Norwood Park, Chicago
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}}Template:Main other{{#ifexpr:{{#invoke:ParameterCount|main|mapframe|image_map|image_map1|pushpin_map}} >2 |Template:Main other}} Norwood Park is one of the 77 Chicago community areas. It encompasses the smaller neighborhoods of Big Oaks, Norwood Park East, Norwood Park West, Old Norwood Park, Oriole Park, and Union Ridge.
The community area contains the oldest extant building in Chicago, the Noble–Seymour–Crippen House, built in 1833 and greatly expanded in 1868.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Organized in 1873 as a township from the adjacent townships of Jefferson, Leyden, Niles, and Maine,<ref name="Norwood Park History">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and named after Henry Ward Beecher's 1868 novel Norwood, or Village Life in New England (With the "Park" added to account for another post office in Illinois with the Norwood name), Norwood Park was incorporated as a village in 1874<ref name="Encyclopedia of Chicago">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and annexed to Chicago on November 7, 1893.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Every Memorial Day since 1922 there has been a parade that runs through Norwood Park.<ref name="Memorial Day Parade">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> William Howard Taft High School, best known as the inspiration for the musical Grease, was completed in 1939 with major additions made in 1959 and 1974.
History
The first inhabitant of European descent in the area was Mark Noble, who arrived in 1833 and constructed a house that is still standing as of 2024, the oldest in the Chicago city limits.<ref name = "Norwood Park History"/><ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/> English farmers were the main group in the 1830s, although they would later be supplanted by Germans and to a lesser extent Poles and Scandinavians.<ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/> In 1853 the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad, which would eventually become the Chicago and North Western Railway and is currently Metra's Union Pacific / Northwest Line, laid tracks in the area, and in 1868 the Norwood Land and Building Association was formed and purchased the land.<ref name = "Norwood Park History"/><ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/> A hotel was constructed shortly thereafter in an attempt to lure tourists from Chicago, although it was ultimately unsuccessful.<ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/> The first Post Office and store were built respectively in 1870 and 1871.<ref name = "Norwood Park History"/>
Upon its incorporation the Village of Norwood Park prohibited the sale of alcohol.<ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/> As of April 2014 there were still eight dry precincts in the community area.<ref name="Dry Precincts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first liquor store in the area in 50 years opened in 2016, without controversy about its existence but with such restrictions on its operation as early closing hours and a price minimum of $5.99.<ref name="DNAInfo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Liquor Store Restrictions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During the 1920s such roads as Foster Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue, Devon Avenue, Northwest Highway, and Harlem Avenue were improved, further facilitating transportation between Norwood Park and its surroundings.<ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/> The fieldhouse of the eponymous Norwood Park was built in 1928.<ref name="Community Guide">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Between 1930 and 1940 the area added approximately 2,000 residents despite the Great Depression.<ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/><ref name = "Paral"/> The Kennedy Expressway was constructed nearby in the 1950s although the historic buildings of Old Norwood were unaffected.<ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/> The Norwood Park Chamber of Commerce was incorporated on May 20, 1977.<ref name="Community Guide" /> The City of Chicago recognized the Norwood Park Historical District in 1986 and declared the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House a Chicago Landmark on May 11, 1988. The Noble-Seymour-Crippen House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 11, 2000.<ref name = "Norwood Park History"/>
Neighborhoods
Norwood Park Historical District (Old Norwood)
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The Norwood Park Historical District, also known as Old Norwood, was recognized by the City of Chicago in 1986. It contains the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House, Wingert House, Taft High School, and the Norwood Park Public School.
