Chicago’s Hidden Gem: Andersonville

Nestled between the communities of Uptown and Edgewater is the attractive neighborhood of Andersonville. What started as a rural cherry orchard has grown to become one of Chicago’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Rich in history, charming architecture and quirky antique shops, read on to discover why many people want to call Andersonville home.

Swedish Heritage

One of Andersonville’s most famous landmarks is the water tower at the corner of North Clark Street and West Foster Avenue. Standing tall over the community’s commercial heart, the tower proudly boasts the bright blue and yellow flag of Sweden.

Up until the 1850s, Andersonville was nothing but farmland. However, this began to change in the 1870s following the Great Chicago Fire. Wooden homes were now banned from being built within the city limits, requiring more expensive materials like brick and stone. This forced many families, mostly immigrants, to move outside the city. Swedish families began to settle in the area and continued through the early decades of the 1900s.

Many families were builders and carpenters who helped build the community from the ground up. By the turn of the 20th century, Clark Street, the community’s commercial district, was lined with Swedish businesses of all kinds, from delis and bakeries to hardware stores and real estate companies. At one point, the Andersonville neighborhood had the largest concentration of Swedish people after Stockholm.

Following the Great Depression and the post-war years, many urban populations began migrating to the suburbs. Andersonville began to change, bringing in new immigrant families from Korea, Cuba and the Middle East. Despite these demographic shifts, Andersonville’s Swedish roots remained strong, and in 1976, the neighborhood opened the Swedish American Museum.

Andersonville experienced a commercial revival in the 1980s as young professionals flocked to the area for its convenient location for commuters and abundant housing. Around this time, the community’s significant LGBTQIA+ population also became established.

Today, the Andersonville neighborhood is a community that celebrates its wealth of diversity while staying true to its heritage. Since the 1960s, the community has celebrated the Swedish tradition of Midsommar, observing the summer solstice, and today, it is one of the area’s largest celebrations, coinciding with the festivities of Pride Month. St. Lucia’s Festival of Lights is another Swedish holiday that has found a home here and is celebrated in mid-December.

Clark Street

Did you know Andersonville is the shop local capital of Chicago? Clark Street has long been the community’s central economic hub, hosting a wide variety of shops, cafes, and local businesses, some of which have been in the same family for generations. In fact, you can visit over 300 independently owned businesses within a 1.5-mile radius. Some of the better-known businesses include Women & Children First, a feminist, LGBT-friendly bookstore that has been supplying the neighborhood’s book habit since 1979; Svea Restaurant, a beloved Swedish café that serves its famous Viking Breakfast; and Woolly Mammoth, an oddities and antique shop that carries everything from taxidermy to vintage toys.

Life in Andersonville

With a distinct, small-town-feel that comes with all the benefits of city living, it’s no wonder Andersonville has been voted the coolest neighborhood in the United States (and second-best in the world!) Niche.com gives the community high marks for schools and family friendliness, along with diversity and nightlife.

If you’re looking to call the Andersonville neighborhood home, Storage Post Andersonville has you covered for all your space-saving needs. We offer safe, secure units in convenient locations for you to store your stuff. Stop by or rent online today!