John Short's

The Neighborhood: West Ridge, Chicago

West Ridge sits on Chicago's Far North Side and blends homes, shops, and small apartment buildings. Parks in the area include Wrightwood Park and Howard Park and offer green space for walking and play. Navy Pier provides lakefront rides and an amusement area within a short drive for visitors. Restaurants such as Starbucks and McDonald's serve quick food and coffee along local commercial strips. Bars like neighborhood taverns offer casual evening space in this district. Libraries and schools provide local services and community events for residents. Howard station connects riders to the CTA Red Line, Purple Line, and Yellow Line for travel downtown and to the suburbs. CTA buses run through the neighborhood and link to shopping and schools. Shopping centers and small stores supply groceries and daily goods close to home. Sidewalks and bike lanes support walking and short bicycle trips across streets. Local housing shows a mix of older single homes and mid century apartment buildings. Data indicates that the most common age group falls between 0 to 4 years old and that households with 1 person make up the largest share of the population.