Rogers Park
—  Community area  —
Community Area 01 – Rogers Park
Rogers Park, (Chicago, Illinois)
Streetmap Streetmap
Location within the city of Chicago
Coordinates: 42°0.6′N 87°40.2′W / 42.01°N 87.67°W / 42.01; -87.67Coordinates: 42°0.6′N 87°40.2′W / 42.01°N 87.67°W / 42.01; -87.67
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
City	Chicago
Neighborhoods	List Rogers Park Loyola University Glenwood Arts District Jarvis Square
Area
• Total	1.85 sq mi (4.79 km2)
Population (2010)
• Total	54,991
• Density	30,000/sq mi (11,000/km2)
Demographics 2010
• White	38.2%
• Black	26.4%
• Hispanic	25.7%
• Asian	6.40%
• Other	3.30%
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Codes	60626, 60645
Average Household income	60626: $40,577; 60645: $57,169
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

Rogers Park is one of the 77 Chicago community areas on the far north side of Chicago, Illinois, and is also the name of the Chicago neighborhood^[1][2] that constitutes most of the community area. It is bounded by the city of Evanston along Juneway Terrace and Howard Street to the north, Ridge Boulevard to the west, Devon Avenue and the Edgewater neighborhood to the south, and Lake Michigan to the east. The neighborhood just to the west, West Ridge, was part of Rogers Park until the 1890s.

Native American roots[link]

The Rogers Park area was developed on what once was the convergence of two Native American trails, now known as Rogers Avenue and Ridge Boulevard, predating modern metropolitan Chicago. The Pottawatomi and various other regional tribes often settled in Rogers Park from season to season. The name of Indian Boundary Park west of Rogers Park reflects this history as does Pottawattomie Park near Clark Street and Rogers Avenue.

Rogers Park was named after a pioneer settler and developer, Phillip Rogers. Rogers often traded and worked with the local tribes. Envisioning a future settlement, Rogers eventually purchased the land from the tribes for later development.

Becoming part of Chicago[link]

From 1830 to 1850 waves of immigrants from Luxembourg and Germany came to Rogers Park where farming was the main industry. On April 29, 1878 Rogers Park was incorporated as a village of Illinois governed by six trustees. In 1893 the village was annexed to Chicago.^[3] Successive generations brought about vast cultural changes to the former village. Elite Chicagoans began to move to new planned communities in the suburbs by the 1930s, which ushered in the migration of German, English, Irish, and Jewish families to Rogers Park. With the devastation in Europe following World War II, many additional immigrants found their way to Chicago and the Rogers Park neighborhood. A growing and vibrant Hispanic community has recently grown along Clark Street over the past dozen years.

Most of the neighborhood has, for decades, been within the 49th Ward of the city of Chicago (the terms are sometimes used interchangeably), but that was a misconception. The ward covered much of Edgewater and went as far south as Hollywood in the 1960's, while the 50th Ward extended east to Ashland Avenue (in some areas as late as 1990). But, because redistricting, a part of Rogers Park is now within the 40th Ward, and the 49th Ward now encompasses part of West Rogers Park.

Economy, culture, and diversity[link]

Like other parts of the US, the financial crisis of 2007-2009 hit the area hard, and many recently converted condominiums went into foreclosure. ^[4] The Rogers Park rental market, however, remains strong, with rents up over 10% year-over-year. ^[5]. The continued strong demand for housing suggests that a condominium recovery may be on the horizon as well.

Rogers Park has a higher rate of residents with Master's, Professional, and Doctorate degrees than the state average. ^[6]. In addition, the rate of residents that work for non-for-profit institutions is almost twice as high as the state average. ^[7]

The dominant educational institution in Rogers Park is Loyola University Chicago. Historic places of interest include Madonna Della Strada Chapel, the mother church of the Jesuit Province of Chicago (one of the largest Jesuit provinces). The neighborhood continues to be home to many Jesuit religious-order institutions. However, modern Rogers Park contains many different religious institutions. An example of the neighborhood's diversity is the historic Rogers Park Baptist Church.^[8] Founded in 1891, this church has services in three languages every Sunday and is made up of immigrants from 21 countries representing five continents.

