Beverly
Located 12 Miles South of The Loop.
Neighborhoods include: Beverly, East Beverly, West Beverly
Zip Codes Include: 60620, 60643, 60655
Beverly is one of few areas in the City of Chicago with a hilly terrain. This geography is due to its location in the middle of the geological formation known as the blue island ridge. In its early years of settlement this area as well as Morgan Park to the south was known as North Blue Island, denoting its relationship to the village of Blue Island, which was settled in 1836 and is located a few miles to the south.
The neighborhood’s roots are largely English and Protestant but is now home to a large Irish-American/Catholic community and many Irish establishments. The area is home of the South Side Irish Parade, which is held on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick’s Day, the largest neighborhood parade of any type in the country.
The neighborhood currently is home to more Irish-style pubs than any other in Chicago. The Beverly Arts Center is the location for the Chicago Irish Film Festival. There is a replica of a castle from Ireland, which was constructed in the late 19th century when an American businessman, Robert Givens, was trying to convince his Irish fiancee to move to the United States, and so had a duplicate of her family castle built with stone from the same quarry. The Beverly Branch Library has the largest Irish heritage collection in Chicago. This branch opened a new facility in June 2009 which has a new LEED certified design and engineering. Beverly Branch houses a bronze sculpture by Virginio Ferrari entitled Two Lovers; additional art has been commissioned for the new branch. Artwork was funded through the Percent for Art Ordinance administered by the City of Chicago Public Art Program.
Rotary International was formed in Beverly at the home of Paul P. Harris on Longwood Drive, and today the house is owned by that organization. The founders of Walgreens’ mansion (founders of Walgreens Pharmacy) is also located in Beverly. During World War II, Beverly served as a peaceful sanctuary for wounded officers in the Allied Forced of many nations who were in recovery.
Some families move to Beverly in order to provide their children with a private school education defined by Catholic Parish boundaries. St. Barnabas Grammar School is an elite private Catholic school. Morgan Park Academy is also a well-considered[by whom?] private high school in the Chicagoland area.
There are five Catholic parishes: St. Barnabas, Christ the King, St. Walter, St. Cajetan, and St. John Fisher. Beverly is a main drawing ground for many of the Chicagoland area’s all-boys schools (Brother Rice, Mt. Carmel, St. Rita, St. Laurence, all-girls schools (Mother McAuley, Queen of Peace, Mount Assisi Academy, Maria); and co-educational Marist) Catholic high schools. Ridge Academy is also in Beverly.
Transportation
Beverly has quick access (by public transport or car) to all of the Chicago financial markets, shopping, airports, and attractions, yet retains itself as a peaceful and quiet wooded community. Beverly is one of the top five largest historic districts in any major city in the USA. The particular trains that are accessed by the Beverly community are provided from Metra’s Rock Island line.
Demographics
Population (2010)
• Total 20,034
• Density 6,300/sq mi (2,400/km2)
Demographics (2010)
• White 58.82%
• Black 34.13%
• Hispanic 4.57%
• Asian 0.56%
Neighborhood Links
• The Beverly Area Planning Association
• East Beverly Association
• 19th Ward& Alderman
