History of Evanston, IL

The city of Evanston, IL was first established by the Potawatomi Native American tribe, who had built permanent villages near the lakeshore and lived by raising crops, hunting, fishing and gathering other foods. The area was first discovered by explorer Jacques Marquette, who described the area as dense with trees, flooded and impassable during most of the year.

The first permanent European settlers of Evanston, IL were Major Edward Mulford and his wife, Rebecca, who came from New York in 1833 to establish a jewelry business in Chicago. At the time, the government was selling land for $1.25 an acre, with the stipulation that the buyer improves and cultivates part of the land for at least three years. Major Mulford and his family built a large log house in Evanston, IL. The house served as the family’s home as well as a tavern. The Ten-Mile House Tavern became the place where travelers on the Green Bay Trail could stop overnight, and served as the location of the first court in Cook County, IL.

In 1850, the U.S. Census reported a population of 441 people in Evanston, IL. The city population was made up of English, Scottish, Irish, and German immigrants, who worked as merchants, coopers, shoemakers and sailors. At this time, nine men gathered to establish a university in Chicago (even though the city did not even have a public high school). Northwestern University Evanston was actually founded before the city of Evanston was established. Construction began within the year, and in 1855, Northwestern University Evanston opened its doors to the first 10 students. Two years later the city of Evanston was established, named after John Evans, one of the founders of Evanston’s Northwestern University.

The city of Evanston was an intensely abolitionist town, and many of its residents volunteered to defend the Union during the Civil War. After the war, Evanston, IL saw a huge economic and population boom. The Chicago Fire of 1871 continued to mark a population increase in the city of Evanston, as many people moved north of Chicago looking for places to live. Between 1860 and 1870, the population quadrupled.

Industry in the city of Evanston has been varied. During the mid-to late 1800’s, the city of Evanston was a busy lake port, with piers at Davis and Dempster Streets, handling excursion and cargo boats. This was also the site of a major maritime disaster, as the Lady Elgin, an excursion boat, sunk off of the Evanston coast resulting in the death of more than 300 people. In the early 1900’s, manufacturing was Evanston’s main industrial area, as a branch of the Youngstown Steel and Tube Company employed 800 workers within the city of Evanston. The popular Tinker Toys were also manufactured in Evanston, IL, and there were several clothing factories employing nearly 300 workers throughout the city.

A city plan was developed and accepted by the Evanston city council in 1919. Influenced by the plan and development of Chicago, the city of Evanston was developed and planned with separate retail and housing areas, to include park space along the lakeshore and smaller parks and community centers throughout the city of Evanston. Construction within Evanston, IL boomed in the 1920’s, with the development of some of the city’s most famous buildings, including the Orrington Hotel, the Carlson Building, the Georgian Hotel and the Homestead Hotel.

Evanston, IL Today

Today, Evanston, IL is sill thriving as an independent city located 12 miles north of the Chicago Loop. The city of Evanston, considered part of Chicago’s affluent “North Shore” region, is bounded by Lake Michigan to the east, Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west and Wilmette to the north. When asked their reasons for choosing to purchase Evanston, IL real estate, residents most frequently mention the quality of housing, excellent Evanston school district, proximity to Chicago and Lake Michigan, accessible public transportation, Northwestern University Evanston, the population diversity, cultural activities and the friendliness of the community.

Evanston, IL continues to have a thriving business economy, with the Northwestern University Evanston and the Evanston hospitals as some of the larger businesses. Nearly 45% of residents who purchase Evanston real estate also work within the city of Evanston.

Evanston has always been a dry city, and an amendment was passed in the late 1800’s that prohibited the sale of alcohol within four miles of the Evanston Northwestern University campus. Evanston, IL was a strong supporter of the Prohibition and remained dry long after its repeal. The first liquor license within the city of Evanston was not granted until 1972. Today, Evanston restaurants and Evanston bars are well known throughout the area for their diversity of cuisine and quality of dining experiences. Evanston, IL is also renowned throughout the state for its emphasis on arts and culture.

Evanston, IL Real Estate

The city of Evanston offers a variety of housing options to fit any budget, from economical condominiums, to family-friendly neighborhoods and luxury lakeside homes. Evanston, IL offers a diverse range of architectural influences and variety of housing styles such as Victorian, Georgian, Prairie, bungalow, farmhouse, Tudor and American foursquare. This diverse architectural style has given the city of Evanston the nickname “city of homes,” and offers some of the most valuable properties along Chicago’s North Shore.

Since over 40% of the Evanston, IL homes were built before 1940, preserving these historic homes has become a priority for Evanston residents. Evanston’s two historic districts, the Evanston Lakeshore Historic District and the Evanston Ridge Historic District, are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Historic Evanston real estate includes the Frederick B. Carter Jr. House, the George B. Dryden House, the Frances E. Willard House, the Charles Gates Dawes House, Roycemore School and the Grosse Point Lighthouse. Evanston’s oldest homes date back to the 1850’s.