The presence of its diverse array of students and academics from Loyola University Chicago and Northwestern University, just a few miles to the north, has historically lent Rogers Park a high degree of liberalism and tolerance. The community also has a high Internet presence.^[9] In 2007, the Web site outside.in named Rogers Park one of the country's "bloggiest neighborhoods."^[10]

Rogers Park has over 130 restaurants^[11] and has been ranked "very walkable" by Walkscore.com ^[12]

Crime and policing[link]

In 1993, Rogers Park was selected as one of only five Chicago neighborhoods to implement a new concept for Chicago law enforcement: Community Alternative Policing Strategy or CAPS. A merger of police and community efforts was implemented, which resulted in a noticeable effect on crime statistics. Weekly beat meetings (planning and strategy sessions) were held across the 24th Police District (Rogers Park). Within three years, after the success of CAPS in Rogers Park, all of Chicago's police districts had put the strategy into practice.^[13]

Rogers Park has a violent crime rate similar to the Chicago neighborhoods of the Near North Side, Logan Square, West Town, and Uptown. Although pockets of Rogers Park have a reputation for criminal activity, as of 2009, the neighborhood wide crime rate was in the safest one third of all Chicago neighborhoods. ^[14] Overall crime in the 24th police district, which covers most of Rogers Park, has fallen by over 40% since 1996. ^[15]

Schools[link]

Chicago Public Library, Rogers Park Branch

• Chicago Math and Science Academy
• Chicago Waldorf School
• Eugene Field Elementary School
• Gale Elementary Community Academy
• Jordan Community Elementary School
• Stephen K. Hayt Elementary School
• Joyce Kilmer Elementary School
• Loyola University Chicago/Lake Shore Campus
• PACTT Learning Center
• Philip Rogers Elementary School
• Stone Scholastic Academy
• St.Margaret Mary
• St. Scholastica Academy
• Roger C. Sullivan High School
• George B. Swift Elementary Specialty School
• George B. Armstrong School of International Studies
• Northside Catholic Academy
• Howard Area Leadership Academy

Transportation[link]

North Sheridan corridor by Loyola University

Rogers Park has four elevated ("L") Red Line stations: Howard, Jarvis, Morse, and Loyola.^[16] The Howard Street "L" station, the northernmost Chicago Transit Authority rail stop in the city proper, experienced major renovation during 2008 and is a major transportation hub for the northern Chicago region. Both the Yellow Line and the Purple Line (formerly known as the Evanston Express) begin in Rogers Park. In addition to the "L" lines, there are also several bus routes traveling to the Loop and the suburbs. They consist of the #22 (Clark to Polk), #97 (Old Orchard Shopping Mall/Cook County Courthouse), #147 (Outer Drive/Congress/Michigan Avenue), #151 (Sheridan Road) and #N201 (Central/Sherman in Evanston). The Metra commuter railroad Rogers Park station, at the intersection of Lunt and Ravenswood Avenues, is centrally located in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

Aldermanic members of the Chicago City Council[link]

Rogers Park lies mainly within the 49th and 50th Wards. There are small areas that are within the 40th Ward.

References in popular culture[link]

Rogers Park is the setting for Chicago-based singer-songwriter Michael Smith's song Ballad of Elizabeth Dark, recorded in studio on his 1993 release Time and recorded live on his 2003 release, Such Things Are Finely Done.

Grammy-nominated Irish-American fiddler and composer Liz Carroll lived for a time in Rogers Park, and Rogers Park street names are referenced in the titles of her compositions the Morse Avenue reel, included on the Cherish the Ladies debut recording Irish Women Musicians in America on Schanachie, and The Greenleaf Strathsprey, included on the eponymous Liz Carroll on Green Linnet; both tunes are collected in her 2010 book Collected.^[17]

Notable residents[link]

The Emil Bach House (1915), designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

• Elizabeth Bloomer, better-known as former first lady Betty Ford
• Lara Flynn Boyle (childhood)
• Shani Davis, Olympic speed skater
• Hugh Downs, TV journalist (20/20)^[18]
• Tom Dundee (folk singer / folk icon)
• Larry Eyler, serial killer.^[19]
• Tina Fey (early to mid 90s)^[20]
• Phil Foglio, science-fiction graphic artist
• Edward Gorey (childhood)
• Shecky Greene (former Sullivan High School student)
• Dan Kotowski (Illinois state senator)
• David Orr (Illinois politician)
• Harold Ramis (actor, writer, director)
• Dan Savage (childhood)
• Jan Schakowsky (U.S. House of Representatives)
• Justin Dahl (Music Producer)

References[link]

External links[link]

