Lincoln Square (Chicago)

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The Lincoln Square on the north side of town Chicago , Illinois , is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas. Greater Lincoln Square includes the smaller neighborhoods of Ravenswood Gardens, Bowmanville, Budlong Woods, and Lincoln Square (neighborhood). Although it is sometimes known by these other names, the city of Chicago officially referred to it as Lincoln Square in 1925. According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, merging Ravenswood and Lincoln Square is a common mistake - the two are not interchangeable. The boundaries of the original Ravenswood subdivision, drawn in 1869, were Montrose, Lawrence, Clark and Damen.

In the 1920s, the University of Chicago divided the city into 77 clearly defined "Community Areas". Ravenswood didn't make the cut as a standalone unit, instead it was folded into Lincoln Square. In short, according to U. by C. Ravenswood is a subgroup of Lincoln Square.

In the 1840s, newly arrived German-Americans began farming in this area. Two brothers, Lyman and Joseph Budlong, arrived in 1857 to start a commercial pickling operation near what is now Lincoln Avenue and Berwyn. They later opened a commercial greenhouse and flower fields to create flowers for the then new Rosehill Cemetery. In 1925, to honor Abraham Lincoln, the Chicago city council named the area Lincoln Square, and a prominent statue of the namesake was erected in 1956.

Over 44,000 people live in the neighborhood along with over 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses. It is accessible through the brown line of the 'L'. The neighborhood is bordered by Bryn Mawr and Peterson Avenue to the north, Montrose Avenue to the south, Ravenswood Avenue to the east, and the Chicago River to the west. The housing stock consists of private apartments and small apartment buildings.

The commercial heart of Lincoln Square is at the intersection of Lawrence, Western, and Lincoln Avenues. Lincoln Avenue southeast of this intersection is home to a wide variety of restaurants and shops. Lincoln Square is historically known as a heavily German-influenced and German-populated area, but now it's just as likely that shops will crave Thai or Middle Eastern cultures. There are numerous German companies in the vicinity, including the Chicago Brauhaus, Merz Apothecary and Lutz Café & Bakery. It is home to the Chicago branches of DANK (the German-American National Congress) and the Lower Saxony Club. The German-language weekly newspaper Amerika Woche (de) was born in Lincoln Square in 1972, although its original headquarters above the brewery is now just an office.

Events such as festivals and live music performances often take place in Lincoln Square. The Apple Fest has a long history in Lincoln Square that brings the community together to celebrate the beginning of fall. Dozens of vendors attend the event each year, selling fall-themed craft and apple-themed goodies like freshly baked apple pies, bushels of apples, hot cider, and apple pizza. The Square Roots Festival, held every summer, celebrates Lincoln Square's history in music and German culture with live performances from local musicians and craft beer from local breweries.

Neighborhoods in Lincoln Square

  • Bowmanville
  • Budlong Woods
  • Lincoln Square
  • Lincoln Square North
  • Ravenswood
  • Ravenswood Gardens

Areas of interest

  • Conrad Sulzer Regional Library
  • Cambodian Association of Illinois
  • THANKS to Haus German American Cultural Center
  • Old Town School of Folk Music
  • Rosehill Cemetery

Hospitals

  • Kindred Hospital Chicago North
  • Swedish Covenant Hospital

schools

Chicago Public Schools operate public schools. Many of these schools have benefited from GROW47, an initiative launched by Alderman Ameya Pawar to improve funding for public schools.

Public schools

  • Budlong Elementary School
  • Chappell Elementary School
  • Jamieson Elementary School
  • McPherson Elementary School
  • Waters Elementary School
  • Amundsen High School
  • Mather High School

Other private or church schools

  • Adler Schools
  • German International School Chicago
  • Lycée Français de Chicago / The French International School
  • North Park Elementary School
  • North Shore Junior Academy
  • Pilgrim Lutheran
  • Queen of Angels Elementary School
  • St. Hilary's Elementary School
  • St. Mathias School
  • Waldorf School

Parks

Lincoln Square contains several parks that are maintained by the Chicago Park District.

Winnemac Park covers more than 40 acres on the corner of Damen and Foster. The park includes the campuses of Amundsen High School, Chappell Elementary, and the Jorndt Field Athletic Complex. The park features natural prairie plants, several baseball fields, a soccer field, and a playground. The high school also includes a swimming pool operated by the Chicago Park District that is open to the public at certain times.

Welles Park covers 15 acres and is on the corner of Lincoln and Montrose Avenues, across from the Conrad Sulzer Regional Library. It includes a community center with a pool, gym and fitness center. A pavilion stands in the center of the park, where concerts are held in summer. The playground in the northwest corner has swings, climbing gear, and a small splash guard. There are also some baseball fields, tennis courts, and places to play horseshoes. The park recently received a grant to set up a nature area in the southwest corner of the park.

Jacob Park is a small playlist on Virginia and Leland Avenues, next to the Chicago River. It has a large sandpit that neighbors have stocked with trucks and toys. The Chicago "L" runs along the southern edge of the park, to the delight of children and adults.

River Park is on the Chicago River, south of Foster Ave and west of Fransisco Ave. The park includes a community center, an outdoor pool, and a popular paddling pool. The park is also the start of the North Shore Channel Trail, which runs 6.7 miles through Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park and all the way to Evanston.

Vogle Playlot is tucked away in the corner of Lawrence and Hoyne Avenues. It includes a newly renovated playground and swings.

Gross Park is a small park on the corner of Lawrence and Washtenaw, near the Harvest Time grocery store. It contains several basketball courts, a small soccer field and an ADA-accessible playground with a soft surface.

Sunken Gardens Park is a small park on the Chicago River at the corner of Virginia and Sunnyside Avenues. It contains a small lawn and a couple of benches.

Public art

  • Berlin Wall Monument (Western Avenue Brown Line Station), 2008
  • Lincoln / Leland mural (Lincoln Quality Meat Market), 2007
  • Greater Rockwell Mural (Beans and Bagels), 2005
  • Lincoln / Sunnyside mural, 1997
  • The maypole (Leland and Lincoln), 1999
  • Giddings Square Fountain, 1999
  • Lombard lamp (Giddings Square), 1979
  • The Chicago Lincoln Statue (Corner of the West, Lawrence and Lincoln), 1956
  • The Lincoln Square Mural (Lincoln Square Athletic Club), 1991

Companies

  • Amy's Candy Bar
  • Blackbird Gallery and Framing
  • The Book Cellar
  • Budacki's Drive In
  • Caravan Guitars
  • The Chicago Mosaic School
  • The Chopping Block
  • Davis Theater
  • Café Selmarie
  • Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts
  • Enjoy, an Urban General Store
  • Gideon Welles
  • Heather Parker Photography
  • Lincoln Square Athletic Club
  • Merz Apothecary
  • Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill
  • Savory Spice Shop
  • Timeless toys

Breweries and distilleries

Lincoln Square / Ravenswood is sometimes called "Malt Row" because of the large number of breweries and distilleries in the area. They include:

  • Half Acre Brewery
  • Dovetail Brewery
  • Band of Bohemia
  • Begyle Brewing
  • Spiteful Brewing
  • Koval Distillery

Events

The following events occur annually in the neighborhood.

  • Ravenswood Run 5K
  • May feast
  • Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series
  • Square roots
  • Lincoln Square Poetry Fest
  • German-American Fest
  • Lincoln Square Fall Apple Fest
  • Friends of the Craft Beer Festival
  • Friends of the Grape Wine Festival
  • Christmas Tree Lighting in the Square