Norwood Park East
Norwood Park East is bounded by Niles, the north branch of the Chicago River, Devon Avenue, Indian Road, Austin Avenue, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Avondale Avenue and Harlem Avenue. The Roden branch of the Chicago Public Library system is located in the neighborhood. The public school that is located in the central part of the area and that the area is mostly zoned to is William J. Onahan Public School, located on West Raven Street. Rufus M. Hitch Public School, located on North McVicker Avenue, is in the area and zoned to as well. The neighborhood is also home to St. Thecla Catholic School and Parish.<ref name="Community Guide" />
Norwood Park West
Norwood Park West is bounded by Devon Avenue, Harlem Avenue, the Kennedy Expressway and Canfield Road. It is home to Edison Park Elementary School, despite the name implying a location in Edison Park. It is also home to Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Resurrection Medical Center and Resurrection High School.<ref name="Community Guide" />
Big Oaks
Big Oaks is bounded by Foster Avenue to the north, Nagle Avenue to the east, Gunnison Street to the south, and Harlem Avenue to the west. Opposite of the neighborhood's southern border at Gunnison Street is the suburb of Harwood Heights and an unincorporated area housing Ridgemoor Country Club. Many of the city's police officers live in Big Oaks, and in recent years the area has seen an increase in the number of Polish immigrants.
At one time, the area was dominated by a large golf course called Big Oaks Golf Course. In the early 1950s, the golf course was demolished, and hundreds of homes replaced it.
The neighborhood contains three schools: Daniel Carter Beard Elementary School, located on West Strong Avenue, John W. Garvy Elementary School, located on West Foster Avenue, and St. Monica Academy, located on North Mont Clare Avenue.<ref name="Community Guide" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Oriole Park
Oriole Park is bordered by the Kennedy Expressway to the north, Foster Ave to the south, Harlem Avenue to the east, and Cumberland Avenue to the west.
The area is home to Oriole Park, which is located in the center of the neighborhood south of Bryn Mawr Avenue. The park covers over Template:Convert of land. The park is a Chicago Park District facility.
The Oriole Park Library is located on Balmoral Avenue next to Oriole Park Elementary School. It operates under the Chicago Public Library.
The neighborhood contains two schools: Oriole Park Elementary School, located on Oketo and Balmoral Avenues, and St. Eugene Catholic School, located on Foster and Canfield Avenues.
Due to its proximity on the edge of Chicago and its suburban feel, Oriole Park residents are primarily city workers, such as teachers, police officers, union workers and firefighters.
Union Ridge
Union Ridge, one of the highest points of Cook County,<ref name = "Norwood Park History"/> is bounded by Bryn Mawr, Foster, Nagle, and Harlem Avenues. Union Ridge contains no schools.<ref name="Community Guide" /> Union Ridge Cemetery is located on Higgins and Talcott Avenues.
Demographics
As of 2015, the median household income of the community area was $71,282 and the median age was 44.3. 80.1% of the population was White, 0.9% was Black, 4.2% was Asian, and 2.2% was Other. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.8% of the population.<ref name="cmap" /> This is a marked change from 2000, when Whites were 92.7% of the population and Hispanics or Latinos were 6.4%.<ref name = "Encyclopedia of Chicago"/>
Although predominantly Irish, the Norwood Park neighborhood has a substantial Serbian-American community, centered on Serbian Road and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. There is a K-8 Serbian-American School, Saint Sava Academy, and an annual Serbian festival "Serb Fest" which takes place on Serbian Road. During 1990-1999 more than 500 Serbian families from Croatia and another 700 from Bosnia became settled refugees in Norwood Park. Although many have since moved into Edison Park, Park Ridge, Harwood Heights, and Schiller Park, Norwood Park remains the hub of Serbian migrants in Chicago.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:US Census population
Politics
Local
