Lincoln Square on the North Side of
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
, is one of the city's 77
community areas. It encompasses the smaller neighborhoods of Ravenswood, Ravenswood Gardens, Bowmanville, Budlong Woods as well as Lincoln Square itself.
Profile
![Meyer-Delicatessen-Lincoln-Square-Chicago](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Meyer-Delicatessen-Lincoln-Square-Chicago.jpg)
In the 1840s, farming was begun in this area by newly arrived
German Americans
German Americans (german: Deutschamerikaner, ) are Americans who have full or partial German ancestry. With an estimated size of approximately 43 million in 2019, German Americans are the largest of the self-reported ancestry groups by the Unite ...
. Two brothers, Lyman and Joseph Budlong arrived in 1857 to start a commercial pickling operation near what is today Lincoln Avenue and Berwyn. They later opened a commercial green house and flower fields to provide flowers for the then new
Rosehill Cemetery
Rosehill Cemetery (founded 1859) is an American garden cemetery on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and at , is the largest cemetery in the City of Chicago. According to legend, the name "Rosehill" resulted from a City Clerk's error – the ar ...
. 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.
About 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 bounded by Bryn Mawr and Peterson Avenues on the north, Montrose Avenue on the south, Ravenswood Avenue on the east and the
Chicago River
The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of Chicago, including its center (the Chicago Loop). Though not especially long, the river is notable because it is one of the reasons for ...
on the west. Its housing stock consists of private residences and small apartment buildings.
The commercial heart of Lincoln Square is located 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
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
influenced and populated neighborhood,
but now one is just as likely to see shops catering to the Thai culture. Still, the neighborhood is home to a number of German businesses, including
Merz Apothecary
Merz Apothecary, located in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Chicago, is a historic healthcare store that was opened by pharmacist Peter Merz in 1875. Merz Apothecary focuses on herbal, homeopathic medicines, natural medicine, European products ...
and Lutz Café & Bakery, and is the home of the Chicago branches of DANK (the
German American National Congress
The German American National Congress (german: Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress) (also known as DANK) is a national German-American nonprofit organization in the United States founded in 1959. It was established to unite Americans of Germa ...
) and the Niedersachsen Club. The German-language weekly newspaper was born in Lincoln Square in 1972, though its original headquarters above the Brauhaus is now only a bureau.
Events such as festivals and live musical performances are frequently held in Lincoln Square. The Apple Fest is a longstanding tradition in Lincoln Square that brings the community together to celebrate the beginning of fall. Dozens of vendors participate in the event each year selling autumn-themed crafts and apple-themed treats, such as fresh baked apple pies, bushels of apples, hot apple cider and apple pizza. The Square Roots Festival, which is 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
* Bowmanville
*Bowmanville Woods
*Bowmanville Gardens
*Budlong
* Budlong Woods
*Budlong Gardens
* Lincoln Square
* Lincoln Square North
*Lincoln Square East
*Lincoln Square South
*Lincoln Square West
*
Ravenswood
* Ravenswood Gardens
Politics
Lincoln Square is a stronghold for the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
in elections. In the
2016 presidential election, Lincoln Square cast 15,317 votes for
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...
and cast 1,981 votes
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
. In the
2012 presidential election, Lincoln Square cast 13,515 votes for
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
and 2,435 votes for
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American politician, businessman, and lawyer serving as the junior United States senator from Utah since January 2019, succeeding Orrin Hatch. He served as the 70th governor of Massachusetts f ...
. In the
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. It has two chambers, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 181 ...
, the entirety of Lincoln Square is located in the 7th Legislative District and the 13th House District. During the 101st General Assembly, the community area is represented by Senator
Heather Steans and House Majority Leader
Greg Harris. The Lincoln Square neighborhood encompasses the 40th and 47th wards on the
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms. The council is gaveled into session regularly, usually mont ...
. The aldermen are
Andre Vasquez
Andre Vasquez (born May 21, 1979) is a Chicago politician, community organizer, and former rapper. He is the alderman of the city's 40th ward. He won election to that office after defeating incumbent Patrick O'Connor in the 2019 Chicago alderman ...
in the 40th Ward and
Matt Martin in the 47th Ward. Both were first elected in the
2019 election.
Points of interest
*
Conrad Sulzer Regional Library
Conrad Sulzer Regional Library is one of two regional libraries in the Chicago Public Library system in Chicago, in the U.S. state of Illinois. It was named for Conrad Sulzer, the first white settler in what became Lakeview Township, whose family ...
*
Cambodian Association of Illinois
*
DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
DANK-Haus German American Cultural Center is a cultural organization located in the Lincoln Square, Chicago community area. Founded in Chicago in 1959, it seeks to preserve and promote German and German American culture. The center contains the D ...
*
Old Town School of Folk Music
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago teaching and performing institution that launched the careers of many notable folk music artists. Founded by Folk musicians Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke, and Dawn Greening, the School opened in the ...
*
Rosehill Cemetery
Rosehill Cemetery (founded 1859) is an American garden cemetery on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and at , is the largest cemetery in the City of Chicago. According to legend, the name "Rosehill" resulted from a City Clerk's error – the ar ...
Hospitals
* Kindred Hospital Chicago North
*
Swedish Hospital
Schools
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools (CPS), officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, in Chicago, Illinois, is the third-largest school district in the United States, after New York and Los Angeles.
