Neighborhood News: Visiting Albany Park, the ‘Gateway to the World‘
Located on the Northwest Side of Chicago, with the North Branch of the Chicago River forming its east and north boundaries, Albany Park has served as a welcoming spot for generations of immigrants, and is one of the most diverse spots in the United States. That’s why it’s called “The Gateway to the World.”
History
According to Chicago Studies, Albany Park began as farmland more than 150 years ago. An entrepreneur, Richard Rusk turned a 10-acre plot of land into a multi-faceted farm that attracted more residents in the late decades of the nineteenth century. In 1889, the city of Chicago annexed the community. In 1893, a group of investors purchased over 600 acres of a nearby farm for development. One of the investors, DeLancy Louderback from Albany, New York was one of the investors and decided to name the development after his hometown. This group brought transportation lines, expanding the residential and commercial sectors of the neighborhood.
By 1907, the Ravenswood Elevated train line extended to the neighborhood’s Kimball and Lawrence Avenues; Albany Park experienced a building boom. Department stores, theaters, and smaller businesses abounded.
Between 1909 and 1929, the value of land multiplied more than 50 times over. By the 1920s, the neighborhood was almost fully developed and inhabited by more than 26,000 residents…mostly German and Swedish immigrants. In the early 20th century, European Jews began to migrate to the neighborhood; Albany Park became and remained predominantly Jewish throughout the 1950s. However, many Jewish families left for suburban communities north of the city after World War II. By 1930, according to Wikipedia sources, the population of the neighborhood reached 55,000, and many schools, religious institutions, and parks opened. Haugan Elementary School became the biggest elementary school in the city and Roosevelt High School’s overcrowding led to Von Steuben Elementary being converted into a high school.
Like many Chicago neighborhoods, Albany Park lost population to the suburbs after World War II.
But reinvestment programs and a new wave of immigrants, primarily from Korea, the Philippines, and Guatemala led to the revitalization of Albany Park in the 1970’s according to WTTW.com. So many Korean immigrants bought houses and opened businesses that the area was known as Koreatown.
Today
Albany Park remains a port of entry and melting pot, with a well-known stretch of Middle Eastern businesses at Kedzie and Lawrence, South and Central American restaurants and businesses along Lawrence.
Things to Do
One of the reasons Albany Park is a sought-after community today is that there are innumerable ways for families to spend time there. For example:
Ronan Park, 3000 W. Argyle Street, features a multicultural sculpture park and Healing Garden.
River Park, 5100 N. Francisco Avenue, offers rich wildlife habitat, excellent fishing, and a canoe launch, boasts a swimming pool and an interactive water playground in the summer months.
Albany Park Theater Project,3320 W. Foster Avenue, as their mission states, creates transformative experiences that forge an inclusive community of youth artists, adult artists and audiences to envision and build a more just, equitable and joyful world.
Cambodian American Heritage Museum, 2831 W. Lawrence Avenue, only museum of its kind in the US, with programs and activities devoted to understanding the Cambodian genocide, promoting social justice, advocacy for genocide survivors and their families, healing arts, and youth leadership development.
The American Indian Center, 3401 W. Ainslie Street, just north of the end of the Brown Line, helps create bonds of understanding and communication between Indians and non-Indians in this city and advances the general welfare of American Indians through programs, exhibits, the arts, and advocacy.
WBEZ-FM created a comprehensive guide to Albany Park. Click here for more suggestions.
Event- Flavors of Albany Park on June 25
Consider this Chicago’s “Gateway to the World of Food!”
From 5pm- 8pm, choose one of four unique routes. Your passport ticket unlocks sample-sized culinary delights from over 60 diverse local restaurants. Don’t miss this incredible journey celebrating such participating restaurants as Los Barriles Restaurant Sport Bar, Lawrence Fish Market, La Fogata, Dulce De Leche, Taqueria Y Cafeteria Siglo XX, Luella’s Southern Kitchen, My Doner, Antepli Mediterranean Grill, Arzan Café, Subo, Primetime and so much more! For tickets and information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
