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Albany Park, Chicago

Coordinates: 41°58.2′N 87°43.2′W / 41.9700°N 87.7200°W / 41.9700; -87.7200
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Albany Park
Community area
Community Area 14 - Albany Park
Eugene Field Park house
Eugene Field Park house
Location within the city of Chicago
Location within the city of Chicago
Coordinates: 41°58.2′N 87°43.2′W / 41.9700°N 87.7200°W / 41.9700; -87.7200
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyCook
CityChicago
Neighborhoods
list
Area
 • Total1.93 sq mi (5.00 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total48,396
 • Density25,000/sq mi (9,700/km2)
Demographics 2019[1]
 • White32.2%
 • Black4.9%
 • Hispanic45%
 • Asian14.8%
 • Other3.0%
Educational Attainment 2019[1]
 • High School Diploma or Higher80%
 • Bachelor's Degree or Higher37%
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
parts of 60625, 60630
Median household income 2019$61,759[1]
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

Albany Park (/ˈɔːlbəni/ ⓘ AWL-bə-nee) is one of 77 well-defined community areas of Chicago. Located on the Northwest Side of the City of Chicago with the North Branch of the Chicago River forming its east and north boundaries, it includes the ethnically diverse Albany Park neighborhood, with one of the highest percentages of foreign-born residents of any Chicago neighborhood.

Although the majority of those foreign-born residents are from Latin America, mostly from Mexico (especially from the state of Michoacán), Guatemala, and Ecuador, substantial numbers are from the Philippines, India, Korea, Cambodia, Somalia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Romania, Pakistan and the Middle East (especially Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon). Over 40 different languages are spoken in its public schools.

Due to the diverse population and immigrant population attraction, the population of the neighborhood increased by 16.5% during the 1990s.[2]

History

[edit]

The area was settled in 1893 when several investors purchased land in the area as areas closer to downtown became more heavily populated. DeLancy Louderback from Albany, New York was one of the investors and chose the name.[3]

The developers added electric streetcars in 1896 and the Northwestern Elevated Railroad extended the Ravenswood branch to the Kimball terminal on December 14, 1907.[4] This led to a building boom in the area.[3] At this point in development, the north branch of the Chicago River meandered greatly, and therefore the Chicago Sanitary District straightened the river. This expanded and defined property lines and sewage in Albany Park.[5]

Intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Kedzie Avenue in 1915.

By 1930, the population of the neighborhood reached 55,000, and many schools, religious institutions, and parks opened. Haugan Elementary School became the biggest elementary school in the city and Roosevelt High School's overcrowding led to Von Steuben Elementary being converted into a high school.[6] Residents began moving to northern suburbs after World War II and the population declined quickly, leaving many stores uninhabited and properties empty. It wasn't until the 1970s, when a new immigration wave from Asia (mainly Korea) and Central America began to increase the population again. Today, Albany Park is the most diverse neighborhood in the city, and one of the most diverse in the entire country.[7]

Neighborhoods

[edit]

The traditional neighborhoods within the official community are (including rough boundaries):

  • Albany Park: North: North Branch of the Chicago River (about 5100 N); South: Montrose Avenue (4400 N): East: North Branch of the River (about 3000 W); West: Pulaski Road (4000 W).
  • Mayfair: North: Lawrence Avenue (4800 N); South: Cullom Avenue (4300 N); East: Pulaski Road (4000 W); West: Lamon Avenue (4900 W).
  • North Mayfair: North: Bryn Mawr Avenue (5600 N); South: Lawrence Avenue (4800 N); East: Pulaski Road (4000 W); West: Lamon Avenue (4900 W).
  • Ravenswood Manor: North: Lawrence Avenue (4800 N); South: Montrose Avenue (4400 N); East: the Chicago River; West: Sacramento Avenue.

Immediately to the north, in North Park, lie Northeastern Illinois University, North Park University, and the Bohemian National Cemetery.

Korean commercial district

[edit]
See also: Koreans in Chicago

The neighborhood was once known as the "Koreatown" of Chicago, beginning in the 1980s. The majority of Korean shops in Albany Park were found on Lawrence Avenue (4800 North) between Kedzie Avenue (3200 West) and Pulaski Road (4000 West), and many are still there. This particular section of Lawrence Avenue has been officially nicknamed "Seoul Drive" by the city of Chicago because of the multitude of Korean-owned enterprises on the street. Although many of the Korean Americans in the neighborhood have been moving to the north suburbs in recent years, it still retains its Korean flavor. Every year there is a Korean festival, and the neighborhood is home to a Korean radio station (1330 AM) as well as two Korean-language newspapers. There are still many Korean businesses interspersed among the newer Mexican bakeries and Middle Eastern grocery stores. Approximately 45% of the businesses on this particular stretch of Lawrence Avenue are owned by Korean-Americans.[8]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
193055,577—
194056,6922.0%
195052,995−6.5%
196049,450−6.7%
197047,092−4.8%
198046,075−2.2%
199049,5017.4%
200057,65516.5%
201051,542−10.6%
202048,396−6.1%
[1]

