BEVERLY, CHICAGO

'Beverly (Chicago, Illinois)'

'Community Area 72 - Beverly' Chicago Community Area 72 - Beverly Location within the city of Chicago
Latitude Longitude
Neighborhoods	★ Beverly ★ West Beverly
ZIP Code	60642 and parts of 60620, 60643, 60655
Area	8.29 km² (3.20 mi²)
Population (2000) Density	21,992 ''(down 1.76% from 1990)'' 2,653.5 /km²
Demographics	White Black Hispanic Asian Other	64.7% 32.0% 2.92% 0.6% 1.86%
Median income	$66,823
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

'Beverly', one of the 77 official community areas, is located on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. It consists of upscale homes each unique and on very large lots in relation to most of Chicago as Beverly was initially an exclusive suburb perched atop a ridge later annexed by the city. As well as several historical Brick Bungalows built as a form of cheap housing for the labor class of the city in the early 20th century.
Beverly has more of the appearance of a quiet suburb yet is within the city of Chicago and has a diverse ethnic mix of residents.
Beverly has very easy access (by public transport or car) - to all of the Chicago financial markets and world class attractions - yet retains itself as a peaceful quiet community. Beverly is one of the top five largest historic districts in any major city in the USA. For example, the Rotary Club was formed in Beverly and the homes there reflect this historic distinction. Beverly is also ranked 'the' safest neighborhood in Chicago year after year.
Beverly is notable as one of the few areas in Chicago with hills. Prior to settlement, it was known as Blue Island, a name now used by a flood-prone community a few miles to the south. The blue color has been variously attributed to atmospheric scattering or to blue flowers growing on the ridge. It was actually an island when the glacial Lake Chicago covered the area thousands of years ago.
It is home to a large Irish-American community and many Irish establishments. Beverly is the home of the South Side Irish parade which is held on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick's Day, the largest neighborhood parade of any type in the country. The neighborhood is home to more Irish style pubs than any other in Chicago, including Cork and Kerry, Keegan's, The Dubliner and Fox's. The Beverly Arts Center is the location for the Chicago Irish Film Festival.
There is a replica of a castle from Ireland in Beverly, which was constructed in the late 1800s when an American businessman, Robert Givens, was trying to convince his Irish fiance to move to America, and so had a duplicate of her family castle built with stone from the same quarry. The "Givens Castle"
(Photo),
at 10244 S. Longwood Drive, has been a home, an all-girls college, and is now a Unitarian church and pre-school. The Castle is one of Chicago's most reputed haunted places.
The Beverly Branch Library has the largest Irish heritage collection in Chicago.
Beverly has five Catholic parishes: St. John Fisher, St. Walter, St. Barnabas, Christ the King, and St. Cajetan. Beverly also is a main drawing ground for many of the area's all-boys (Mt. Carmel, Brother Rice, St. Rita, St. Laurence, St. Leo, and De La Salle), all-girls (Mother McAuley, Queen of Peace, Mt. Assisi, Maria) and co-ed (St. Ignatius, Marist, Marian Catholic) Catholic high schools.
The area is home to Dan Ryan Woods, part of the Cook County Forest Preserve District's Calumet Division, as well as the highest point in the city, at the intersection of 91st and Western Avenue.

Contents

External links

External links

★ Official City of Chicago Beverly Community Map

★ Beverly Area Planning Association

★ Beverly Arts Center

★ South Side Irish Parade

★ Givens Castle

★ SouthwestObserver.com News web site for Mount Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park