Lincoln Square, Chicago

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Lincoln Square is a neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side. It includes the smaller areas of Ravenswood, Ravenswood Gardens, Bowmanville, Budlong Woods, and Lincoln Square itself. The community covers about 2.57 square miles and is home to around 40,000 people.

History and naming
In the 1840s, English and German farmers settled the area. The Budlong brothers started a pickling operation nearby in 1857 and later ran a greenhouse and flower fields for Rosehill Cemetery. In 1925, the city named the area Lincoln Square to honor Abraham Lincoln, and a statue of him was erected in 1956.

Where it is and how to get around
Lincoln Square is bordered by Bryn Mawr and Peterson Avenues to the north, Montrose Avenue to the south, Ravenswood Avenue to the east, and the Chicago River to the west. The main commercial center sits at the intersection of Lawrence, Western, and Lincoln Avenues, with Lincoln Avenue to the east offering many restaurants and shops. The Brown Line of the Chicago ‘L’ provides easy access.

What you’ll find there
The area has many small and mid-sized businesses and a mix of housing, including private homes and small apartment buildings. It has a long German heritage, but today you’ll also find shops and events reflecting broader cultures. Notable German-influenced spots include Merz Apothecary and Lutz Café & Bakery, and organizations like DANK and the Niedersachsen Club are part of the community. The German-language newspaper Amerika Woche began here in 1972.

Events and culture
Lincoln Square hosts popular festivals such as Apple Fest in the fall, with apple pies, cider, and crafts, and the Square Roots Festival in summer, featuring live music and local craft beer. The area remains lively with concerts and community activities throughout the year.

Government, schools, and streets
Politically, Lincoln Square is a Democratic stronghold. It sits in Chicago’s 40th and 47th wards; the aldermen are Andre Vasquez and Matt Martin. Public schools are part of Chicago Public Schools, with Amundsen High School serving most of the area and a small portion zoned to Mather High School. The GROW47 initiative helps fund and support local schools. Parks in the neighborhood are maintained by the Chicago Park District.

Demographics and living
As of 2019 data, about 64.5% of residents are White, 3.5% Black, 18.1% Hispanic, 9.1% Asian, and 4.8% other races. Education levels are high, with 93.3% having a high school diploma or higher and 63.9% holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income was about $81,149, and parts of the area fall under ZIP codes 60625 and 60640.