Demographics, History and Attractions of Portage Park Neighborhood
1. Portage Park
Luka Madzarac
Melissa Lee
Sanobar Charania
Michael Delos Reyes
2. Demographics
• Population: 64,100
• 37.3% Foreign Born
• 57.7% Born in Illinois
Races of Portage Park
51
42
4
1
2
• Median Age: 36.4
• Median Household Income: $54,340
White Hispanic Asian Black Other
• 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)
3. 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, 60641
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Percent of Population
Educational Attainment (%)
Portage Park Chicago Average
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Notable Places
• Six-Corners
• The original six-corners, providing a local shopping area for residents.
8. Notable Places
• Portage Park
• The heart of the community, home to a
beautiful landscape and a local
getaway open to the public.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
