Jefferson Park | |
|---|---|
| Community Area 11 - Jefferson Park | |
 Monument ofThomas Jefferson in front of theJefferson Park Transit Center | |
| Nickname: Jeff Park | |
 Location within the city of Chicago | |
| Coordinates:41°58.8′N87°46.2′W / 41.9800°N 87.7700°W /41.9800; -87.7700 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| City | Chicago |
| Named after | Thomas Jefferson |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.35 sq mi (6.09 km2) |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
• Total | 26,216 |
| • Density | 11,100/sq mi (4,300/km2) |
| Demographics 2018[1] | |
| • White | 61.31% |
| • Black | 1.10% |
| • Hispanic | 24.69% |
| • Asian | 10.34% |
| • Other | 2.57% |
| Educational Attainment 2018[1] | |
| • High School Diploma or Higher | 89.54% |
| • Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.41% |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | parts of 60630, 60646 |
| Median household income 2018[1] | $76,054 |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | |
Jefferson Park is one of the 77community areas of Chicago, located on the northwest side of the city. Theneighborhood of Jefferson Park occupies a larger swath of territory.[2] It is also named afterThomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president and theFounding Father who was the main writer of theDeclaration of Independence.[3]
Jefferson Park is bordered by the community areas ofNorwood Park to the northwest,Forest Glen to the northeast,Portage Park to the south, and the suburb ofHarwood Heights to the west. TheGuatemalan consulate is located in Jefferson Park at 5559 North Elston Avenue.[4]
Settlement in the vicinity of Jefferson Park began in the 1830s withJohn Kinzie Clark andElijah Wentworth, whose claim was near what is now theJefferson Park Metra Station, where he operated a tavern and inn. The tiny settlement of traders, hunters, and farmers consisted of simple one and two roomlog cabins until Abram Gale, for whom Gale Street is named, built the first frame house in Jefferson. Jefferson Park became the hub of an independenttownship that was incorporated at the nearby Dickinson Tavern asJefferson Township in 1850 until annexed by the city of Chicago in 1889. The area was once home to a significant population ofVolga Germans, and one of the area's one time local landmarks was a local apartment building in the vicinity of the park along Higgins Avenue known by locals as "the Russian Hotel".[citation needed]
Jefferson Park is also home to theNorthwest Chicago Historical Society which is dedicated to preserve the area's rich history as well as most historical events and lectures.
On January 21, 2021 aBoutique AirPilatus PC-12 was landing at theChicago O'Hare Airport when its left main tire separated from the aircraft and landed in Jefferson Park. Police reported the tire, along with several small parts were found on a sidewalk near Leland Avenue. The tire hit two houses before coming to a rest on the sidewalk.[5]
Jefferson Park is a 7-acre (28,000 m2) park operated by theChicago Park District. The park, which is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places is located on the site of the Esdohr Farm.
Jefferson Park residents are served byChicago Public Schools, which includes neighborhood and citywide options for students. There are also a number of private parochial schools run byRoman Catholic andLutheran congregations in the area. TheChicago Public Library operates the Jefferson Park branch for neighborhood residents.
The Jefferson Park community area has supported theDemocratic Party in the past two presidential elections. In the2016 presidential election, Jefferson Park cast 6,693 votes forHillary Clinton and cast 3,490 votes forDonald Trump (62.65% to 32.67%).[6] In the2012 presidential election, Jefferson Park cast 6,019 votes forBarack Obama and cast 3,129 votes forMitt Romney (64.42% to 33.49%).[7]
Jefferson Park is the home of the historic formerGateway TheatreMovie Palace that is now only part of theCopernicus Center. The Copernicus Center and former Gateway Theatre (renamed the Mitchell P Kobelinski theater) still serve the community as aperforming arts center, hosting numerous music concerts, theatrical performances, classes, seminars, community meetings, and cultural events throughout the year. The Copernicus Center is also a voting location for Jefferson Park residents. The Copernicus Center "Annex," which includes both an event space and offices, houses the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce office.
Jefferson Park is also home to the award-winning Gift Theatre Company, a professional theatre company located at 4802 N. Milwaukee co-founded by Jeff Park nativeMichael Patrick Thornton.
The neighborhood holds two large festivals annually: Jeff Fest in June, andTaste of Polonia overLabor Day weekend.Christina Madonna of "Chicago All Stars" fame is a native of Jefferson Park.
TheTaste of Polonia has brought some of the nation's most prominent political figures to Jefferson Park to woo the support ofChicago's Polish community.PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush hosted the festival in 1992 and in 2000, futureVice-PresidentDick Cheney as well asTipper Gore, andHadassah Lieberman made an appearance.[8] Vice-President Cheney's presence was particularly notorious with coverage inThe New York Times of his lively antics which included dancing thepolka, serving attendeeskielbasa with stuffed cabbage and addressing a cheering crowd by shouting the Polish phraseSto Lat.[9]
Jefferson Park has long been one of Chicago's transportation hubs, earning the neighborhood the nickname as "The Gateway to Chicago".[10] The neighborhood is served by aBlue Linestation in the median of theKennedy Expressway at the intersection ofMilwaukee and Gale Street, less than three blocks away from theCopernicus Center and the historic Jefferson Park Congregational Church. TheUnion Pacific / Northwest Line also provides service to Jefferson Park. In 2005, a monument toThomas Jefferson was placed along the station's entrance alongMilwaukee Avenue.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 20,532 | — | |
| 1940 | 21,537 | 4.9% | |
| 1950 | 23,556 | 9.4% | |
| 1960 | 27,494 | 16.7% | |
| 1970 | 27,553 | 0.2% | |
| 1980 | 24,583 | −10.8% | |
| 1990 | 23,649 | −3.8% | |
| 2000 | 25,859 | 9.3% | |
| 2010 | 25,448 | −1.6% | |
| 2020 | 26,216 | 3.0% | |
| [11][1] | |||
Jefferson Park is a predominantly middle-class neighborhood of people coming from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Like many neighborhoods on theNorthwest Side ofChicago the neighborhood has a heavyPolish-American presence, and is home to theCopernicus Foundation, the Polish parish of St. Constance, as well as a host of other Polish-American organizations, institutions and businesses.
Jefferson Park is also known for having a very high number of resident city and county workers. The area is filled with the homes ofChicago Public School teachers and staff,Chicago Police Department,Chicago Fire Department as well asCook CountySheriff officers and staff.
Boundaries are Austin Ave, Chicago River, Railway, Elston Ave, Foster Ave, Edens Expy, Cicero Ave, Montrose Ave, Narraganset Ave, Nagle Ave, Bryn Mawr Ave, Northwest Hwy, Milwaukee Ave.
Boundaries are Indian Rd, Central Ave, Ardmore Ave.[12]http://www.indianwoods.org/ Originally part of the Forest Glen Community. Also part of the South Edgebrook Neighborhood.
Gladstone Park is a neighborhood in the northern section of the Jefferson Parkcommunity area ofChicago. It is centered at the large and confusing intersection ofNorthwest Highway and Central,Milwaukee, and Foster Avenues. TheKennedy Expressway runs nearby as well and has an entrance from Foster Avenue. The park for which the neighborhood is named is located a few blocks to the northwest betweenNorthwest Highway andMilwaukee, on Menard Avenue.
The numerous examples of homes in theDutch Colonial style has led to the area's nickname as"Little Rotterdam", an allusion to the Dutch city ofRotterdam.
Gladstone Park has its ownstop on theUnion Pacific / Northwest Line.
Places adjacent to Jefferson Park, Chicago | |
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| International | |
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