Rogers Park, Chicago
Encyclopedia
Rogers Park is one of the 77 Chicago community areas
on the far north side of Chicago, Illinois
, and is also the name of the Chicago neighborhood that constitutes most of the community area. It is bounded by the city of Evanston
along Juneway Terrace and Howard Street
to the north, Ridge Boulevard to the west, Devon Avenue
and the Edgewater
neighborhood to the south, and Lake Michigan
to the east. The neighborhood just to the west, West Ridge
, was part of Rogers Park until the 1890s. Some Chicagoans use the phrase "East Rogers Park" to refer to any area east of Ridge, but usually East Rogers Park refers only to the portion of Rogers Park east of Clark Street.
trails, now known as Rogers Avenue and Ridge Boulevard, predating modern metropolitan Chicago. The Pottawatomi and various other regional tribes often settled in Rogers Park from season to season. The name of Indian Boundary Park
west of Rogers Park reflects this history as does Pottawattomie Park near Clark Street and Rogers Avenue.
Rogers Park was named after a pioneer settler and developer, Phillip Rogers
. Rogers often traded and worked with the local tribes. Envisioning a future settlement, Rogers eventually purchased the land from the tribes for later development.
and Germany
came to Rogers Park, where farming was the main industry. On April 29, 1878, Rogers Park was incorporated as a village of Illinois governed by six trustees. In 1893, the village was annexed to Chicago. Successive generations brought about vast cultural changes to the former village. Elite Chicagoans began to move to new planned communities in the suburbs by the 1930s, which ushered in the migration of German, English, Irish, and Jewish families to Rogers Park. With the devastation in Europe following World War II
, many additional immigrants found their way to Chicago and the Rogers Park neighborhood. Also, a growing and vibrant Hispanic community has grown along Clark Street over the years.
Most of the neighborhood has for decades been within the 49th Ward of the city of Chicago, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but, because of gerrymandering
, a part of Rogers Park is now within the 40th Ward as well. In spite of its cultural diversity, accessibility to the city's (CTA) rapid transit system, affordable housing, and unique location, the Rogers Park neighborhood's local economy has struggled over the years. Many vacant storefronts are visible along its main business districts known as "Devon Ave" & "Howard St". Since the year 2000, recent signs of economic development includes the Gateway Centre Plaza at the Howard St. station and the mixed-use development known as The Morgan at Loyola Station. The Skyline at Evanston on Howard St. is also a new affordable apartment high rise with ground floor retail potential. Crime has remained stable in the neighborhood, though there remains to be a visible gang presence and accessibility to drug-related contraband.
. Historic places of interest include Madonna Della Strada Chapel
, the mother church of the Jesuit Province of Chicago (one of the largest Jesuit provinces). The neighborhood continues to be home to many Jesuit
religious-order
institutions. However, modern Rogers Park contains many different religious institutions. An example of the neighborhood's diversity is the historic Rogers Park Baptist Church. Founded in 1891, this church has services in three languages every Sunday and is made up of immigrants from 21 countries representing five continents.
The presence of its diverse array of students and academics from Loyola University Chicago and Northwestern University
, just a few miles to the north, has historically lent Rogers Park a high degree of liberalism and tolerance. The community also has a high Internet
presence. In 2007, the Web site outside.in named Rogers Park one of the country's "blog
giest neighborhoods."
stations: Howard
, Jarvis
, Morse
, and Loyola
. The Howard Street "L" station, the northernmost Chicago Transit Authority
rail stop in the city proper, experienced major renovation during 2008 and is a major transportation hub for the northern Chicago region. Both the Skokie Swift
and the Purple Line
(formerly known as the Evanston Express) begin in Rogers Park. In addition to the "L" lines, there are also several bus routes traveling to the Loop and the suburbs. They consist of the #22 (Clark to Polk), #97 (Old Orchard Shopping Mall/Cook County Courthouse), #147 (Outer Drive/Congress/Michigan Avenue), #151 (Sheridan Road) and #N201 (Central/Sherman in Evanston). The Metra
commuter railroad Rogers Park
station, at the intersection of Lunt and Ravenswood Avenues, is centrally located in the Rogers Park neighborhood.
's Institute for Policy Research. "The success of the CAPS program in comparison to efforts in other big cities is attributable to Chicago's commitment to the program and the resources allocated to it. A unique CAPS feature that is also vital to the success of the program is the improved delivery of city services throughout the city.".
