Albany Park, Chicago

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Albany Park (Chicago, Illinois)
Community Area 14 - Albany Park
Chicago Community Area 14 - Albany Park
Location within the city of Chicago
Latitude
Longitude		 41°58.2′N 87°43.2′W
Neighborhoods
  • Albany Park
  • Mayfair
  • North Mayfair
  • Ravenswood Manor
ZIP Code parts of 60625, 60630
Area 5.00 km² (1.93 mi²)
Population (2000)
Density		 57,655 (up 16.6% from 1990)
11,534.0 /km²
Demographics White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Other		 27.5%
3.31%
46.4%
17.7%
5.14%
Median income $40,711
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

Albany Park is a residential and commercial neighborhood on the Northwest Side of Chicago, and one of the most 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, Vietnam, the Former Yugoslavia (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia), Romania, Pakistan and the Middle East. 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 25% in the last two decades.[1] The neighborhood has been the "Koreatown" of Chicago for some time. The majority of Korean shops, in Albany Park, can be found on Lawrence Avenue (4800 North), between Kedzie (3200 West) and Pulaski (4000 West). Although many of the Asians 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-LP Ch. 28) 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. Albany Park is also notable for being the home of the current governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich.

It has the north terminal for the Brown Line (aka the Ravenswood 'L') at Lawrence and Kimball Avenues.

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 is a strong Democratic town. Currently, Albany Park is in 2 wards. The 33th ward (Alderman Richard Mell - Democrat) and the 39th wards (Alderman Margaret Laurino - Democrat). Alderman Richard Mell is the father-in-law of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Like many of communities in Chicago, Albany Park, is being gentrified. Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a highly controversial development tool, zones are being used as a tool of gentrification throughout the city.

Albany Park is accessible through the Kimball and Kedzie stations of the Brown Line 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 West 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 Park Township, which was annexed into Chicago in 1889.

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

  • Albany Park: Bryn Mawr (5600 N), Irving Park (4000 N), north branch of the river (about 3000 W), and Pulaski (4000 W).
  • Ravenswood Manor: Lawrence (4800 N), Montrose (4400 N), north branch of the river (about 2600 W), and Sacramento (3000 W).
  • Mayfair: Lawrence (4800 N), Montrose (4400 N), Pulaski (4000 W), and Cicero (4800 W).
  • North Mayfair: Bryn Mawr (5600 N), Lawrence (4800 N), Pulaski (4000 W), and Cicero (4800 W). www.northmayfair.org

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

[edit] External links

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