Albany Park, Chicago
Encyclopedia
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 has increased by 16.5% in the last decade. It is part of the 60625 zip code, which is known as one of the most diverse areas in the entire country.
-5150 N. Kimball Avenue
-4440 W. Lawrence Avenue
Police Department
Fire Department
- 2322 West Foster Avenue
- 4426 North Kedzie Avenue
- 4017 North Tripp
Marine Corps
-3034-60 W. Foster Avenue
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
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 3 wards. The 33rd ward (Alderman Richard Mell
- Democrat), the 39th wards (Alderman Margaret Laurino
- Democrat), and the 40th Ward (Alderman Patrick O'Connor - Democrat). Alderman Richard Mell
is the father-in-law of former Governor
Rod Blagojevich
.
State Senators
Aldermen
Cook County Commissioner
Immediately to the north, in North Park, lie Northeastern Illinois University
, North Park University
, and the Bohemian National Cemetery
.
" 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 Korea
n flavor. Every year there is a Korean festival, and the neighborhood is home to a Korean television station (WOCH-CA
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.
operates public schools
Private Schools
Universities
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 Northwest Side of the City of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. It includes the Albany Park neighborhood
Neighborhoods in Chicago
Cartographers distinguish between over 200 neighborhoods and 77 community areas in the City of Chicago . A semi-official by the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development was created in the 1970s by researchers who went from door-to-door in Chicago, asking "What neighborhood is this?"...
, 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
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, the majority from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(especially from the state of Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
) and Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, substantial numbers are from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, the Former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
), Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
(especially Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
). Over 40 different languages are spoken in its public schools.
Due to the diverse population and immigrant population attraction, the population of the neighborhood has increased by 16.5% in the last decade. It is part of the 60625 zip code, which is known as one of the most diverse areas in the entire country.
Government Agencies
Libraries- Albany Park BranchAlbany Park LibraryAlbany Park Library is a branch of the Chicago Public Library located at 5150 N. Kimball Ave. in the North Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It was opened in 1963 and is ADA compliant. It currently holds large collections of Korean and Spanish language materials.-External links:**...
-5150 N. Kimball Avenue
- Mayfair Branch
-4440 W. Lawrence Avenue
Police Department
- 4650 N. Pulaski Road - 17th District
Fire Department
- Engine Co. 110
- 2322 West Foster Avenue
- Engine Co. 124
- 4426 North Kedzie Avenue
- Engine Co. 69
- 4017 North Tripp
Marine Corps
- U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 2nd Battalion 24th Marines
-3034-60 W. Foster Avenue
Transportation
The Chicago Transit Authority's Ravenswood Brown LineBrown Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Brown Line starts out in northwest Chicago, at the Kimball and Lawrence Avenue terminal in Albany Park, where there is a storage yard and servicing shop for the trains to the east of the passenger station...
terminates at Lawrence and Kimball Avenues. Albany Park is accessible through the Kimball
Kimball (CTA)
Kimball is the 'L' station at the terminus of the CTA's Brown Line. It is located in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood. From Kimball trains run south and then east to Kedzie, which is about one third of a mile away...
, Kedzie
Kedzie (CTA Brown Line)
Kedzie is an 'L' station on the CTA's Brown Line. It is a surface level station located in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood at 4648 North Kedzie, with an auxiliary entrance at 4649 North Spaulding Avenue...
and Francisco
Francisco (CTA)
Francisco is an 'L' station on the CTA's Brown Line. It is a surface level station with a single island platform, located in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood at 4649 North Francisco Avenue...
stations of the Brown Line
Brown Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Brown Line starts out in northwest Chicago, at the Kimball and Lawrence Avenue terminal in Albany Park, where there is a storage yard and servicing shop for the trains to the east of the passenger station...
, the Montrose CTA Blue Line Station, as well as by the Edens expressway (Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
). The name "Albany Park" refers both to one of Chicago's 77 official community areas
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...
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
Jefferson Township, Cook County, Illinois
Jefferson Township is a former civil township in Cook County, Illinois, United States that existed as a separate municipality from 1850 until 1889 when it was annexed into the city of Chicago. Its borders were Devon Avenue on the north, Harlem Avenue on the west, Western Avenue to the east, and...
, which was annexed into Chicago in 1889.
Bus Routes
- Lawrence Bus #81
- Pulaski Bus #53
- Montrose Bus #78
- Kimball/Homan Bus #82
- Irving Park #80
- Foster Bus #92
Politics
The area is one of the most Democratic of the country: In 2004, John KerryJohn Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
won 22,800 votes (97.47%) to only 529 (2.26%) for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. This is due to strong Democratic party involvement at the local level and Chicago's heavily Democratic tilt. Currently, Albany Park is in 3 wards. The 33rd ward (Alderman Richard Mell
Richard Mell
Richard F. "Dick" Mell is an American politician and long-time member of the Chicago City Council. He is a Democrat. Mell is the chairman of the Rules Committee and has a history of feuding with former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley....
