Bucktown Illinois Real Estate

Bucktown
By Julie Farby

Bounded on the North by Fullerton Street, on the South by North Avenue, on the East by the Chicago River, and by Western Avenue on the West, Bucktown is fast becoming one of Chicago’s hottest, most desirable neighborhoods. Likewise with its neighbor to the south, Wicker Park, Bucktown’s increasingly high rents and upscale, new condos “priced well into the six digits” have started to displace the “local artist population in favor of the yuppie crowd.” Yet despite the influx, Bucktown still retains much of its bohemian flavor and remains populated by a diverse mix of artists, young professionals, students, and many others.

Perhaps one of the most frequent questions asked about the community is the origin of the name “Bucktown.” According to the Bucktown Community Organization, “it is believed the term was coined early in the area’s history, probably during the 1830s, since many of the Polish settlers raised goats (the male of which is called a buck) in their backyards.” The Polish people called the area “kozie prery” or “goat prairie,” the legacy of which still remains today. Though the Poles have all but been replaced by a Latin community (which is in turn fleeing Bucktown for cheaper rents), the influence of early Polish immigrants persists in Bucktown’s remarkable, ornate churches.

Latin immigration in the 1960’s brought a new culture to the already cosmopolitan area. During the mid 1970’s, another group of newcomers began trickle into the area, only this time the people could not be put into any ethnic category. “Mostly middle class and native born, they recognized the amenities of Bucktown – affordable housing, both rental and ownership, good transportation, and proximity to the Loop and lakefront activities”—that make Bucktown one of the prime locales in Chicago. Still, a walk “north from the large six-way corner of Damen, Milwaukee, and North Avenue will quickly take you from posh and hip to downright coarse.”

According to the Bucktown Community Organization, remains of the “good old days” can still be found in Bucktown: “cobblestone alleys; streetcar tracks peeking through potholes; a water pump in a yard near Leavitt and McLean; old street numbers in stained glass on Oakley; privy rooms under vaulted sidewalks; and, of course, the beautiful, sturdy century-old buildings.” Clearly, Bucktown’s history is grand, but it is future is just as promising. Small neighborhood bars are found on every corner, and both North and Damen Avenues boast smoky late-night clubs and stylish bars, shops, and restaurants. Bucktown has no shortage of culture—“Gallery Point,” is the area’s central art colony, (bounded by Milwaukee, Damen, Wabansia and North Avenues), and the "Bucktown Arts Fest," continues to attract 30,000 plus art lovers to the area every August, a beloved Bucktown tradition for well over 20 years.

Bucktown Vicinity Map (red circle denotes Bucktown)

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