NORTH CENTER, CHICAGO

'North Center' is both a community area and a neighborhood (Northcenter) located on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois.
North Center is bordered on the north by Montrose Avenue, on the south by Diversey Parkway, on the west by the Chicago River and on the east by Ravenswood Avenue. The Chicago L has its Brown Line stops at Addison, Irving Park and Montrose.
North Center was settled in the latter part of the 19th century as well as early in the 20th century largely by Germans who worked in what is known as the industrial corridor along Ravenswood Avenue, and the large industrial plants along the Chicago River to the west. Recently, skyrocketing real estate value and gentrification threatens the industrial and manufacturing contingent along the Chicago River as residents are seeking valuable riverfront property. The population of North Center is mainly German, Hispanic, Irish, Polish, Swedish, Russian, Romanian, and Asian.

Contents

Neighborhoods

Northcenter

Roscoe Village

Saint Ben's

Places of interest

Schools

External links

References

Neighborhoods

Northcenter

'Northcenter' refers to the neighborhood bordered by Addison on the south, Montrose on the north, the Chicago River on the west and Ashland (from Addison to Irving Park) and Clark (Irving Park to Montrose) on the east. The “heart of Chicago’s north side" has grown since the 1870s when the area was only accessible by the Chicago River and Little Fort Road (now known as Lincoln Avenue). Northcenter is considered a vibrant neighborhood with an eclectic mix of retailers, restaurants, live music, live theater, and service-oriented businesses.
Northcenter’s history is deeply rooted in European cultural influences, and that history can be seen in the architectural charm of the homes and buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The neighborhood continues to grow and become more culturally diverse.
The neighborhood includes bowling alleys, three city parks, a nearby library, a nearby movie theater complex, and Town Square. The Northcenter Chamber of Commerce also hosts free family and community events throughout the year.
Many believe Northcenter’s greatest appeal to be its small-town atmosphere, which it preserves while still nested in the middle of a world-class city. This also may explain why so many families have remained in Northcenter for multiple generations. Perhaps this is also why Northcenter is frequently referred to as one of “Chicago’s best-kept secrets.”

Roscoe Village

'Roscoe Village' refers to a neighborhood in the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. While not part of any official city map, Chicago residents perceive the boundaries of the neighborhood to be Addison Street, Belmont Avenue, Western Avenue, and Ravenswood Avenue. The primary feature of Roscoe Village is Roscoe Street, which bisects the neighborhood's boundaries between Addison Street and Belmont Avenue. Roscoe Street is populated by businesses and residents. Local historian and longtime neighborhood resident Chuck Betzold notes that people have been living in Roscoe Village since the 18th Century, when the area was inhabited by the Fox Indians. Today the area is home to over 6200 residents.

Saint Ben's

'Saint Ben's' is a neighborhood in the North side of Chicago. The unofficial boundaries of Saint Ben's is on the north by 4400 N (Montrose Avenue), on the south by 3600 N (Addison Street), on the west by the Chicago River, and on the east by Ravenswood Avenue. Saint Ben's namesake comes from Saint Benedict's Parish, a Catholic school on Leavitt Street.

Places of interest

★ Lincoln Square Pottery Studio

★ Feed the Beast bar & restaurant

★ Cy's Steak and Chophouse

★ Cook County Circuit Court

★ Lillstreet Art Center

Schools

★ Audubon Elementary School

★ Bell Elementary School

★ Coonley Elementary School

★ DeVry Institute of Technology

★ Gordon Technical High School

★ Jahn Elementary School

★ James Adams Alternative High School

★ Lane Technical High School

★ North Park Elementary School

★ Pilgrim Lutheran School

★ Schneider Elementary School

★ St. Benedict Elementary School

★ St. Benedict High School

External links

★ Official City of Chicago North Center Community Map

★ Northcenter Chamber of Commerce

★ Encyclopedia of Chicago entry on North Center

★ Lakeside Community Development Corporation

★ Photographs of North Center by Jordan Bettis

References

★ "Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Map" (http://www.rvcc.biz/map.asp). Retrieved Oct. 24, 2006

★ "Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Directory" (http://www.rvcc.biz/directory.asp). Retrieved Oct. 24, 2006

★ Hadley, Chuck (2002). "A History of Roscoe Village and RVN" (http://www.roscoevillage.org/index.cfm?section=history). Retrieved Mar. 22, 2005.

★ "2000 U.S. Census: Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographics Characteristics: 2000. Geographic area: Roscoe village, Illinois" (http://censtats.census.gov/data/IL/1601765611.pdf) Retrieved Mar. 22, 2005.