Age-old beauty and a rich history
give Bridgeport an edge over many Chicago neighborhoods. Built on the
backs of Irish, German, and Norwegian immigrants, Bridgeport is a stronghold of
elegant working-class culture. Welcoming an even more diverse mix of residents
today, the shopping, dining and culture here overflow with options for amazing
international cuisine, independent boutiques and global festivals. And who
could forget, Bridgeport is where the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox
play their home games. (So don't expect to see many Cubs fans around these
parts!) Any time the Sox hit a home run, fireworks shoot out from the stadium
as the roar of the crowd serenades the colorful display.
The year 1836 saw the ground breaking of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. This man-made endeavor created a connection between the Chicago River and the Illinois River, 96 miles apart. Immigrants flooded the area for construction jobs at the canal site and as a result, Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood was born. Irish, German and Norwegian canal dredgers made their homes along Archer Avenue named for William Beatty Archer, who oversaw the waterway's construction. In 1848 the canal was finished and opened for business. Suddenly Bridgeport was a bustling community of lumber yards, industrial factories and meatpacking plants. Archer Avenue became the main strip, and meatpacking industries became the major employer of the immigrant residents.
Although the population was diverse, each ethnic community built its own enclave. The Irish, German, Poles, Czechs and Lithuanians all constructed their own parishes, which became the moral center of each sub-neighborhood. Around these churches, two-flat houses and quaint brick cottages were built. Such a stable development led to strong businesses and soon enough, saloons, schools, and small retail, grocer, and industrial merchants came onto the scene. In the 1880s streetcars appeared on Halsted Street, boosting it to main drag status over Archer Avenue.
Today industry continues to thrive in Chicago's Bridgeport area. For over 150 years, this neighborhood has given Chicago and the surrounding areas some of its strongest workers. Not to mention some of its most influential. Five Chicago mayors have either come from Bridgeport or made it their main residence over the years.
Bridgeport facts
Location: 3 miles southwest of the Loop Bordering Neighborhoods:Chinatown, Bronzeville, Near South Side, McKinley Park, Back-of-the-Yards Boundaries: Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to the north, the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) to the east, Pershing Road to the south and Ashland Avenue to the west Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents
Bridgeport transportation
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Bridgeport Real Estate
Bridgeport is a neighborhood for the average Joe with an elegant edge. Its vibrant personality shines brightly through generations of hard work and rich history. Tall, leafy trees dot the streets, and wide open parks are scattered between the concrete blocks. Old churches still stand from the original immigrant settlers, and young families walk the same avenues their grandparents did. Bridgeport is a Chicago community of long-standing roots and new buds. A recent kick of modernization and round of respectable rehabbing has added a contemporary twist to an old school neighborhood.
Bridgeport's real estate includes condominiums, apartments, low-rise flats, and two- and three-story walk-ups. A variety of smaller houses and private homes are also available, all examples of the blend of contemporary to classic building styles represented in this south side Chicago neighborhood. Bridgeport residences are being rehabbed left and right, many with sturdy brick facades that have stood the test of time (not too much aluminum siding here!).
The average sale price of a home in Bridgeport is represented by the chart to the right. The red line indicates the average price based on the total time frame selected in the drop-down window. The blue line indicates the average sale price for the particular month within that time frame. For more detailed information on Bridgeport sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
The average number of days a home in Bridgeport spends listed for sale is represented by the chart to the right. The red line indicates the average number of days based on the total time frame selected in the drop-down window. The blue line indicates the average number of days a home spent on market during the particular month within that time frame. For more detailed information on average market listing times in Bridgeport sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
The average sale price of a home compared to its listing price in Bridgeport is represented by the chart to the right. The black line indicates the baseline listing price for homes during the time frame selected in the drop-down. The red line indicates the difference between the average listing price and the average sale price during the particular month within that time frame. For more detailed information on Bridgeport sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
The total number of listings in Bridgeport is represented in the chart to the right. The red line represents average number of days based on the total time frame selected in the drop-down window The blue bar represents the current number of listings during the particular month of that time frame. For more detailed information on Bridgeport sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
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