The neighborhood of Rogers Park sits in the northernmost of Chicago. The city of Evanston is one boundary, along Juneway Terrace, and Howard Street to the north. Other markers include Ridge Boulevard to the west and Devon Avenue and the Edgewater neighborhood in the south. Until the 1890′s West Ridge was also a part of Rogers Park Chicago. Some of the people in Chicago refer to Rogers Park as “East Rogers Park.” This refers to all of the areas east of Ridge but usually this refers to the smaller areas of the portion of Rogers Park east of Clark Street.
The Rogers Park areas has Native American roots. The Pottawatomi and other tribes would settle in Rogers Park from one season to the next. The Pottawattomie Park is a namesake of the tribe. Rogers Park was actually named after Phillip Rogers. Rogers was a pioneer settler and a land developer. He was known to have traded and worked with some of the area tribes. He made his purchase, from the tribes, as he looked forward to the future when the land would be developed.
Photo By: Up to the 1850′s a number of immigrants from Germany and Luxembourg settled at Rogers Park. Farming was the area industry. They bought pieces of lands for $1.25 an acre. Here they grew a variety of crops including pickles and hay. In 1878 the area was annexed to Chicago.
Today the area is a very diverse community. There is a blend of many ethnic backgrounds and more than 80 assorted languages are spoken here. One of the attractions to Rogers Park is that fact it is one of the few Chicago neighborhoods that has direct access to the beach (Lake Michigan). The area has an impressive selection of transportation ranging from cars to buses, and various line stations. The community is one of five Chicago neighborhoods to implement a new concept with the Chicago law enforcement. This has resulted in a drastic reduction in crime rates.
Rogers Park is a unique community. It has something to offer most anyone’s needs. It is a great place to call home.