Community areas of Chicago
Community areas in Chicago refers to the work of the Social Science Research Committee at University of Chicago which has unofficially divided the City of Chicago into 77 community areas. These areas are well-defined and static...
on the far north side of Chicago, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and is also the name of the Chicago neighborhood that constitutes most of the community area. It is bounded by the city of Evanston
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
along Juneway Terrace and Howard Street
Howard Street (Chicago)
Howard Street, alternately known as Sibley Avenue in Park Ridge, is a major east-west thoroughfare in the Chicago metropolitan area. At Paulina Street, it houses the Howard CTA Station, the northern terminus of the Red Line, and, between Paulina Street and Kedzie Avenue, serves as the border...
to the north, Ridge Boulevard to the west, Devon Avenue
Devon Avenue (Chicago)
Devon Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare in the Chicago metropolitan area. It begins at Chicago's Sheridan Road, which borders Lake Michigan, and it runs west until merging with Higgins Road near O'Hare International Airport. Devon continues on the opposite side of the airport and runs...
and the Edgewater
Edgewater, Chicago
Edgewater is a lakefront community area in the North Side of the city of Chicago, Illinois seven miles north of the Loop. 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...
neighborhood to the south, and Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
to the east. The neighborhood just to the west, West Ridge
West Ridge, Chicago
West Ridge is one of 77 Chicago community areas. It is a middle class neighborhood located on the far North Side of the City of Chicago. It is located in the 50th Ward...
, was part of Rogers Park until the 1890s. Some Chicagoans use the phrase "East Rogers Park" to refer to any area east of Ridge, but usually East Rogers Park refers only to the portion of Rogers Park east of Clark Street.
Native American roots
The Rogers Park area was developed on what once was the convergence of two Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
trails, now known as Rogers Avenue and Ridge Boulevard, predating modern metropolitan Chicago. The Pottawatomi and various other regional tribes often settled in Rogers Park from season to season. The name of Indian Boundary Park
Indian Boundary Park
Indian Boundary Park is a thirteen-acre park in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago that opened in 1922. It is named after a boundary line that was determined in the 1816 Treaty of St. Louis between the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi tribes and the United States government...
west of Rogers Park reflects this history as does Pottawattomie Park near Clark Street and Rogers Avenue.
Rogers Park was named after a pioneer settler and developer, Phillip Rogers
Phillip Rogers
Phillip Rogers was a settler of Irish origin who migrated to the Chicago area from Watertown, New York in 1836. He built a cabin on Ridge Avenue and bought a tract of land in the unincorporated area now bounded by Touhy Ave., Western Ave., Ridge Ave., and Morse Ave. from the government for $1.25...
. Rogers often traded and worked with the local tribes. Envisioning a future settlement, Rogers eventually purchased the land from the tribes for later development.
Becoming part of Chicago
From 1830 to 1850, waves of immigrants from LuxembourgLuxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
came to Rogers Park, where farming was the main industry. On April 29, 1878, Rogers Park was incorporated as a village of Illinois governed by six trustees. In 1893, the village was annexed to Chicago. Successive generations brought about vast cultural changes to the former village. Elite Chicagoans began to move to new planned communities in the suburbs by the 1930s, which ushered in the migration of German, English, Irish, and Jewish families to Rogers Park. With the devastation in Europe following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many additional immigrants found their way to Chicago and the Rogers Park neighborhood. Also, a growing and vibrant Hispanic community has grown along Clark Street over the years.
Most of the neighborhood has for decades been within the 49th Ward of the city of Chicago, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but, because of gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
, a part of Rogers Park is now within the 40th Ward as well. In spite of its cultural diversity, accessibility to the city's (CTA) rapid transit system, affordable housing, and unique location, the Rogers Park neighborhood's local economy has struggled over the years. Many vacant storefronts are visible along its main business districts known as "Devon Ave" & "Howard St". Since the year 2000, recent signs of economic development includes the Gateway Centre Plaza at the Howard St. station and the mixed-use development known as The Morgan at Loyola Station. The Skyline at Evanston on Howard St. is also a new affordable apartment high rise with ground floor retail potential. Crime has remained stable in the neighborhood, though there remains to be a visible gang presence and accessibility to drug-related contraband.
Culture and cultural diversity
Rogers Park continued to see demographic changes into the 21st century. The 2000 census data, like those of 1980 and 1990, showed it to be one of the most diverse communities, if not the most diverse, in the entire country . A robust mix of ethnic backgrounds with over 80 assorted languages flavor the neighborhood . However, this diversity has been affected by gentrification of the community. Much of the rental housing that has been converted to condominiums since 2000 formerly housed minorities. More than 90% of the new homeowners are white, according to the Woodstock Institute, a nonprofit advocacy and research organization.. However, the financial crisis of 2007-2009 hit the area hard and at present many of the condominiums are unsold or foreclosed. The dominant institution in Rogers Park is Loyola University ChicagoLoyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
. Historic places of interest include Madonna Della Strada Chapel
Madonna Della Strada Chapel
Madonna della Strada is the namesake of the chapel motherchurch of the Jesuit Province of Chicago and sits on the campus of Loyola University Chicago in the neighborhood of Rogers Park. It was built on the lakefront with the waters of Lake Michigan directly at its front doorstep...
