Portage ParkLuka Madzarac

Melissa Lee

Sanobar Charania

Michael Delos Reyes

Demographics

• Population: 64,100• 37.3% Foreign Born• 57.7% Born in Illinois

• Median Age: 36.4

• Median Household Income: $54,340

• Area: 3.959 square miles

• Average Household Size: 2.9 People

• Violent Crime Rate: 3.2 per 1000 persons (compared to city average 9.3)

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Races of Portage Park

White Hispanic Asian Black Other

Demographics

• Percentage of family households: 51.6%

• Percentage of Married Couples (within households): 51.6%

• Median Sales Price of Houses: $210,000

• Zip codes: 60630, 60634, 60641Le

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History

• In 1845, Jefferson Township was formed, separate from Chicago, claiming a large portion of modern northwestern Chicago.

• In 1889, the township was annexed to become a part of Chicago.

• The Portage Park District was officially formed in 1912.

• The centerpiece to this new district, Portage Park, began construction in 1913, and officially opened in 1916.

• With improved transportation and the introduction to this active park, developers began building homes in the community.

History

• By 1940, the population had increased to 66,000.

• In the early 1950s, the overall community’s drainage was finally fixed.

• The 1960s introduced improved public transportation and the Kennedy Expressway, Portage Park was finally linked directly to downtown Chicago.

• Portage Park remains a thriving community revolving around the actual Portage Park.

Notable Places

• The Patio• Built in 1927, and recently restored, this theater still

provides a local movie service to the community.

• Portage Theater• Restored in 2006, is Chicago’s center point for the

independent film community, and up-coming indie music artists.

Notable Places

• Six-Corners• The original six-corners, providing a local shopping area for

residents.

Notable Places

• Portage Park• The heart of the community, home

to a beautiful landscape and a local getaway open to the public.

Notable Places

• Chipotle• Opened recently. Everyone loves

Chipotle.

Interesting Facts

• In 1972, the Olympic Pool in Portage Park hosted the American Olympic team trials in 1912 where Mark Spitz set a new world’s record.

• The neighborhood has the largest Polish community in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.

• A near-by neighborhood park, Chopin Park, was named after the famous Polish composer, Frederic Chopin.

• When the Sears at Six-Corners opened, more than 99,500 customers attended.

Interesting Facts

• When the area was still inhabited by Native Americans, they were able to canoe from the Chicago River to the Des Plaines river via a portage along present day Irving Park Rd. Hence the name, Portage Park.

Getting There

• Take the Red-Line towards 95th/Dan-Ryan.

• Exit on Sheridan.

• Take the Route 80 Irving Park Bus westbound towards Cumberland.

• Stop at N Central Ave. and W Irving Park Rd.

Resources

• Perry, Marilyn. "Portage Park." Portage Park. The Encyclopedia of Chicago, 2004. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

• "Portage Park Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois (IL), 60630, 60634, 60641."City-Data. Urban Mapping, Inc., 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

• "Portage Park Is One of Chicago's 12 Best Neighborhoods." Chicago Magazine. Chicago Magazine, 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

• "Things to Do in Portage Park." Choose Chicago. Choose Chicago, 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

• "Portage Park." Chicago Park District. Chicago Park District, 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.