• WikiTravel Guide to Rogers Park
• Official City of Chicago Rogers Park Community Map
• Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce
• Rogers Park Community Council
• Rogers Park Community Development Corporation
• History of Rogers Park on Encyclopedia of Chicago
• Lakeside Community Development Corporation
• Rogers Park Business Alliance
• Rogers Park Parents Group
• ForgottenChicago.com (little-known elements of Chicago’s infrastructure, architecture, neighborhoods and general cityscape, existing and historical)
• Rogers Park West Ridge Historical Society

v t e City of Chicago Chicago metropolitan area State of Illinois United States of America Architecture Beaches Climate Colleges and Universities Community areas Culture Demographics Economy Flag Freeways Geography Government History Landmarks Literature Media Music Neighborhoods Parks Public schools Skyscrapers Sports Theatre Transportation Category Portal WikiProject

		Evanston, Illinois
	West Ridge, Chicago		Lake Michigan
		Rogers Park, Chicago    East
	Lincoln Square, Chicago	Edgewater, Chicago

Justin Townes Earle (born January 4, 1982 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American musician. Earle is signed to Bloodshot Records and has five released albums from 2007–2012. He resides in New York City's East Village.^[1]

Early life[link]

Justin Townes Earle grew up in South Nashville, Tennessee, with his mother, Carol Ann Hunter Earle. His father is musician Steve Earle. Justin Townes Earle says he was "hooked on drugs" when he was barely 12 years old,^[2] and developed a serious addiction by the late 1990s. In his teens he began playing and singing with two different Nashville bands, a rock band called the Distributors and a bluegrass-influenced acoustic combo, the Swindlers. Earle spent some time as guitarist and keyboardist for his father's touring band the Dukes, but was fired after a dangerous appetite for drugs began interfering with his performances. Once he came off hard drugs, he began putting a new focus on his music and songwriting.^[3]

Musical career[link]

Earle presently tours heavily and played Newport Folk Festival, 2011, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (2008, 2011), Grand Ole Opry (March 2008), Historical WSM, South By Southwest (2008–2010, 2012), the historic Beacon Theater (May 2009), Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion (September, 2009), Bonnaroo (2009) Bumbershoot (2010), the East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival (Byron Bay, Australia), 2012 and the Bowery Ballroom (March 2010) with Chicago-based singer/songwriter Joe Pug. In the summer of 2009, Earle co-billed The Big Surprise Tour with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Old Crow Medicine Show, and The Felice Brothers.^[4] In May 2010, he appeared alongside his father in an episode of the HBO television series Treme.

Earle returned to rehab after he was arrested for battery, public drunkenness, and resisting arrest on September 16, 2010^[5] following a dispute with a concert venue about his pay.^[6] He resumed touring on Nov. 26, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.^[7]

Earle contributed a cover of "Maybe Baby" to the June 2011 tribute album Rave On Buddy Holly.

His music was further exposed to younger generations through a movement known as by The Beat Army, an online music forum based on Facebook, which is operated by author and music producer, Paul Collins.

He plays a Loar LO-16-BK (performed with on his 3.28.12 Late Show with David Letterman appearance), Guild F-20 Small body and a 1964 Epiphone Texan rerelease (the same kind of guitar the Beatles song "Yesterday" was recorded on).

Awards[link]

In September 2009, Justin Townes Earle received an Americana Music Award for Emerging Artist of the Year. He also received 2009 nominations for album of the year (Midnight at the Movies) and for artist of the year. He had been previously nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2008.^[8] In 2011, he received the Americana Music Award in the Song of the Year category for his "Harlem River Blues," from the album of the same name.

Discography[link]

References[link]

• Deming, Mark. "Justin Townes Earle Biography", CMT, All Music Guide, March 25, 2008.
• Ruehl, Kim. "2008 Americana Music Association Awards and Honors Winners", About.com, Folk Music Guide, September 18, 2008.
• Jacobs, Justin. "Buddy Miller, John Fogerty, Justin Townes Earle Amongst Notable Winners at Americana Music Awards", Paste Magazine, September 21, 2009.

External links[link]

• http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/album/good-life
• http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89955985
• http://www.nashvillescene.com/2008-03-27/news/the-good-life-from-now-on/
• http://skopemag.com/2008/06/13/justin-towne-earle-wins-an-ama-tour-dates
• http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/536847
• http://folkmusic.about.com/od/awardsetc1/qt/Americana2008.htm
• http://www.groundcontroltouring.com/tour/justintownesearle/
• http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/earle__justin_townes/bio.jhtml
• Justin Townes Earle collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
• http://www.justintownesearle.com/media/music
• http://www.theloar.com/LO-16-BK.html