, the mother church of the Jesuit Province of Chicago (one of the largest Jesuit provinces). The neighborhood continues to be home to many Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
religious-order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
institutions. However, modern Rogers Park contains many different religious institutions. An example of the neighborhood's diversity is the historic Rogers Park Baptist Church. Founded in 1891, this church has services in three languages every Sunday and is made up of immigrants from 21 countries representing five continents.
The presence of its diverse array of students and academics from Loyola University Chicago and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, just a few miles to the north, has historically lent Rogers Park a high degree of liberalism and tolerance. The community also has a high Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
presence. In 2007, the Web site outside.in named Rogers Park one of the country's "blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
giest neighborhoods."
Schools
- Chicago Math and Science AcademyChicago Math and Science AcademyChicago Math and Science Academy is a public charter middle school and high school located in Chicago, Illinois in the Rogers Park neighborhood.Chicago Math and Science Academy was opened in 2004.-External links:*...
- Chicago Waldorf School
- Eugene Field Elementary School
- Gale Elementary Community Academy
- Jordan Community Elementary School
- Stephen K. Hayt Elementary School
- Joyce Kilmer Elementary School
- Loyola University ChicagoLoyola University ChicagoLoyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
/Lake Shore Campus - PACTT Learning Center
- Philip Rogers Elementary School
- Stone Scholastic Academy
- St.Margaret Mary
- St. Scholastica AcademySt. Scholastica Academy (Chicago, Illinois)St. Scholastica Academy is a private, Roman Catholic, Benedictine all-girls high school in Chicago, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago....
- Roger C. Sullivan High SchoolRoger C. Sullivan High SchoolRoger C. Sullivan High School is a high school located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the many schools which is part of the Chicago Public Schools...
- George B. Swift Elementary Specialty School
- George B. Armstrong School of International Studies
- Northside Catholic Academy
- Howard Area Leadership Academy
Transportation
Rogers Park has four elevated ("L") Red LineRed Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The northern terminus of the Red Line is Howard Street in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago , on the City Limits farthest north. The Red Line extends southeasterly on an elevated embankment structure about a half-mile west of the lakefront to Touhy Avenue then turns south along Glenwood...
stations: Howard
Howard (CTA)
Howard is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system in Chicago, Illinois. It is the northern terminus of the Red Line and the southeastern terminus of the Yellow Line; it also serves the Purple Line, for which it is the southern terminus outside of weekday rush hours...
, Jarvis
Jarvis (CTA)
Jarvis is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, on the Red Line at 1523 W. Jarvis Avenue in Chicago, Illinois...
, Morse
Morse (CTA)
Morse is an 'L' station on the CTA's Red Line. It is located at 1358 West Morse Avenue in Chicago, Illinois . The station was formerly known as Rogers Park or Morse-Rogers Park. There is an automated entry/exit from the north end of the platform onto Lunt Avenue...
, and Loyola
Loyola (CTA)
Loyola is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, served by the Red Line. It is located at 1200 West Loyola Avenue in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The station sees heavy use by students from its nearby namesake, the Lakeshore Campus of Loyola University...
. The Howard Street "L" station, the northernmost Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
rail stop in the city proper, experienced major renovation during 2008 and is a major transportation hub for the northern Chicago region. Both the Skokie Swift
Yellow Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Yellow Line, formerly known as the Skokie Swift, is part of the Chicago Transit Authority's Chicago 'L' heavy rail rapid transit system in Chicago, Illinois...
and the Purple Line
Purple Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Purple Line of the Chicago Transit Authority is a branch line on the northernmost section of the Chicago 'L' rapid transit network. Normally, it extends south from the Wilmette terminal at Linden Avenue, passing through Evanston to Howard Street, on Chicago's northern city limits...
(formerly known as the Evanston Express) begin in Rogers Park. In addition to the "L" lines, there are also several bus routes traveling to the Loop and the suburbs. They consist of the #22 (Clark to Polk), #97 (Old Orchard Shopping Mall/Cook County Courthouse), #147 (Outer Drive/Congress/Michigan Avenue), #151 (Sheridan Road) and #N201 (Central/Sherman in Evanston). The Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
commuter railroad Rogers Park
Rogers Park (Metra)
Rogers Park is a Metra commuter railroad station in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. It is located at 7000 N. Ravenswood Avenue, between W. Greenleaf Avenue and W. Lunt Avenue. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Rogers Park is in zone B...
station, at the intersection of Lunt and Ravenswood Avenues, is centrally located in the Rogers Park neighborhood.