The community area is split between the 39th, 41st, and 45th wards of the Chicago City Council, where it is represented by Democrat Samantha Nugent, Independent Anthony Napolitano, and Democrat Jim Gardiner respectively.<ref name="Ward map">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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| Years | 27th Ward{{#if:a|a|[1]}} | 41st Ward | 45th Ward | 39th Ward | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 – 1894 | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Republican|Mathew J. Conway, Republican | Template:Party shading/Republican|Frederick F. Haussen, Republican | No such ward | No such ward | No such ward |
| 1894 – 1895 | rowspan="4" Template:Party shading/Republican|Hubert W. Butler, Republican | ||||
| 1895 – 1897 | Template:Party shading/Democratic|George S. Foster, Democratic | ||||
| 1897 – 1899 | Template:Party shading/Republican|Spencer S. Kimbell, Republican | ||||
| 1899 – 1900 | rowspan="3" Template:Party shading/Republican|Arthur F. Keeney, Republican | ||||
| 1900 – 1902 | Template:Party shading/Independent|Henry Wulff, Independent | ||||
| 1902 – 1903 | rowspan="3" Template:Party shading/Republican|Hubert W. Butler, Republican | ||||
| 1903 – 1905 | Template:Party shading/Democratic|Silas F. Leachman, Democratic | ||||
| 1905 – 1906 | rowspan="3" Template:Party shading/Republican|Henry J. Siewert, Republican | ||||
| 1906 – 1908 | Template:Party shading/Democratic|Hans Blase, Democratic | ||||
| 1908 – 1909 | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Republican|James F. Clancy, Republican | ||||
| 1909 – 1910 | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Republican|Joseph F. Capp, Republican | ||||
| 1910 – 1911 | rowspan="3" Template:Party shading/Democratic|Frank J. Wilson, Democratic | ||||
| 1911 – 1913 | Template:Party shading/Democratic|Jens N. Hyldahl, Democratic | ||||
| 1913 – 1914 | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Democratic|George E. Trebing, Democratic | ||||
| 1914 – 1915 | rowspan="3" Template:Party shading/Independent|Oliver L. Watson, Independent | ||||
| 1915 – 1919 | Template:Party shading/Socialist|John C. Kennedy, Socialist | ||||
| 1919 – 1920 | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Republican|Edward R. Armitage, Republican | ||||
| 1920 – 1923 | Template:Party shading/Democratic|Christ A. Jensen, Democratic | ||||
| 1923 – 1930 | Not in ward | Template:Party shading/Democratic| Thomas J. Bowler, Democratic | Not in ward | Not in ward | |
| 1930 – 1931 | Vacant | ||||
| 1931 – 1935 | Template:Party shading/Republican| James C. Moreland, Republican | ||||
| 1935 – 1947 | Template:Party shading/Democratic| William J. Cowhey, Democratic | ||||
| 1947 – 1958 | Template:Party shading/Republican| Joseph P. Immel Jr., Republican | ||||
| 1958 – 1959 | Vacant | ||||
| 1959 – 1963 | Template:Party shading/Democratic| Harry Bell, Democratic | ||||
| 1963 – 1972 | Template:Party shading/Republican| Edward T. Scholl, Republican | ||||
| 1972 – 1973 | Vacant | ||||
| 1973 – 1983 | rowspan="3" Template:Party shading/Democratic| Roman Pucinski, Democratic | ||||
| 1983 – 1987 | Template:Party shading/Democratic|Gerald McLaughlin, Democratic | ||||
| 1987 – 1991 | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Democratic|Patrick Levar, Democratic | ||||
| 1991 – 2011 | Template:Party shading/Republican| Brian Doherty, Republican | ||||
| 2011 – 2015 | Template:Party shading/Democratic|Mary O'Connor, Democratic | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Democratic|John Arena, Democratic | |||
| 2015 – 2019 | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Republican| Anthony Napolitano, Republican | rowspan="2" Template:Party shading/Democratic|Margaret Laurino, Democratic | |||
| 2019 – present | Template:Party shading/Independent| Jim Gardiner, Independent | ||||
| <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^a{{#if:| }} Prior to 1923 Chicago comprised 35 wards, each electing two aldermen in staggered two-year terms.<ref name="Centennial List" /> | |||||
In the Cook County Board of Commissioners the large majority of the area is in the 9th district, represented by Republican Peter N. Silvestri, while the eastern parts of Norwood Park East, Union Ridge, and Big Oaks are in the 10th district, represented by Democrat Bridget Gainer.<ref name="County District Map">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of 2018 Silvestri is the only Republican County Commissioner representing a part of the City of Chicago.
