The Polish immigrants who first inhabited Bucktown, a neighborhood located northwest of Chicago’s Loop, might be surprised to see how much of the old place remains – and how today’s young residents are making it their own just as the Poles did in the 1830s. Calling it “Kozie Prery,” or Goat Prairie, they raised a large number of goats, and Bucktown is said to get its name from the term for a male goat, a buck.
This community was an integral part of the city’s famed Polish Downtown; as many as 150,000 Poles are estimated to have arrived here during and after World War II.
Later, in the 20th century, a growing artists’ community led to widespread gentrification. Today Bucktown has been transformed from a working-class residential neighborhood into a hip, urban area full of boutiques, galleries and trendy restaurants. It’s an architectural mix of older single-family homes, new homes with edgy architecture, converted industrial loft spaces and cobblestone paths.
A slightly less expensive alternative to other, higher-priced Chicago neighborhoods, this vibrant area enjoys close proximity to the Loop and easy downtown access via the CTA Blue Line. Directly north of Wicker Park, the relatively small community of Bucktown is bounded by Fullerton Avenue to the north, Western Avenue to the west, Bloomingdale Avenue to the south and the Chicago River to the east.
The Bucktown Arts Fest attracts over 30,000 visitors to the area every August. Popular dining choices here include fusion food at Takashi, bistro dining at Duchamp, Le Bouchon, Cafe LaGuardia and George’s Hot Dogs, a landmark for more than 60 years.
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