Community policing
In 1993, Rogers Park was selected as one of only five Chicago neighborhoods to implement a new concept for Chicago law enforcement: community policing, or CAPS. A merger of police and community efforts was implemented, which resulted in a noticeable effect on crime statistics. Weekly beat meetings (planning and strategy sessions) were held across the 24th Police District (Rogers Park). Within three years, after the success of CAPS in Rogers Park, all of Chicago's police districts had put CAPS into practice. "CAPS is the most ambitious and comprehensive community policing program in the country," said Susan M. Hartnett, project director and research associate at Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
's Institute for Policy Research. "The success of the CAPS program in comparison to efforts in other big cities is attributable to Chicago's commitment to the program and the resources allocated to it. A unique CAPS feature that is also vital to the success of the program is the improved delivery of city services throughout the city.".
Aldermanic Members of the Chicago City Council
Rogers Park lies mainly within the 49th and 50th Wards. There are small areas that are within the 40th Ward.| Name | Elected | Political Party | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debra Silverstein | 2011 | Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Alderman/50th Ward |
| Joe Moore Joe Moore (politician) Joseph Moore is the alderman representing the 49th Ward of the City of Chicago. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was first elected to the City Council in 1991 and re-elected in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011.... |
1991 | Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Alderman/49th Ward |
| Patrick J. O'Connor | 1983 | Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Alderman/40th Ward |
Notable residents
- Elizabeth Bloomer, better-known as former first lady Betty FordBetty FordElizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford , better known as Betty Ford, was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford...
- Lara Flynn BoyleLara Flynn BoyleLara Flynn Boyle is an American film and television actress best known for her performances as Laura Palmer's best friend Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks and Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in The Practice...
(childhood) - Shani DavisShani DavisShani Davis is an Olympic Champion speed skater from the United States.At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Davis became the first Black athlete to win a gold medal in an individual sport at the Olympic Winter Games . He also won the silver in the 1,500 m...
, Olympic speed skater - Hugh DownsHugh DownsHugh Malcolm Downs is a long time American broadcaster, television host, news anchor, TV producer, author, game show host, and music composer; and is perhaps best known for his role as co-host the NBC News program Today from 1962 to 1971, host of the Concentration game show from 1958 to 1969, and...
, TV journalist (20/20) - Tom DundeeTom DundeeTom Dundee was a singer/songwriter born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.He began his career in Corrales, New Mexico in 1969. A year later he became a principal member of the Chicago folk scene that spawned such performers as John Prine, Steve Goodman, Mick Scott, and Bonnie Koloc...
(folk singer / folk icon) - Larry EylerLarry EylerLarry Eyler was an American serial killer convicted and sentenced to death for the 1984 murder and dismemberment of 15-year old Daniel Bridges. He confessed to 21 other homicides of young men and boys in five separate states...
, serial killer. - Tina FeyTina FeyElizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer, known for her work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live , the NBC comedy series 30 Rock, and films such as Mean Girls and Baby Mama .Fey first broke into comedy as a featured player in the...
(early to mid 90's) - Phil FoglioPhil FoglioPhilip "Phil" Foglio is an American cartoonist and comic book artist best known for his humorous science fiction and fantasy work.-Early life and career:...
, science-fiction graphic artist - Edward GoreyEdward GoreyEdward St. John Gorey was an American writer and artist noted for his macabre illustrated books.-Early life:...
(childhood) - Shecky GreeneShecky GreeneShecky Greene is a comedian known for his nightclub performances in Las Vegas, where he has been a headliner for more than thirty years...
(former Sullivan High School student) - Dan KotowskiDan KotowskiDan Kotowski is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 33rd District since 2007.Kotowski and his wife Anne live in Park Ridge with their two sons...
(Illinois state senator) - David Orr (Illinois politician)
- Harold RamisHarold RamisHarold Allen Ramis is an American actor, director, and writer, specializing in comedy. His best-known film acting roles are as Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters and Russell Ziskey in Stripes , both of which he also co-wrote...
(actor, writer, director) - Dan SavageDan SavageDaniel Keenan "Dan" Savage is an American author, media pundit, journalist and newspaper editor. Savage writes the internationally syndicated relationship and sex advice column Savage Love. Its tone is frank in its discussion of sexuality, often humorous, and hostile to social conservatives, as in...
(childhood) - Jan SchakowskyJan SchakowskyJanice D. "Jan" Schakowsky is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes many of Chicago's northern suburbs, including Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Park Ridge, Des Plaines and Rosemont...
(U.S. House of Representatives) - Justin Dahl (Music Producer)
External links
- WikiTravel Guide to Rogers Park]
- Official City of Chicago Rogers Park Community Map
- Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce
- Rogers Park Community Council
- Rogers Park Community Development Corporation
- History of Rogers Park on Encyclopedia of Chicago
- Lakeside Community Development Corporation
- Rogers Park Business Alliance
- Rogers Park Parents Group
- ForgottenChicago.com (little-known elements of Chicago’s infrastructure, architecture, neighborhoods and general cityscape, existing and historical)
- Rogers Park West Ridge Historical Society