Albany Park, Chicago

Albany Park
Community area
Community Area 14 - Albany Park

Location within the city of Chicago
Coordinates: 41°58.2′N 87°43.2′W / 41.9700°N 87.7200°W / 41.9700; -87.7200Coordinates: 41°58.2′N 87°43.2′W / 41.9700°N 87.7200°W / 41.9700; -87.7200
Country United States
State Illinois
County Cook
City Chicago
Neighborhoods
list
Area
 • Total 1.93 sq mi (5.00 km2)
Population (2014)
 • Total 52,930
 • Density 27,000/sq mi (11,000/km2)
Demographics 2010[1]
 • White 29.21%
 • Black 4.03%
 • Hispanic 49.45%
 • Asian 14.42%
 • Other 2.9%
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Codes parts of 60625, 60630
Median household income $46,198[2]
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

Albany Park is one of 77 well-defined Chicago, Illinois, community areas on the Northwest Side of the City of Chicago. It includes the Albany Park neighborhood, one of the most ethnically diverse in the United States. It has one of highest percentages of foreign-born residents of neighborhoods in Chicago.

Although the majority of those foreign-born residents are from Latin America, the majority from Mexico (especially from the state of Michoacán) and Guatemala, substantial numbers are from the Philippines, India, Korea, Cambodia, Somalia, the Former Yugoslavia (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.[3] It is part of the 60625 ZIP code, which is known as one of the most diverse areas in the entire country.[4]

History

The area was settled in 1893 when several investors purchased land in the area. DeLancy Louderback from Albany, New York was one of the investors and chose the name.[5]

The developers added electric streetcars in 1896, and the Northwestern Elevated Railroad extended the Ravenswood branch to the Kimball terminal on December 14, 1907.[6] This led to a building boom in the area.[5]

Government agencies

Libraries
Police Department
Fire Department

- 2322 West Foster Avenue

- 4426 North Kedzie Avenue

- 4017 North Tripp

Marine Corps

-3034-60 W. Foster Avenue

Transportation

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 Montrose CTA Blue Line Station, as well as by the Edens expressway (Interstate 94). The name "Albany Park" refers both to one of Chicago's 77 official community areas and the traditional name of a neighborhood within that community. The official community is bounded very approximately by Foster Avenue and the North Branch of the Chicago River on the north, Montrose Avenue on the south, Elston Avenue on the southwest, and the North Branch of the Chicago River on the east. It is in Jefferson Township, which was annexed into Chicago in 1889.

Bus Routes

Politics

The area is one of the most Democratic of the country: In 2004, John Kerry won 22,800 votes (97.47%) to only 529 (2.26%) for George W. Bush. This is due to strong Democratic party involvement at the local level and Chicago's heavily Democratic tilt. Currently, Albany Park is in 4 wards. The 33rd ward (Alderman Deborah Mell - Democrat), the 35th ward (Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa - Democrat), the 39th wards (Alderman Margaret Laurino - Democrat), and the 40th Ward (Alderman Patrick O'Connor - Democrat). Alderman Deborah Mell is the sister-in-law of former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Elected officials

State Representatives
State Senators
Aldermen
Cook County Commissioner

Neighborhoods

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

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

Korean commercial district

The neighborhood has been the "Koreatown" of Chicago since the 1980s. The majority of Korean shops in Albany Park can be found on Lawrence Avenue (4800 North) between Kedzie (3200 West) and Pulaski (4000 West). This particular section of Lawrence Avenue has been officially nicknamed by the city of Chicago as "Seoul Drive" 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 television station (WOCH-CD Ch. 41) and 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.[7]

Schools

Public Schools - Chicago Public Schools operates public schools
  • Hibbard Elementary School
  • Haugan Magnet 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
Universities

Parks and recreation facilities

  • Eugene Field Park
  • Gompers Park
  • Horner Park
  • Jensen Park
  • Kiwanis Park
  • Ravenswood Manor Park
  • River Park
  • Ronan Park
  • Buckeye Playlot Park
  • Buffalo Playlot Park
  • Jacob Playlot Park
  • Sunken Gardens Playlot Park
  • Vogle Playlot Park

Culture

The Chicago Shimpo previously had its offices in Albany Park.[8] It is now headquartered in Arlington Heights.[9]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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%
Est. 201452,9302.7%
[10]

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.

Community gardens

Active neighborhood organizations

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

References

  1. ↑ Paral, Rob. "Chicago Demographics Data". Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Paral, Rob. "Chicago Census Data". Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Archived March 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Archived September 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. 1 2 Zangs, Mary (2014). The Chicago 77: a community area handbook. Charleston, SC 29403: The History Press. pp. 64–66. ISBN 978-1-62619-612-4.
  6. ↑ Borzo, Greg (2007). The Chicago "L". Arcadia Publishing. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-7385-5100-5.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ 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"
  9. ↑ "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"
  10. ↑ Paral, Rob. "Chicago Community Areas Historical Data". Retrieved 17 September 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albany Park, Chicago.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Chicago/Albany Park.
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