State
In the Illinois House of Representatives the majority of the community area is located within District 20, represented by Republican Michael P. McAuliffe, while most of Union Ridge and Big Oaks is in District 19, represented by Democrat Robert Martwick, and a tiny fraction in the northeast is part of District 15, represented by Democrat John D'Amico.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In the Illinois Senate the vast majority of the community area is located within District 10, represented by Democrat John G. Mulroe, while a tiny part in the northeast is part of District 8, represented by Democrat Ira I. Silverstein.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Federal
In the United States House of Representatives it is split between Illinois's 5th and Illinois's 9th congressional districts, where it is respectively represented by Democrats Mike Quigley and Jan Schakowsky.
Norwood Park has supported the Democratic nominee for President in the past two presidential elections. In the 2016 presidential election, Norwood Park cast 9,894 votes (51.81%) for Hillary Clinton and cast 8,280 votes (43.36%) for Donald Trump.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the 2012 presidential election, Norwood Park cast 8,441 votes (54.19%) for Barack Obama and cast 6,833 votes (43.86%) for Mitt Romney.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Education
Chicago Public Schools serves Norwood Park, as the aforementioned schools are located in and serve the area. Taft High School is in Norwood Park, serving the entire community area for public education, while for secondary education Luther North and Resurrection High Schools are also in the area.<ref name = "Community Guide" />
Relation to Grease Musical
Grease creator Jim Jacobs attended Taft High School, which was used as the backdrop to Grease. Much of what is in the play is based on his experience growing up in Norwood Park during the 1950s and 1960s. He has stated that the characters of Grease were based on actual people he attended school with. A 2011 reproduction of the original Grease musical by American Theater Company in Chicago revisited Norwood Park's influence on the production. During the reproduction, many Chicago references were put in, including references to the characters living on "Chicago's Northwest side" as middle class first-generation Americans with parents who worked in local factories. Also mentioned were local favorites, including the hot dog restaurant Superdawg.<ref name="Tribune">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Notable residents
- Ral Donner (1943–1984), early American rock and roll musician and singer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Robert Hanssen (1944–2023), former FBI agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services against the United States from 1979 to 2001.<ref>Havill, Adrian. "The Spawning of A Spy." Robert Philip Hanssen: The Spy who Stayed out in the Cold. Crime Library. Retrieved on April 11, 2012.</ref>
- Jim Jacobs (born 1942), creator of the musical Grease. He was raised in Norwood Park.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Terry Kath (1946–1978), guitarist, founding member of the band Chicago<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Edward Stanley Michael (1918–1994), pilot in the United States Army Air Forces and awardee of the Medal of Honor. He was raised at 6616 West Schreiber Avenue.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Louise Schaaf (1906–2020), supercentenarian notable for being, at the time of her death, the oldest person in Illinois and the oldest known person born in Germany. She resided in Norwood Park from 1959 until her death in 2020<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Joseph Sikora (born 1976), actor known for his portrayal of Tommy Egan in Power. He was a childhood resident of Norwood Park.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Jack Suwinski (born 1998), professional baseball player playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the MLB. Suwinski was born and lived in Norwood Park for his childhood.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
References
External links
Template:Sister project Template:Portal
- Grease gets its grit back, Chicago Tribune Article
- Official City of Chicago Norwood Park Community Map
- Chicago landmarks
- Chicago Park District
Template:Geographic Location Template:Community areas of Chicago Template:Neighborhoods in Chicago {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}}
- Pages using infobox settlement with the wikidata parameter
- Community areas of Chicago
- Former municipalities in Illinois
- Former populated places in Illinois
- North Side, Chicago
- Populated places established in 1872
- Serbian-American culture in Illinois
- 1872 establishments in Illinois
- Polish-American culture in Chicago
- Italian-American culture in Chicago