After Jefferson Township was purchased and annexed by the city of Chicago and development began in the area that became Albany Park, immigrant German and Swedish farmers flocked to land. Many built their own homes. At the beginning of the 20th century, more upwardly mobile Russian Jews arrived in Albany Park to escape the crowded conditions of the very-heavily Jewish Near West Side/Maxwell Street area. This pattern continued as other residents in other Jewish-populated neighborhoods such as Lawndale and parts of West Town followed suit.[6] These families began moving to northern suburbs such as Skokie after World War II. Starting in the 1970s, immigrants from Asia and Latin America, mainly Korea and Guatemala, began moving into the neighborhood's largely vacant properties and storefronts. Immigration continued from all around the world, and by the 1990s, there were large populations from the Philippines, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Poland, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Mexico (largely from the state of Michoacán), Ecuador, and Colombia.[9] Since the 1992-1995 war in Yugoslavia, roughly 1,200 Serbians who lived in Croatia resettled in Albany Park along with more than 4,000 Bosnians of all three backgrounds. Into the 2000s, the western part of the neighborhood became home to a substantial number of Indian and East African immigrants.

As of 2019, the community area has 49,806 residents. The racial makeup of the community area is 45% Hispanic/Latino, 32.2% White/non-Hispanic, 14.8% Asian/non-Hispanic, 4.9% Black/non-Hispanic, and 3% other.[1]

Transportation

[edit]
Kedzie Station

The Chicago Transit Authority's Brown Line terminates at Lawrence and Kimball Avenues. Albany Park is accessible through the Kimball, Kedzie and Francisco stations of the Brown Line, the nearby Montrose Blue Line station, as well as by the Edens expressway (Interstate 94).

Metra's Milwaukee District/ North Line has a station in Mayfair.

CTA bus routes in Albany Park include: 53 Pulaski, 78 Montrose, 81 Lawrence, 82 Kimball-Homan, 92 Foster, and 93 California/Dodge.

Politics

[edit]

Albany Park is divided between 3 wards; the 33rd, the 35th and the 39th. The wards are represented by Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez in the 33rd ward, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa in the 35th ward and Samantha Nugent in the 39th ward.

It is similarly divided in the state legislature. In the Illinois Senate it is represented by John Cullerton, Iris Y. Martinez, Ira Silverstein and Heather Steans. In the Illinois House of Representatives it is represented by Jaime Andrade Jr., Ann Williams, John C. D'Amico and Greg Harris. On the Cook County Board of Commissioners, it is represented by Luis Arroyo Jr.

In 2016, Albany Park cast 10,590 votes for Hillary Clinton and 1,558 votes for Donald Trump.[10] Four years earlier, Albany Park cast 9,304 votes for Barack Obama and 1,950 votes for Mitt Romney.[11]

Schools

[edit]
Public Schools - Chicago Public Schools operates public schools
  • Hibbard Elementary School
  • Haugan Elementary School
  • Budlong Elementary School
  • Newton Bateman Elementary School
  • North River Elementary
  • Waters Elementary
  • Volta Elementary
  • Chappell Elementary
  • ASPIRA at Haugan Middle School
  • Haugan Middle Campus
  • Albany Park Multicultural Academy
  • Roosevelt High School
  • Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center
  • Edison Regional Gifted Center
  • Global Village
  • John M. Palmer Elementary
Private Schools
  • North Shore Junior Academy
  • Little Angels
  • Telshe Yeshiva
  • Gateway to Learning
  • St. Matthias Transfiguration
  • St. Edward School
  • Eagle's Wings Urban Academy
Universities

Parks and recreation facilities

[edit]

Culture

[edit]

The Chicago Shimpo previously had its offices in Albany Park.[12] It is now headquartered in Arlington Heights.[13]

Government agencies

[edit]

Libraries

Police Department

  • 4650 N. Pulaski Road - 17th District

Fire Department

  • Engine Co. 110: 2322 West Foster Avenue
  • Engine Co. 124: 4426 North Kedzie Avenue
  • Engine Co. 69: 4017 North Tripp Avenue

Marine Corps

  • U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 2nd Battalion 24th Marines: 3034-60 W. Foster Avenue

Community gardens

[edit]
  • Jensen Community Gardens
  • Drake Community Garden
  • Turtle Park Community Garden
  • Global Gardens Community Garden
  • Global Garden Refugee Training Farm

