Wicker Park Chicago Yesteryear ... 
On October 8, 1871, one-third of Chicago's 300,000 resident lost their homes, and at least 300 perished in the Great Chicago Fire.
This influenced the architecture of Wicker Park Chicago. Having witnessed the vulnerability of wood construction, many Wicker Park residents built large mansions made almost entirely of brick and stone.
By the 1890s, the area transformed into a showplace of Victorian Gothic and Italianate architecture. Many of the houses circled the four-acre park of which the community got its name.
By 1930, Wicker Park Chicago, began to undergo a dramatic ethnic and class transition. This change coincided with a post-World War II housing shortage, and many of the mansions were divided into multifamily units and rooming houses. By the 1960s and 1970s, Wicker Park was a predominately poor and working-class neighborhood.
Efforts to revitalize Wicker Park Chicago, in the early 1980s initiated another wave of changes to the neighborhood. Young professionals bought many of the old houses and restored them to single-family residences. Gentrification stirred ethnic and class tension, as it displaced many of the area's poor.
By the 1990s, however, Wicker Park Chicago had achieved a level of cultural and ethnic heterogeneity. With commercial development along Division and North Avenue, which includes an array of galleries, shops, and restaurants, once again, the neighborhood has become one of the most desirable in Chicago.
Why is Wicker Park Chicago One of the Best Neighborhoods to Live In?
Wicker Park Chicago was my home for four years prior to a job transfer. I did not own a car, therefore, to live in a neighborhood where I could walk and quickly access public transportation was extremely beneficial. Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line train was several blocks from my apartment building and one train ride to Ohara Airport.
Living among an eclectic and diverse group of like-minded people that consist of young professionals, artist, entrepreneurs and hipsters is pure motivation to explore your interests.
Did I Mention the Dog Park?
The dog park was three blocks away from my apartment. I would take my dog there so she could socialize with her doggy friends. She would develop a major attitude when it was time to go back on the leash!
One day my dog decided to join in on a baseball game that was taking place in the park. She caught the ball and ran off with it causing the entire team to chase her! Embarrassed, I strongly considered acting as if she did not belong to me!
And the Nightlife!
Although downtown Chicago is in proximity to Wicker Park Chicago, I did not have to leave the neighborhood much to enjoy the great nightlife. The Rolling Stones performed at the Double Door, which was walking distance from my apartment. Y'all missed a great concert!
If you are interested in the current homes for sale in Wicker Park Chicago, click on the link above. Our "for sale" property information is a direct feed from the Midwest MLS where updates happen multiple times per day.
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