km², 22,783. 2 per square mile
Demographics	White Black Hispanic Asian Other	47. Demographics or demographic data refers to selected population characteristics as used in government Marketing or opinion research or the Demographic profiles 9% 17. 0% 19. 6% 11. 5% 9. 93%
Median income	$35,766
Source: U. In Probability theory and Statistics, a median is described as the number separating the higher half of a sample a population or a Probability distribution Income, refers to consumption opportunity gained by an entity within a specified time frame which is generally expressed in monetary terms S. Census, Record Information Services

The Saint Ita Catholic Church bell tower has long been used by community residents and businesses as the symbol of Edgewater on signage and other media.

Historic Church of the Atonement is home to the Anglican faithful of Edgewater.

Edgewater is a Chicago community area in the far North Side of the City of Chicago, Illinois seven miles north of downtown Chicago. The City of Chicago is divided into seventy-seven community areas. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. This is about the direction for other uses see North (disambiguation. Population According to the 2000 Census, 16388 people live in the Loop It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Rogers Park to the north, Uptown to the south, Lincoln Square to the west and south and West Ridge to the west and north. The neighborhoods of Chicago are less well-defined than Chicago 's 77 Community Areas. Rogers Park is the northernmost of Chicago community areas in the far North Side of Chicago, Illinois. Uptown is a diverse Neighborhood located north of Chicago 's Downtown. Lincoln Square located on the North Side of city of Chicago, Illinois is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas. West Ridge or West Rogers Park is one of 77 well-defined Chicago Illinois community areas. As one of Chicago’s 77 official community areas, Edgewater is bounded by Foster Avenue on the south, Devon Avenue on the north, Ravenswood Avenue on the west, and Lake Michigan on the east. Foster Avenue (5200 N is a major east-west street on the North Side of Chicago. Devon Avenue (dɨˈvɒn is a major east-west thoroughfare in the Chicago metropolitan area. Edgewater contains several beaches that residents enjoy in the warm months. Historically, Edgewater was once part of Lake View Township, an independent suburb which was annexed by the city of Chicago in 1889. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.

Edgewater has the highest population density of any of the neighborhoods in Chicago.

Edgewater was first developed around the 1890s as a summer home for Chicago's elite. The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the " Mauve Decade" because William Henry Perkin 's aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that With the exception of pockets acknowledged as historic districts (like the Bryn Mawr Historic District), Edgewater (actually, Edgewater Beach) boasts a skyline of apartment buildings, condominium complexes, and mid-rise homes. History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology The Bryn Mawr Historic District is on the lakefront of the Edgewater Neighborhood of far-north Chicago in Illinois, USA A condominium, or condo, is a form of Housing tenure and other Real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate (usually of an apartment

History

Early settlers

Developers began cutting down the dense woods in the area in the late 1880s to make way for future development. A forest is an area with a high density of Trees There are many definitions of a forest based on various criteria Events and Trends Technology Development and commercial production of Electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered In 1885, Edgewater was given its name by its builder, John Lewis Cochran. Year 1885 ( MDCCCLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He built the first residential subdivision in the area. After a few years, Edgewater was celebrated as a wonder as it became "the only electric lighted suburb adjacent to Chicago". South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. Edgewater also gained fame as the celery-growing capital of America's Midwest. See also Wild celery Apium graveolens is a plant species in the family Apiaceae, and yielding celery and Celeriac The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

The turn of the century

In the early 1900s, Edgewater was regarded as one of Chicago's most prestigious communities. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on A prominent symbol of Edgewater's affluence was the Edgewater Beach Hotel, which opened in 1916 at 5349 N. The Edgewater Beach Hotel was a hotel in the far-north Neighborhood Community of Edgewater in Chicago, Illinois. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Sheridan. The famed pink hotel was demolished in 1968, though the remaining pink Edgewater Beach Apartments building is still a landmark at the north tip of Lake Shore Drive. Pink is a pale Red Color that was first recorded in the 17th century to describe the pale red Flowers of pinks, Flowering plants A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging usually on a short-term basis Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Edgewater building boom peaked in 1926 and property values reached their height in 1928. Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The burgeoning affluent population grew so much that developers expanded Edgewater and renamed a portion of the neighborhood community Uptown (which still exists today). Uptown is a diverse Neighborhood located north of Chicago 's Downtown.

