Jefferson Park, Chicago facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson Park
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| Community Area 11 - Jefferson Park | |
Monument of Thomas Jefferson in front of the Jefferson Park Transit Center
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| Nickname(s):
Jeff Park
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Location within the city of Chicago
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| City | Chicago |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.35 sq mi (6.09 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 26,216 |
| • Density | 11,149/sq mi (4,305/km2) |
| Demographics 2018 | |
| • White | 61.31% |
| • Black | 1.10% |
| • Hispanic | 24.69% |
| • Asian | 10.34% |
| • Other | 2.57% |
| Educational Attainment 2018 | |
| • 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
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| Median household income 2018 | $76,054 |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | |
Jefferson Park is one of the 77 community areas of Chicago. It is located on the northwest side of the city. The larger neighborhood of Jefferson Park covers an even bigger area.
Jefferson Park shares borders with other community areas. These include Norwood Park to the northwest and Forest Glen to the northeast. To the south is Portage Park. The suburb of Harwood Heights is to the west. The consulate of Guatemala is also located here.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
People started settling in the Jefferson Park area in the 1830s. Early settlers like John Kinzie Clark and Elijah Wentworth built simple log cabins. Elijah Wentworth even ran a tavern and inn near where the Metra Station is today.
Abram Gale built the first frame house in the area. A street is named after him. Jefferson Park became the center of its own independent township. This township was officially formed in 1850. It was called Jefferson Township. In 1889, the city of Chicago took over the area.
Long ago, many people from a group called Volga Germans lived here. There was even an old apartment building known as "the Russian Hotel."
The Northwest Chicago Historical Society is also in Jefferson Park. This group works to save the area's history. They also hold events and talks about local history.
On January 21, 2021, something unusual happened. A small plane was landing at Chicago O'Hare Airport. One of its tires came off and landed in Jefferson Park! Police found the tire and small parts on a sidewalk. It hit two houses before stopping.
Jefferson Park: The Green Space
Jefferson Park is a park that is about 7 acres (2.8 hectares) in size. The Chicago Park District manages it. This park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It sits on what used to be the Esdohr Farm.
Learning and Education
Students in Jefferson Park go to Chicago Public Schools. These schools offer choices for students living in the area. There are also private religious schools. These are run by Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. The Chicago Public Library has a branch in Jefferson Park. It serves all the people living in the neighborhood.
Culture and Community Life
Jefferson Park is home to the historic former Gateway Theatre. This old Movie Palace is now part of the Copernicus Center. The Copernicus Center and its theater (now called the Mitchell P Kobelinski theater) are still used today. They are a performing arts center. Many music concerts, plays, classes, and cultural events happen here. The Copernicus Center is also a place where people in Jefferson Park can go to vote. The Copernicus Center "Annex" has event spaces and offices. The Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce office is located there.
The Gift Theatre Company is also in Jefferson Park. This is a professional theater group. It was started by Jeff Park native Michael Patrick Thornton.
The neighborhood holds two big festivals every year. One is Jeff Fest in June. The other is Taste of Polonia during Labor Day weekend. Christina Madonna, famous from "Chicago All Stars," grew up in Jefferson Park.
The Taste of Polonia festival has attracted important political figures. They come to gain support from Chicago's Polish community. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush attended the festival. In 2000, future Vice-President Dick Cheney also made an appearance. Tipper Gore and Hadassah Lieberman were there too. Vice-President Cheney's visit was widely reported. He was seen dancing the polka and serving kielbasa. He also shouted the Polish phrase Sto Lat to the cheering crowd.
Getting Around: Transportation Hub
Jefferson Park has always been a major transportation spot in Chicago. This is why it's sometimes called "The Gateway to Chicago." The neighborhood has a Blue Line train station. This station is part of the Jefferson Park Transit Center. It is located in the middle of the Kennedy Expressway. It's also near Milwaukee and Gale Street. This is just a few blocks from the Copernicus Center.
The Union Pacific / Northwest Line train also serves Jefferson Park. In 2005, a statue of Thomas Jefferson was placed near the station entrance.
Neighborhoods Within Jefferson Park
The Jefferson Park Neighborhood
The Jefferson Park neighborhood is mostly middle-class. People from many different backgrounds live here. Like other areas on the Northwest Side of Chicago, it has a large Polish-American population. It is home to the Copernicus Foundation. There is also a Polish church called St. Constance. Many other Polish-American groups and businesses are found here.
Jefferson Park is also known for having many city and county workers living there. You can find homes of Chicago Public School teachers and staff. Many Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department members live here too. Also, Cook County Sheriff officers and staff call this area home.
Gladstone Park
Gladstone Park is another neighborhood inside the Jefferson Park community area. It is in the northern part of the area. It is centered around a busy intersection of Northwest Highway, Central, Milwaukee, and Foster Avenues. The Kennedy Expressway is also nearby. It has an entrance from Foster Avenue. The park that the neighborhood is named after is a few blocks away.
Many homes in Gladstone Park are built in the Dutch Colonial style. Because of this, the area is sometimes called "Little Rotterdam." This name refers to the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Gladstone Park has its own train stop. It is called Gladstone Park on the Union Pacific / Northwest Line.
