Logan Square, Chicago

Logan Square is a community area located on the northwest side of Chicago. The name, used here to describe the city-designated community area defined by U.S. census tracts, also applies to one of a number of smaller, more loosely defined residential neighborhoods within the Logan Square community. The Logan Square neighborhood is centered on the public square that serves as its (and the community area's) namesake. Logan Square proper houses the 3-way intersection of Milwaukee Avenue, Logan Boulevard and Kedzie Boulevard.

The -style homes.

The neighborhood is home to a diverse population including Latinos (primarily Mexican and Puerto Rican, with some Cuban), African-Americans and a number of ethnicities from Eastern Europe, (mostly Poles). At one time, Logan Square boasted a strong Norwegian-American population. With relatively inexpensive housing and rent available, this neighborhood is a favorite for students, artists, and working-class citizens. More elaborate, stylish, and expensive houses and mansions line historic Logan("2600 N") and Kedzie Boulevards.

The community area and neighborhood are named for General John A. Logan who served in the Civil War, and later in Congress. One of the most striking intersections in the city, the square itself is a circular green space located at the center of a traffic circle formed by the junction of Kedzie and Logan Boulevards and Milwaukee Avenue. At the center of the circle is the Illinois Centennial Memorial Column, built in 1918 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Illinois' statehood. The monument, designed by Henry Bacon, famed architect of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC and sculpted by Evelyn Longman, is a single 70-foot tall marble Doric column topped by an eagle, in reference to the state flag. Reliefs surrounding the base depict figures of Native Americans, explorers, farmers and laborers intended to show the great changes experienced during the state's first century.

Churches

Logan Square has many churches along its boulevards including the historic Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ( Minnekirken) located on the public square, and a meeting house of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints one block west. Just south of the square on Kedzie Ave., Armitage Baptist Church is located in the former Masonic Temple and to the east of the square on Logan Boulevard are the Episcopal Church of the Advent, a new Seventh Day Adventist Church and St. John Berchmans Catholic Church. On Ridgeway, just north of Fullerton, is Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and School and on Sacramento Ave.,just East of Kedzie across from Palmer Square is St. Sylvester Catholic Church and School.

Neighborhoods

Bucktown

Bucktown is a neighborhood located in the east of the Logan Square community area in Chicago northwest of the Loop. Its boundaries are the Chicago River to the east, Western Avenue to the west, Bloomingdale Avenue to the south and West Fullerton Avenue to the north. It is primarily residential, with a mix of older single family homes, new builds with edgy architecture, and converted industrial loft spaces. The neighborhood's origins are rooted in the Polish working class, which settled in the area in the 1830s.Fact|date=September 2007 A large influx of Germans began in 1848 and in 1854 led to the establishment of the town of Holstein, which was eventually annexed into Chicago in 1863. Additional population influxes include European Jews, Mexican immigrants and Puerto Rican migrants. Puerto Ricans concentrated along Damen and up Milwaukee Aves. from the 50's until the 80's.They supported the Young Lords and other groups that campaigned in the 80's and voted strongly for Harold Washington's victorious,mayoral campaign which called for "Neighborhoods First" not city hall. In the last quarter of the 20th century, a growing artists' community led directly to widespread gentrification, which brought in a large population of young professionals. Bucktown is directly north from Wicker Park.

There are many bars and restaurants in the vicinity and there has been a large number of "teardowns" of the older housing stock - replacing them with new and large residential buildings.

There is a significant amount of shopping on Damen Avenue from North Avenue (in Wicker Park) going north until Webster Avenue. Bucktown is readily accessible on the Blue Line.

Bucktown gets its name from the large number of goats raised in the neighborhood during the 19th century. A male goat is a buck. The original Polish term for the neighborhood was "Kozie Prery" (Goat Prairie).

Palmer Square

Palmer Square is a pocket neighborhood located within Logan Square, Chicago. Although there is no consensus on this neighborhood's exact boundaries, the City of Chicago Neighborhoods Map shows that it is generally bound by Fullerton Avenue (2400 N) to the north, Armitage Avenue (2000 N) to the south, Kedzie Boulevard (3200 W) to the west, and Milwaukee Avenue (~2400-2800 W) to the east. [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_EDITORIAL/City_Neighborhoods_8_5x11.pdf]

The neighborhood’s name originates from the large 7-acre Palmer Square open green space (now called Palmer Square Park, pictured to the left) that sits near the western edge of the neighborhood. Each year in August, hundreds of people gather in Palmer Square Park for its Arts Festival, which features local artists, live music, a beer garden, various food vendors, and kids’ activities. The City of Chicago in 2005 received a matching grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to develop a playground (which is being called a "creative play space based on a Velveteen Rabbit theme"), walking trails, soft surface jogging trail, open lawn areas, lighting, seating, and landscaping in Palmer Square. After extensive community input, the Chicago Park District (CPD) has completed a schematic design for Palmer Square Park and is going forward with its development process.

Palmer Square neighborhood's vibrant character, bustling business corridors, and charming tree-lined streets make it a popular neighborhood for a diverse group of individuals and families. Its location is directly west of Bucktown, north of Humboldt Park, and northwest of Wicker Park, and places its residents within walking distance to a number of shops, coffee houses, and restaurants. Easy access to the highways and the public transportation system also makes it a popular neighborhood for commuters who work in Chicago's Loop or for students who attend colleges nearby or downtown. The neighborhood is just west of the Kennedy Expressway (routes 90/94) and near the California and Western stops of the CTA's Blue Line for a quick ride to Chicago’s downtown and O'Hare International Airport. The CTA's bus routes #52 (California), #56 (Milwaukee), #73 (Armitage), and #74 (Fullerton) also run through this neighborhood.

Although the neighborhood is still considered to be affordable, its easy access to transportation, proximity to shops and trendy neighborhoods, and mix of housing stock make it ripe for rapid gentrification.

ee also

* Polish Americans
* Polish Cathedral style
* Norwegian Americans
* Knute Rockne - Football Coach and childhood resident of Logan Square

References

External links

* [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/Community_Areas_LOGAN_SQUARE.pdf Official City of Chicago Logan Square Community Map]
* [http://www.bucktown.org Bucktown Community Organization]
* [http://www.logansquarepreservation.org/ Logan Square Preservation]
* [http://www.loganchamber.org/ Logan Square Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.wickerparkbucktown.com/ Wicker Park & Bucktown Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://logansquare.chicago.il.us/ Logan Square city page]
* [http://www.gapersblock.com/airbags/archives/palmer_square/ Palmer Square]
* [http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/R/RathHouse.html Rath House]
* [http://www.nationalyounglords.com/ Gentrification and Puerto Ricans]

Geographic Location
Center = Logan Square, Chicago
North = Avondale, Chicago
Northeast = North Center, Chicago
East = Lincoln Park, Chicago
South = West Town, Chicago
Southwest = Humboldt Park, Chicago
West = Hermosa, Chicago