Overview: Loads Of History And Culture
The roots of this
Chicago neighborhood date back to the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad, something that allowed West Coast immigrants from Asia to head east. Home to a rich Chinese culture for many decades, the Asian influence definitely shows in Chinatown, through the design of the buildings, the types of shops, and even the languages spoken on the streets.
Crime Rate: You’re Pretty Safe In Chinatown
While Chicago has become known around the country for growing increasingly violent in recent years, this isn’t really the case in the Chinatown area. Locally, there are roughly 2,655 reported criminal acts per 100,000 residents each year. That might seem high, but compared to Chicago’s average of nearly 4,000, it’s easy to see how much safer Chinatown is.
Plus, it’s important to mention that this number has been dropping at a rate of 23 percent, something that’s helping to ensure this neighborhood stays safe for years to come.
Vibe: An Urban Area With A Smaller Feel
Looking in from the outside, Chinatown definitely seems like an urban neighborhood full of rushed businessmen and highly trafficked roads, but that’s not really the case. In reality, the Chinatown community has a much more intimate feel where a lot of people known their neighbors and visit the same tiny shops to see the same workers every day.
Two of the most popular annual events in the local area include the celebration of the Lunar New Year, marked with a huge parade, as well as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, a month-long celebration of the culture that makes this neighborhood so special.
Local Demographics: Big Families Aren’t The Only People Here
While the average age of the local resident in Chinatown is a little bit higher than the rest of Chicago, it’s important to mention that there are also plenty of young professionals in the local area, as well as a high number of larger-than-average families.
People in this area tend to be highly educated, enrolling in college at a much higher rate than the rest of Chicago, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, a statistic that’s sure to soon bring even more young professionals to the area upon graduation.
While Chinatown isn’t really a young professional community per se, it does have a good portion of the population representing this demographic that’s continually growing as the area is becoming more popular thanks to its close proximity to downtown.
Nearby Hotspots: Living In Chinatown Is A Learning Experience
Several of the most popular places to visit in Chinatown include museums and art galleries. Two that locals and visitors alike seem to love include the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, a collection of exhibits that bring the history of Chinese culture to life, as well as the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute center, a place to go for interactive activities like historic tours of the neighborhood and language classes. Chinatown also has a lot of walking appeal, as there’s usually so much going on in these streets that even just a walk to get coffee will be entertaining.
Types of Homes: Everything You’re Looking For
As Chinatown does tend to be inhabited by larger families, a lot of the housing here is built to accommodate that, with many owner occupied homes and larger multi-bedroom condos, in the local area.
However, that’s not all this neighborhood’s got, as there’s also a great mix of affordable apartments and condos, most of which were built during the 1980s. Real estate prices present great deals, especially compared to what you’ll find further downtown, as most of the living space in Chinatown falls into the $200,000-$300,000 range.
One of Chicago’s more affordable and safer places to live, this is a great neighborhood to check out if being close to the downtown action is something that’s important to you.
Shopping: Getting The Groceries Is A Cinch
One of the really cool benefits to living in Chinatown is the ease of shopping. With tons of little stores, food stands, and a couple markets, Chinatown makes it easy to find everything you’ll need for daily life without even leaving the neighborhood.
Two places that make shopping easy and fun include the Chinatown Square, home to tons of local business, as well as the Chinatown Bazaar, filled with various shops and stands, many of which specialize in Chinese ingredients.
Parks: It’s Not All Big Buildings In This Chicago Neighborhood
Despite being a densely populated and relatively busy area of Chicago, residents here still find plenty of time to relax. The coolest parks in the local area is the Ping Tom Memorial Park, nestled right on the Chicago River. Very recognizable for its pagoda-style pavilion, the bamboo gardens, and a large bust of Ping Tom, this 17 acre space gives residents the perfect escape from busy city life.
Getting Around: You’ll Never Stress Too Much
Whether you’re driving, using public transportation, or walking, Chinatown is an easy neighborhood to navigate and it’s very convenient when it comes to getting to the rest of the Windy City. Where this neighborhood really shines is in its walkability, with the local area boasting a very high Walk Score of 91 on a scale of 100. It’s also easy to get around on two wheels, with a Bike Score of 89 on a similar scale.
Don’t feel like doing much exercise? There’s also a conveniently located CTA heavy rail stop on the Red Line that makes downtown Chicago very accessible. Regardless of where you’re headed in Chinatown and how you’re getting there, you’ll never have to fret.
Cuisine: The Best Chinese Food In The Midwest
Perhaps one of the coolest attributes of Chicago’s Chinatown is the awesome authentic Chinese food you can find there. Whether you’re looking for stuffed dumplings or piping hot Chow Mein, you’ll be able to find an excellent version of your favorite Chinese dish on nearly every street corner by simply following the awesome smells pouring out of the many Chinese restaurants in the area.
Two of the most popular local restaurants include MingHin Cuisine, which specializes in tons of seafood, as well as Chi Café, known for its many vegetarian options.
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