Active neighborhood organizations

[edit]
  • Albany Park Autonomous Center
  • Carole Robertson Center for Learning (previously Albany Park Community Center.)
  • Albany Park Chamber of Commerce
  • Albany Park Neighbors
  • Albany Park Theater Project
  • American Indian Center
  • American Legion
  • Anthem Church
  • Autonomous Tenants Union
  • Cambodian Association of Illinois
  • Christ Church
  • Church of the Beloved Albany Park
  • Communities United (formerly Albany Park Neighborhood Council)
  • Foresight Design Initiative
  • Friedman Place
  • Full Gospel Chicago Church
  • Hanul Family Alliance
  • Healthy Albany Park Coalition
  • Irish American Heritage Center
  • King Oscar Lodge
  • Korean American Community Services
  • Latino Union Worker Center
  • Lawrence Avenue Development Corporation
  • Lawrence Hall Youth Services
  • Mayfair Civic Organization
  • Mexico-US Solidarity Network
  • New Life Community Church
  • North Branch Projects
  • North Mayfair Improvement Association
  • North Park Friendship Center
  • North River Commission
  • People of East Albany Park (PEAP) neighborhood organization
  • Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association
  • River Park Advisory Council
  • Svithiod Independent Order
  • Territory Albany Park
  • True North Christian Fellowship
  • Young Women's Empowerment Project
  • West River Park Improvement Association
  • West River Park Neighbors
  • World Relief Chicago

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Community Data Snapshot" (PDF). cmap.illinois.gov. State of Illinois. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  2. ^ [1] Archived March 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b Zangs, Mary (2014). The Chicago 77: a community area handbook. Charleston, SC: The History Press. pp. 64–66. ISBN 978-1-62619-612-4.
  4. ^ Borzo, Greg (2007). The Chicago "L". Arcadia Publishing. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-7385-5100-5.
  5. ^ "Albany Park".
  6. ^ a b "Albany Park, past and present". WBEZ Chicago. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  7. ^ "Albany Park Neighborhood Part of Colorful Chicago History". www.city-data.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  8. ^ "Albany Park Chicago Real Estate, Homes for Sale - Falcon Living".
  9. ^ "Albany Park: A Chicago Neighborhood - Sonia Figueroa". Archived from the original on 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  10. ^ Ali, Tanveer (November 9, 2016). "How Every Chicago Neighborhood Voted In The 2016 Presidential Election". Chicago, Illinois: DNAinfo.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  11. ^ "How Every Chicago Neighborhood Voted In The 2012 Presidential Election". Chicago, Illinois: DNAinfo.com. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  12. ^ Maes, Nancy. "A JAPANESE SPRINGTIME IN CHICAGO FEST REVEALS THE MARRIAGE OF ART, NATURE". Chicago Tribune. May 15, 1987. Page 3 Friday. Retrieved on April 12, 2011. "Chicago Shimpo The Chicago Japanese American News 4670 N Manor St"
  13. ^ "Chicago Shimpo Moved to Arlington Heights" (Archive). Chicago Shimpo. Retrieved on August 21, 2014. "New location: 2045 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Suite 108C Arlington Heights, IL 60005"
  14. ^ a b Koziarz, Jay (February 24, 2020). "5 things to know about Rod Blagojevich's Ravenswood Manor home". Curbed. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Wetli, Patty (July 21, 2015). "Blago Neighbors Would Welcome Him Home, Even If He Brings Media Circus". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  16. ^ Gallun, Alby (November 5, 2021). "Neil Bluhm defends capitalism and billionaires". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  17. ^ Robert L. Root Jr. and Neal Gabler (Spring 1985). "GLR Interview: Neal Gabler". The Great Lakes Review. 11 (1). Central Michigan University: 32–38. doi:10.2307/20172723. JSTOR 20172723.
  18. ^ "Schools List Star Senior Nominees: Schools Pick Star Senior Nominees Schools List Star Senior Nominees Schools List Star Senior Nominees". Chicago Tribune. Chicago. June 4, 1967. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  19. ^ a b "Ravenswood Manor Tall Tales and Colorful Characters Tour" (PDF). 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  20. ^ "NOMINATE STAR NORTHWEST SENIORS". Chicago Daily Tribune. January 3, 1943. p. 2 – via ProQuest.
  21. ^ a b c d Bjorklund, Richard C. (2002). "Gov.-elect Heads List of Famous Manorites" (PDF). Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 15, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  22. ^ Johnson, K.C. (March 21, 2017). "Jerry Krause, GM of Bulls dynasty, remembered for drive, work ethic, loyalty". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  23. ^ Illinois Blue Book 1969-1970. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 228. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  24. ^ Desmond, Debra (2017). "Notable Neighbors Abe Saperstein: Harlem Globetrotters" (PDF). Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  25. ^ Feder, Robert (November 6, 2001). "Sirott returning to radio to host show for laughs". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 53.
  26. ^ Johnson, Steve (October 20, 2002). "What's so scary about Bob Sirott? John Callaway's shadow continues to loom as a host plucked from commercial TV takes over Ch. 11's 'Chicago Tonight'". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
  27. ^ "Document 88601827". Cook County Clerk. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  28. ^ Johnson, by Ben E. Money Talks, Bullsh*t Walks: Inside the Contrarian Mind of Billionaire Mogul Sam Zell Dec 31, 2009
[edit]
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