A Brief History of Chicago's Humboldt Park Neighborhood
Named for Alexander von Humboldt (a German naturalist and geographer who surprisingly never visited Chicago, the park the neighborhood is named for has a field house, fitness center, indoor and outdoor soccer fields, a stable building, baseball fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, water sprinklers, and even a replica of Wrigley Field named “Little Cubs Field”. There are also statues and other artwork crafted by local and nationally renowned artists.
What’s more, this spacious Chicago green space is home to a number of festivals, including Riot Fest (which features nationally known punk bands), the annual Healthy Halloween Event, Walk and Play, Bickerdike’s Annual Raffle, scavenger hunts for the kids, and plenty of other community events that make this neighborhood stand out.
The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is not only of Chicago’s most compelling museums, it showcases the neighborhood’s unique heritage in a way that is not only extraordinary, it is quite distinctive. Residents of Humboldt Park can enjoy this and other museums nearby that capture the culture of the area. There are also free fitness classes including hip-hop aerobics, Zumba, line-dancing, stepping, and more.
More About Humboldt Park Real Estate For Sale in Chicago
Humboldt Park itself is lined with traditional graystone houses, with the neighborhood also home to a variety of graystones and brownstones as well as new construction. Popular features include ornate brickwork and old-school moldings and layouts, updated with modern appliances and other amenities.
Plenty of Chicago Public School options are nearby, along with private and parochial schools that echo the neighborhood’s ethnic background. Many of the city’s universities and colleges are within public transportation or even walking and biking distance as well. The Logan Square brand of the Chicago Library System is within walking distance, and the library sponsors a wide variety of free educational events and programs.
Humboldt Park is close by Logan Square, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Ukrainian Village, Avondale, and the West Loop; the Loop itself (and corresponding transportation hub) and River West areas are also fairly near, which makes this neighborhood popular with young professionals and families alike due to its convenience to Chicago’s central business district and the rest of the city. The Kennedy (90/94) and the Eisenhower (290) Expressways are an easy connection as well.
Transportation Around Humboldt Park Real Estate For Sale
What’s more, the CTA Green Line cuts directly through Humboldt Park with stops at Kedzie and Western, and the Blue Line is nearby, connecting through Western, Damen, and California. CTA bus routes allow Humboldt Park residents to reach the rest of the city easily as well, with the central Milwaukee 56 and Division Street 70 bus routes stopping in the neighborhood.
While the area has possessed a reputation for unsavory activities in the past, Humboldt Park is actually a highly desirable Chicago neighborhood, due to its elegant traditional homes and increase in police presence and public services – and the city’s dedication to transforming it into a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
Dining choices abound, from high-end spots that have received international acclaim to local ethnic joints and casual dive bars that have retained a local flavor for years. Moreover, Humboldt Park is conveniently located for a number of delivery options and grocery stores, including Jewel-Osco, Aldi, Costco, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and other desirable choices.
Places like Cermitas Puebla have even been featured on the Food Network. Grocery stores in Chicago’s Humboldt Park range from local ethnic places (Mexican, Middle Eastern, Puerto Rican, and more) to national chains, and everything in between, along with specialty food and liquor shops. Unsurprisingly given the area’s history, the Mexican, Caribbean, and Central American joints are authentic, tasty, and popular – but there are equally tasty Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and other selections as well.
Retail options include a variety of indie boutiques and specialty stores that carry products which can only be found Chicago. What’s more, the retail areas in Wicker Park and Bucktown are within walking distance, and they are home to a variety of hipster spots that carry specialty brands along with national chains.
An affordable choice for anyone looking for Chicago real estate and condos for sale on the west side, Humboldt Park is the perfect place to start looking for a distinctive home with all the ideal features that is still near public transit, schools, and city parks.
Humboldt Park ZIP codes include 60651, 60647, and 60622.
MLS #: 11798738