- Democrat), the 39th wards (Alderman Margaret Laurino
Margaret Laurino
Margaret Laurino Barnette is Alderman of the 39th Ward of the City of Chicago. She is the daughter of former Alderman , the sister of former state Representative William Laurino, and the wife of 39th Ward Democratic Committeeman .- Early life :...
- Democrat), and the 40th Ward (Alderman Patrick O'Connor - Democrat). Alderman Richard Mell
Richard Mell
Richard F. "Dick" Mell is an American politician and long-time member of the Chicago City Council. He is a Democrat. Mell is the chairman of the Rules Committee and has a history of feuding with former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley....
is the father-in-law of former Governor
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
.
Elected Officials
State Representatives- Deborah L. Mell (District 40)
- John D'Amico (District 15)
- John A. Fritchey (District 11)
- Gregory Harris (District 13)
State Senators
- John J. Cullerton (District 6)
- Iris Y. Martinez (District 20)
- Ira I. Silverstein (District 8)
- Heather Steans (District 7)
Aldermen
- Richard Mell (33rd Ward)
- Margaret Laurino (39th Ward)
- Patrick O'Connor (40th Ward)
Cook County Commissioner
- Robert Maldano (District 8)
Neighborhoods
The traditional neighborhoods within the official community are (including rough boundaries):- Albany Park: North: North Branch of the Chicago River (about 5100 N); South: Montrose (4400 N): East: North Branch of the River (about 3000 W); West: Pulaski (4000 W).
- Mayfair: Lawrence (4800 N), Montrose (4400 N), Pulaski (4000 W), and Cicero (4800 W).
- North MayfairNorth MayfairNorth Mayfair is a historic neighborhood in Chicago's Albany Park community, on the city's Northwest Side.North Mayfair is renowned for its historic architecture. In 2010, This Old House Magazine listed North Mayfair as being one of the best "Old House" neighborhoods in the United States. The...
: Bryn Mawr (5600 N), Lawrence (4800 N), Pulaski (4000 W), and Cicero (4800 W).
Immediately to the north, in North Park, lie Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
, North Park University
North Park University
North Park University is a four-year university located at 3225 W. Foster Avenue on the north side of Chicago, Illinois in the North Park neighborhood. It was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church and shares its campus with the denomination's only seminary...
, and the Bohemian National Cemetery
Bohemian National Cemetery
Bohemian National Cemetery is a cemetery at 5255 North Pulaski Road on the north side of Chicago, Illinois.-History:The cemetery was established by members of Chicago's Czech community in 1877. The community had been outraged when a Czech Catholic woman named Marie Silhanek was denied burial at...
.
Korean commercial district
The neighborhood has been the "KoreatownKoreatown
Koreatown is a term to describe a Korean ethnic enclave within a city or metropolitan area. Similar terms may include Little Seoul or Little Korea.-Beijing:There are more than 150,000 Koreans living in Beijing...
" 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 Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n flavor. Every year there is a Korean festival, and the neighborhood is home to a Korean television station (WOCH-CA
WOCH-CA
WOCH-CA is a class-A television station in Chicago, Illinois that broadcasts as the Korean American Broadcasting Company, or KBC. The station transmits programs from South Korea. The station currently broadcasts on UHF channel 41...
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
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
bakeries and Middle Eastern grocery stores. Approximately 45% of the businesses on this particular stretch of Lawrence Avenue are owned by Korean-Americans.
Schools
Public Schools - Chicago Public SchoolsChicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
operates public schools
- Hibbard Elementary School
- Haugan Magnet School
- Budlong 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 SchoolTheodore Roosevelt High School (Chicago)Theodore Roosevelt High School is a public secondary school in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The school began existence in 1922 as William G...
- Von Steuben Metropolitan Science CenterVon Steuben Metropolitan Science CenterVon Steuben Metropolitan Science Center, formely known as Von Steuben Metropolitan High School, is a high school in Chicago, Illinois, located on the north branch of the Chicago River.The school is named for Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben....
- Edison Regional Gifted Center
- Global Village
- John M. Palmer Elementary
Private Schools
- North Shore Junior Academy
- Little Angels
- Telshe Yeshiva
- Gateway to Learning
- St. Matthias Transfiguration
- St. Edward School
Universities
- Northeastern Illinois University
- North Park University
Parks & 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
Active Neighborhood Organizations
- Albany Park Community Center
- Albany Park Chamber of Commerce
- Albany Park Neighborhood Council
- Albany Park Theater Project
- 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
- 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 PlaceFriedman PlaceFriedman Place is a nonprofit organization for blind adults located at 5527 North Maplewood Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. A Supportive Living Facility with 81 resident apartments, Friedman Place provides specialized housing to qualifying individuals regardless of race, religion, or financial resources...
- North Mayfair Improvement Association
- Mayfair Civic Organization
- Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association
- Korean American Community Services
External links
- Albany Park Neighborhood Guide on ExploreChicago.org
- Official City of Chicago Albany Park Community Map
- Albany Park Living Map
- Healthy Albany Park
- Albany Park Community Center
- Albany Park Theater Project
- Albany Park Chamber of Commerce
- http://www.northmayfair.org
- Albany Park art, culture, housing, gentrification, immigration articles
- Albany Park Issues