...
operates public schools. Many of these schools have benefited from GROW47, an initiative started by Alderman
Ameya Pawar
Ameya Pawar (born April 22, 1980) is an American politician who served as the alderman for the 47th Ward of the City of Chicago. He was first elected in the 2011 municipal elections, and was elected to a second term on February 24, 2015. Pawar's ...
, which aims to improve funding for local public schools.
Amundsen High School is the designated CPS high school for most of the community area, while a small section is zoned to Mather High School.
Other private or parochial schools:
* Adler Schools
*
Lycée Français de Chicago
The Lycee Français de Chicago is a private, French international school located in Lincoln Square, Chicago, Illinois. It offers a dual French and English curriculum. The Lycée is founded on the French National Curriculum as defined by the Fren ...
/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, which are maintained by the
Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District is one of the oldest and the largest park districts in the United States. As of 2016, there are over 600 parks included in the Chicago Park District as well as 27 beaches, several boat harbors, two botanic conservatories ...
.
* Winnemac Park covers more than 40 acres at the corner of Damen and Foster. The park contains the campuses of
Amundsen High School
Roald Amundsen High School is a public 4–year high school located between the Ravenswood, Andersonville and Lincoln Square neighborhoods in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1929, Amundsen is a part of Chicago Public Schools district ...
, Chappell Elementary, and the Jorndt Field athletic complex. The park features natural prairie plants, multiple baseball fields, a soccer field, and a playground. The high school also includes a swimming pool, run by the
Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District is one of the oldest and the largest park districts in the United States. As of 2016, there are over 600 parks included in the Chicago Park District as well as 27 beaches, several boat harbors, two botanic conservatories ...
, that is open to the public during limited times.
* Welles Park covers 15 acres and sits at the corner of Lincoln and Montrose Avenues, across from the
Conrad Sulzer Regional Library
Conrad Sulzer Regional Library is one of two regional libraries in the Chicago Public Library system in Chicago, in the U.S. state of Illinois. It was named for Conrad Sulzer, the first white settler in what became Lakeview Township, whose family ...
. It contains a community center, including a pool, gym, and fitness center. A gazebo stands at the center of the park where concerts are held during the summer. The playground in the northwest corner has swings, climbing equipment and a small splash-pad. There are also several baseball fields, tennis courts and courts to play horseshoes. The park recently won a grant to install a nature area in the southwest corner of the park.
* Jacob Park is a small playlot located at Virginia and Leland Avenues, right next to the
Chicago River
The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of Chicago, including its center (the Chicago Loop). Though not especially long, the river is notable because it is one of the reasons for ...
. It features a large sandbox, which neighbors have stocked with trucks and toys. The
Chicago "L"
The Chicago "L" (short for "elevated") is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs in the U.S. state of Illinois. Operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), it is the fourth-largest rapid tr ...
runs along the southern edge of the park, to the delight of children and adults.
* River Park is located along the Chicago River, south of Foster Ave. and west of Francisco Ave. The park includes a community center, an outdoor pool, and a popular splash pad. The park is also the start of the North Shore Channel Trail, which continues 6.7 miles through the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park and up to Evanston's
Ladd Arboretum
The Edward R. Ladd Arboretum is an arboretum located at 2024 McCormick Boulevard, Evanston, Illinois, occupying 23 acres (93,000 m2) in a narrow three-quarter mile (1.2 km) stretch between McCormick Boulevard and the North Shore Channel on ...
.
* Vogle Playlot is tucked in the corner of Lawrence and Hoyne Avenues. It contains a newly renovated playground and swing-set.
* Gross Park is a small park located at the corner of Lawrence and Washtenaw, near the HarvesTime grocery store. It contains several basketball courts, a small soccer field, and an ADA-accessible soft-surface playground.
* Sunken Gardens Park is a small park that sits along the Chicago River at the corner of Virginia and Sunnyside Avenues. It contains a small grassy space and a few benches.
Local businesses
* 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
* Stanley Brown Jewelist
* Timeless Toys
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 Western, Lawrence and Lincoln), 1956
* The Lincoln Square Mural (Lincoln Square Athletic Club), 1991
Events
The following events occur within the neighborhood on an annual basis.
* Ravenswood Run 5K
* May Fest
* Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series
*
Square Roots
In mathematics, a square root of a number is a number such that ; in other words, a number whose ''square'' (the result of multiplying the number by itself, or ⋅ ) is . For example, 4 and −4 are square roots of 16, because .
E ...
* 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
Notable people
*
Russell A. Berg (1917–2002),
brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
in the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
. He resided at 4624 North Winchester Avenue for a time in the 1940s.
*
George Papadopoulos
George Demetrios Papadopoulos (; born August 19, 1987) is an author and former member of the foreign policy advisory panel to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. On October 5, 2017, Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to a felony charge of mak ...
(born 1987), former advisor to the
2016 presidential campaign of
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
. He was living in Lincoln Square at the time of his arrest.
*
Mike Simmons (born 1983), member of the
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state, State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adop ...
since 2019. His family was one of the first Black families to integrate Lincoln Square after the
United States Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...
mandated that public housing be built on the city’s North Side.
*
Nicholas Zagone (1931–2020), member of the
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 re ...
from 1959 to 1965. He was raised in Lincoln Square.
Bordering community areas
*
Uptown
*
Edgewater
*
North Park
*
Albany Park
*
North Center
*
West Ridge
References
External links
Official City of Chicago Lincoln Square Community MapLincoln Square Chamber of Commerce
{{Authority control
Community areas of Chicago
North Side, Chicago