Revival

Uptown's population declined in the 1950s as Chicago's suburbs were developed and opened, absorbing Chicago's middle and upper classes. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive With the flight of residents came disrepair and high crime rates for what once was one of the most affluent districts of Chicago.

In the 1980s, the Chicago Board of Aldermen and local business owners orchestrated a revival for the Edgewater community. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The Chicago City Council is the Legislative branch of the Government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. Edgewater seceded from the Uptown community and once again called itself its own community. New businesses were brought into the community, old buildings were refurbished and homes touched up to harken back to Edgewater's past.

Gay and lesbian community

At the time of the 2000 United States Census the proportion of single-sex couples in Edgewater was 6. 6% in the 60660 zip code and 8. 0% in the 60640 zip code. ^[1] This compares with the US national average of 1. 1%. ^[2] Edgewater is home to the Gerber/Hart Library, the largest gay and lesbian library and archives in the Midwestern United States. The Gerber/ Hart Library, founded in 1981 is the largest circulating Library of gay and Lesbian titles in the Midwestern United States ^[3]

Kathy Osterman Beach (named after a former alderman but more commonly referred to as Hollywood Beach, referencing Hollywood Ave. An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions where it is situated) is a hugely popular hangout for gay men and lesbians during the summer months.

International community

The highrise condominiums that line Sheridan Rd. and the Lake were known to have large numbers of retired and elderly persons, many living on fixed incomes. The prices have been more affordable than Lake Shore Drive addresses farther south. Meanwhile, Kenmore and Winthrop streets a couple blocks west suffered in mixed conditions of poverty and crime that were a far cry from their prior prestige. Recognizing the value of lakefront living and access to the Red Line elevated train, an influx of new residents arrived. Many of Edgewater's new residents are from Africa and the former Yugoslavia. The area has a great density of Bosnian, Serb and Croat residents. These people, troubled by civil war and tough conditions in their homeland, have been encouraged to settle in the area. The city is known for accepting new, thriving enclaves of ethnicities in centuries past. This new settlement of Europeans is a modern revival of that tradition.

Meanwhile, Edgewater is also home to a large African community. Ethnic Ethiopians, newly independent Eritreans, and Nigerians live and socialize in Edgewater. Due to increased restrictions on the industry, taxis must park on main (non-residential) streets or spots with meters. Consequently, Broadway is often full of taxis parked there by their African immigrant operators. Broadway Street or correctly Broadway is a major street in Chicago's Lakeview, Uptown, and Edgewater neighborhoods running diagonally (The African community also extends farther north into the Rogers Park and Loyola University areas. ) Walk the streets of Edgewater and one will mix with women in traditional African dress and Serbian grandmothers strolling with their grandchildren while the middle generation is out making a living in the new world of Chicago.

Native Americans, former Yugoslavians, Africans of every part, young hipsters, new parents, first-time homeowners, students and many more make their home in Edgewater.

Devon Avenue marks the northern boundary of Edgewater. Devon Avenue (dɨˈvɒn is a major east-west thoroughfare in the Chicago metropolitan area. Devon reflects the ethnic diversity of the Rogers Park community. Rogers Park is the northernmost of Chicago community areas in the far North Side of Chicago, Illinois.

Neighborhoods

Andersonville

Andersonville is a neighborhood (located in the Edgewater community area) on the North Side of Chicago, about five miles (8 km) north-northwest of the city's downtown. A neighbourhood or neighborhood (see spelling differences) is a geographically localised Community within a larger City, Town or Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status Downtown is a term primarily used in North America to refer to a city's core usually in a geographical commercial and community sense Once a sleepy little village made up primarily of Swedish immigrants, Andersonville is now one of Chicago's most popular neighborhoods. The community is particularly known for its diversity, including a continued Swedish cultural presence led by the Swedish American Museum, the Swedish Bakery and other Swedish delicatessens. [1] A significant number of Middle-Eastern businesses, a new influx of families with children, and a large LGBT population also makes this a very diverse population (showcased in the 1994 lesbian themed movie Go Fish). LGBT (also GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, and Transgender / transsexual Go Fish is a 1994 Lesbian -themed independent Drama film. Directed and co-written (with her then-girlfriend Guinevere Turner It is also known for its unique commercial district, made up almost entirely of locally owned, independent shops, restaurants, cafes, taverns, a chocolatier, and service providers.

