Your Age Matters In Chicago
A field guide of Chicago and the different areas in it for each part of your life
Chicago is the home to just more than 2.7 million people (about the population of Mississippi) and is rated as the #1 city in America to live in. There are endless opportunities and paths to take in Chicago, but the city is set up in a fashion where similar age and wealth individuals live in the same place. Obviously, the city did not do this on purpose, but the people who have lived there and been a part of the community have. For example, the young urban professionals of Chicago tend to stay in the Loop area while the older residents of Chicago tend to stay far up north. The incredibly special thing about Chicago is that there is somewhere for every part of your life. You can take any path you want in this city and create any life you want regardless of age.
Lincoln Park is home to about 8% of Chicago’s population and features a young urban/suburban style of living. From DePaul’s campus which is home to mostly 18–22-year-old students to the beautiful housing owned by wealthy young executives in their young 30’s. Lincoln Park is defiantly home to the younger generation with a vibrant nightlife and a great social scene. Although there is a large social scene the neighborhood remains incredibly quiet, offering a suburban feel within arms distance of the city. Most people in this community share the same sets of values as well as age because many of them participate in similar schooling. Also, being raised at the same time is a large factor in sharing values and is shown within the community’s attitude. This community is very new in a sense and that creates a thriving social playground. Lincoln Park is where those get started in their adult life and make life-changing discissions that will predict their future.
Most people after completing school will move to The Loop which is the center of everything in Chicago and is where most jobs are. The Loop is always busy and has events going on in every single direction you look. When you look around at the people in the Loop you will always see a young professional dressed up going to or coming back from work. Just like I said before most jobs are in the loop and most of them fit the age group of 22–34. Most of these jobs are fast-paced high-stress jobs which is why it is more prominent for younger people to take upon these jobs. The loop is one of the most beautiful places in Chicago and is always being updated due to the continuous loop of the younger generations in and out. In an article written by Rooney K, he talks about Chicago and the amazing features it has to offer when walking. He states “In the Loop, out of the Loop, the city is ours. We help build it with our eyes, our ears, our minds, and our hearts. Across the river from Ozinga Concrete. Under the Dan Ryan. On the Metra tracks. Cermak west of Western. Ogden south of Cicero. Milwaukee north of Belmont. 35th east of Wabash. The sublime wasteland stretching south to Chinatown from Roosevelt Road.” This shows how our city is built by the people who live in it and their age, which plays a major factor in how the community runs. The Loop is shown to share the same viewpoint as Rooney, this through the screaming innovation at all angles and blocks. The Loop overall is built for the young and ambitious who want to achieve their ideal lifestyle.
As life goes on people tend to get tired of the constant hustle and choose to move far up north to the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is much quieter than the Loop and offers a much more closed-off lifestyle. This is typically attractive to the older generation aged 50–75, as they have settled down and either are retired or looking too soon. What is offered in this neighborhood is a feeling of security from the violence in the city and an escape to a place of your own. Most people notice the beauty in the architecture of this neighborhood but what makes it attractive to the older generation is silence. This neighborhood is easily the quietest in Chicago, giving a suburban feel with city scenery and architecture. Walker, R., and author for the Guardian talk about this in his article The art of noticing: five ways to experience a city differently. In this article he states, “Go for a walk outside, he advised, but make it a point to head out in the direction that seems the quietest. Keep going until you find the quietest spot in your vicinity that you can. Now stop and be in that place. ‘Take a moment to absorb it,” as his instructions put it.” As this quote explains that we as humans tend to seek out quiet in places and especially when we are older, and we start not needing as much social satisfaction. The Gold Coast is perfect for those who have achieved many of their goals, as it does not come cheap at all.
Many people in Chicago also follow religion and their own ethnic groups to communities. One is Greektown, which is a small Greek community with family-owned restaurants and shops. The average ages in this community range from 40–60 with mostly family working or retired people. In Greektown, you will find a real community of people who care about each other and take pride in helping one another. A community like Greektown is the best fit for those at a later stage of their life who are looking for a welcoming and relatable community. Greektown is one of those places where everyone knows everyone and that is what makes it so special to Chicago.
Some people take a different path than the other crowd and choose an area to live in based on the affordability and the convivence of the area. Bucktown is a prime example of that as it serves as mostly housing and small businesses. Bucktown is also cheaper than many other places such as Lincoln Park because there are almost no attractions or good nightlife. This community’s average age is 30–42 and consists of working-class individuals and families. The people in this community would be seen to have lower wages than all the other communities, but that does not mean that there is nothing to this community. Bucktown is a place that has great people and good intentions, but just got lost in the change in generational values. Bucktown became more focused on money rather than the people and the surroundings. Malchik a well-known author, describes this perfectly in his article as he states, “For decades, Americans have been losing their ability, even their right, to walk.” Bucktown is one of those places that has been hit heavily by this, as most buildings are apartments or businesses, and the streets are plain and dead. When you lose your ability to walk it creates a dislike for a place and can ruin your whole vibe. Especially at the age range in this community, as during this age, you need beauty and peace to distract you from constant work. Overall Bucktown is a place where those working-class individuals live and work. Bucktown has truly little beauty and peace due to the non-walkability.
Chicago is the city of the people and has been created by those who live and work within it. Chicago has opportunities for anyone no matter your age, but there will be certain places you are almost forced to live based on your age. Chicago has areas that are made up of the same type of people with similar paths in life. This creates welcoming communities with similar ideals and thinking, making for an awesome social life. Overall, where you live and what you do in Chicago are all based on your age and what you do with it.
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Work Cited
Walker, R. (2019). The art of noticing: Five ways to experience a city differently. The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/may/09/the-art-of-noticing-five-ways-to-experience-a-city-differently
Rooney, K. (2017). It is not waste all this, not placed here in disgust, street after street. SLAG GLASS CITY. http://www.slagglasscity.org/essaymemoirlyric/walkers-in-the-city/waste-placed-disgust-street-street/
Malchik, A. (2015, August 20). The end of walking. Aeon. https://aeon.co/essays/step-by-step-americans-are-sacrificing-the-right-to-walk
