Rogers Park, Chicago
Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROG : Rogers Park, Chicago
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| Community Area 01 - Rogers Park Location within the city of Chicago | ||
| Latitude Longitude | ||
| Neighborhoods |
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| ZIP Code | 60626 | |
| Area | 4.79 km² (1.85 mi²) | |
| Population (2000) Density | 63,484 (down 9.35% from 1990) 13,249.4 /km² | |
| Demographics | White Black Hispanic Asian Other | 31.8% 29.6% 27.8% 6.40% 4.48% |
| Median income | $31,602 USD | |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | ||
Rogers Park or more appropriately East Rogers Park is the northernmost of the Chicago community areas in Chicago, Illinois. It is bound by the City of Evanston at Howard Street to the north, Ridge Boulevard to the west, Devon Avenue to the south and the shores of Lake Michigan to the east. The neighborhood is anchored by Loyola University Chicago and the Jesuit religious order. Historic places of interest include Madonna Della Strada and the site of the former Granada Theatre.
- 1 Native American roots
- 2 Becoming part of Chicago
- 3 Cultural diversity
- 4 Current Issues
- 5 Schools
- 6 Elected Officials
- 6.1 Senate
- 6.2 Federal
- 6.3 Senate
Native American roots
The Rogers Park area was developed on what once was the convergence of two Native American trails, now known as Rogers Avenue and Ridge Boulevard, pre-dating modern metropolitan Chicago. The Potawatomi and various other regional tribes often settled in Rogers Park from season to season.Rogers Park was named after a pioneer settler and developer Phillip Rogers. Rogers often traded and worked with the local tribes. Envisioning a future settlement, Rogers eventually purchased the land from the tribes for later development.
Becoming part of Chicago
From 1830 and 1850, waves of immigrants from Luxembourg and Germany came to Rogers Park, where farming was the main industry. The average price of land at the time was $1.25 an acre ($309/km²), and the dominant crops were hay and cucumbers for pickles. On April 29, 1878, Rogers Park was incorporated as a village of Illinois governed by six trustees. In 1893, the village was annexed to the City of Chicago. Successive generations brought about vast cultural changes to the village. Elite Chicagoans began to move to new planned communities in the suburbs by the 1930s, which ushered in the migration of Germans, English and Irish and Jewish families to Rogers Park. With the settlement of these migrants, their cultural traditions flourished.Cultural diversity
Rogers Park continued to see massive changes in its demographics into the twenty first century. The 2000 census data showed it to be one of the most diverse American communities in the country, with a robust mix of ethnic backgrounds, languages, age diversity, and a wide range of family incomes. Rogers Park contains many houses of prayer of different religions and denominations.Current Issues
Rogers Park is currently going through a period of gentrification. The population is divided on the issue. The elected officials as well as Loyola University favor gentrification. The opposition to gentrification is lead by some local residents and the Rogers Park Community Action Network (RPCAN).Schools
- Boone Elementary School
- Chicago Waldorf School
- Consolidated Hebrew High School
- Field Elementary School
- Gale School
- Hanna Sacks Girls High School
- Hayt Elementary School
- Keshat Day School
- Kilmer Elementary School
- Loyola University Chicago
- North Shore School
- Rogers Elementary
- St. Gertrude School
- St. Margaret Mary School
- St. Scholastica High School for Girls
- Swift Elementary Speciality School
- Sullivan High School
Elected Officials
Aldermen
40th ward Patrick O'Connor (D) 49th ward Joe Moore (D)County
10th District Mike Quigley (D)State
Representative
14th District Harry Osterman (D) 18th District Julie Hamos (D)Senate
7th District Carol Ronen (D)8th District Ira Silverstein (D)
9th District Jeffery M. Shoenberg (D)
Federal
Representative
9th Illinois District Jan Schakowsky (D)Senate
Richard "Dick" Durbin (D) Barack Obama (D)External links
- [Lee Street - All about Rogers Park, including aerial photos]
- [rogerspark.com community site]
- [Photographs of Rogers Park by Jordan Bettis]
- [DevCorp North]
- [Rogers Park Historical Society]
- [Rogers Park Community Council]
- [Forum49: Promoting citizen participation in Chicago's 49th Ward]
- [Rogers Park Community Action Network]
- [History of Rogers Park on Encyclopedia of Chicago]
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