The approximate street boundaries of Andersonville are Magnolia Avenue to the east, Ravenswood Avenue to the west, Winnemac Avenue to the south, and Victoria Street to the north. The heart of the Andersonville commercial district is the corner of Clark Street and Foster Avenue (5200 N. Foster Avenue (5200 N is a major east-west street on the North Side of Chicago. Clark Street).

The main shopping street is North Clark Street, which runs roughly north-south. The stretch of Clark Street south of Foster Avenue (where Andersonville has expanded across community boundaries into northern Uptown) is sometimes called South Foster, or SoFo. Chicago's Clark Street is a north-south street in Chicago running from 7600 North to 2200 South in the city street numbering system. Some maps show the entire stretch between Foster and Lawrence as Andersonville Terrace; although this name is seldom used by residents, realtors have recently started using it again for the area as far south as Argyle Street, in an attempt to capitalize on Andersonville's popularity. The National Association of Realtors (NAR whose members are known as realtors (rē(əltər -ˌtôr is North America's largest Trade association representing The stretch north of Bryn Mawr still retains a good number of Hispanic-owned business as well as some restaurants and cafes serving Andersonville's more recent transplants. Hispanic (hispano hispánico hispânico Hispānus adjective from ''Hispānia'', the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) is a term that historically

As reported in the Chicago Reader, in 2006 merchants along North Clark Street have seen significant increases in commercial property taxes, causing these independent shops to struggle. The Chicago Reader is an Alternative newsweekly in Chicago, Illinois, USA Though the residential property taxes have risen in the area, they have not skyrocketed like the commercial district in downtown Andersonville. Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed

Sheridan Road

Sheridan Road, which follows the lakefront in Edgewater is the main thoroughfare for traffic to/from Lake Shore Drive. Lake Shore Drive (colloquially referred to as LSD or simply Lake Shore or The Drive) is a mostly Freeway -standard Expressway running Lake Shore Drive ends at Hollywood Avenue where all traffic is routed onto either Hollywood or Sheridan Road.

North of Ardmore Avenue (5800 N) to Devon Avenue (6400 N) there are 4 lake front parks, Osterman Beach, George Lane park, Berger Park, and a newly unnamed park just south of Granville (6200 N). Devon Avenue (dɨˈvɒn is a major east-west thoroughfare in the Chicago metropolitan area. There is also a new park on the South West corner of Thorndale and Sheridan. This portion of Sheridan Road is a beautiful section of high-rise residential buildings lining both sides of the street including Hollywood Towers, The Malibu, Malibu East, Eastpoint Tower, The Tiara, El Lago, Granville Beach, Granville Tower, Shoreline Towers and Sheridan Point. Shoreline Towers is residential high-rise building in Chicago, United States. Most of these towers were built in the late 1950s to early 1970s. TV's Bob and Emily Hartley of The Bob Newhart Show called this area home, residing in the Thorndale Beach Apartments, 5901 N. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic The Bob Newhart Show is the name of two different Television series, both starring comedian Bob Newhart. Sheridan Road.

There are a handful of mansions still remaining on Sheridan Road, remnants of the 1880s to 1920s north Chicago wealth. Many of the original mansions that once lined Sheridan Road were razed to make way for the high-rise buildings that exist today. A few notable exceptions are in Berger Park and Sacred Heart School at Sheridan and Granville Avenue, as well as two belonging to Loyola University on the southern-most portion of their campus along Sheridan Road between Rosemont and West Sheridan Road, a short westerly bound extension of Sheridan Road between Lake Michigan and North Broadway Avenue.

See also

• Edgewater Presbyterian Church

References

External links

• Official City of Chicago Edgewater Community Map
• Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
• Edgewater Chamber of Commerce
• Edgewater Community Council
• Edgewater Development Corporation
• Edgewater Historical Society