The North Shore refers to the lakefront suburbs north of Chicago. It includes several of the wealthiest and most affluent communities in the United States[1] and is home to some of the richest families in Illinois.[2][3][4]
Historically, the North Shore referred to the area serviced by the now defunct Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, which ran along Lake Michigan's western shore between Chicago and Milwaukee from 1896 until 1963.
A few inland suburbs — e.g., , Glenview, Deerfield, Northfield, and Northbrook—also are considered by some to be part of the North Shore because of their contiguity and affluence.[citation needed] These suburbs are also home to various regional shopping destinations, including Westfield Old Orchard, Renaissance Place, The Glen Town Center and Northbrook Court shopping malls. However many believe that the North Shore comprises only the suburbs fully or substantially developed before World War II and certainly prior to the 1963 demise of the North Shore rail line) directly adjacent to the lake, not the younger (mostly developed after World War II), inland suburbs. The North Shore is noteworthy for being one of the few remaining agglomerations of streetcar suburbs in the United States.
The North Shore is also the home of the Ravinia Festival, a world-class outdoor music theater. The Green Bay Trail, an award-winning pedestrian and bicycle path, begins in Wilmette and runs north just to the east of the Chicago Botanic Garden and past the front gate of Ravinia Festival park all the way up to Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, alongside Metra's Union Pacific North Line railroad tracks.
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History
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Europeans settled the North Shore after an 1833 treaty with local Native Americans. The region began to flourish after two-term Chicago Mayor Walter S. Gurnee made numerous investments along the western shore of Lake Michigan, gaining great influence in the area. For instance, he helped to create the Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad, a commuter train service to Chicago which allowed people to move out of the city. While trains ran from Chicago all the way to Milwaukee, the term "North Shore" typically refers only to the communities between Waukegan (or perhaps Zion) and Chicago.
This area became popular with the affluent wanting to escape urban life and grew before and especially just after World War II. Large mansions were built, along with less lavish homes. The largest North Shore suburb Evanston, the closest to Chicago, is the home of Northwestern University.
Today the North Shore remains one of the most affluent areas in the United States. Seven of its communities are in the top quintile of U.S. household income, and three of those (Kenilworth, Winnetka and Glencoe) are in the top 5 percent. From Evanston to Lake Bluff, only Highwood falls below the national median.
Municipalities on the North Shore
The now-defunct Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad served the following suburbs (from north to south):
- Winthrop Harbor
- Zion
- Waukegan
- North Chicago
- Lake Bluff
- Lake Forest
- Highwood
- Highland Park
- Glencoe
- Winnetka
- Kenilworth
- Wilmette
- Evanston
Movies that take place in the North Shore
This area received much exposure in the 1980s as the setting of many teen movies, particularly those of writer/director John Hughes. The most notable movies through the years are:
- Ordinary People (1980) - was filmed in Highwood, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Northbrook and Wilmette.
- Class (1983) - was filmed at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest and other locations in Chicago.
- Risky Business (1983) - was filmed in Deerfield, Highland Park and Skokie.
- Sixteen Candles (1984) - was filmed in Evanston, Glencoe, Highland Park, Skokie and Winnetka.
- Weird Science (1985) - was filmed in Highland Park, Skokie and Northbrook.
- The Breakfast Club (1985) - was filmed Northbrook.
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986) - was filmed in Highland Park, Winnetka, Northbrook, Lake Forest and Glencoe, in addition to many locations in Chicago itself.
- She's Having a Baby (1988) - was filmed in Winnetka, Skokie, Glencoe and Northbrook in addition to many locations in Chicago itself.
- Uncle Buck (1989) - was filmed in Evanston, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka, in addition to many locations in Chicago itself.
- Home Alone (1990) - was filmed in Lake Forest, Winnetka, Wilmette, Highland Park and Evanston.
- My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) - was filmed in Vernon Hills, in addition to many locations in Chicago itself.
- The Deep End of the Ocean (1999) - The plot of the book takes place in two suburbs located north of Chicago.
- Shattered Glass (2003)
- Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
- Surviving Christmas (2004)
- Mean Girls (2004) - Mentions Walker Brothers Pancake House in Highland Park and Old Orchard Mall in Skokie
- Derailed (2005)
- Chain Reaction (1996) has scenes at a famous Lake Bluff estate and was largely shot in downtown Chicago.
- The Weather Man (2005) - was filmed in Evanston and Skokie in addition to many locations in Chicago itself.
- Chicago's North Shore. Documentary by Geoffrey Bear
In the 1993 movie Judgment Night which is set in Chicago, gang leader Fallon (played by Denis Leary) comments, "Yeah, $100,000 may buy you out of North Shore, pu*sy, down here it means s***."
Places of interest
Tourism Sites
- Ravinia park in Highland Park hosts the Ravinia Festival each year.
- Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
- Bahá'í Temple, Wilmette
- Ryan Field stadium in Evanston, is the home field of the Northwestern University Wildcats football team.
- Kohl Children's Museum, Glenview
- The structure of the Crow Island School in Winnetka, which was designed by the European architect Eero Saarinen.
- Willits House in Highland Park, which was designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
- North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor.
- The Nature preserve Illinois Beach State Park in Zion.
- Illinois Beach State Park
- Grosse Point Light, Evanston.
Other Sites
- Zion Nuclear Power Station.
- Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago.
- Fort Sheridan in Highwood.
- Abbott Laboratories
- Northwestern University in Evanston.
- Lake Forest College, Lake Forest.
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
- NorthShore University HealthSystem
References
- ^ http://www.forbes.com/2008/12/08/america-affluent-neighborhoods-forbeslife-cx_ls_1209realestate.html
- ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/Cook_County_IL/chi-kenilworth-profile-chomes-09sep04,0,4413665.story
- ^ http://www.forbes.com/2006/03/13/winnetka-luxury-homes-cx_me_0313how_ls.html
- ^ http://hnn.us/articles/25520.html
- Ebner, Michael H. Creating Chicago’s North Shore. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1988.
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