Beverly, Chicago

Beverly Hills (or Beverly) is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois, located on the southwestern edge of the city. It consists of historical upscale homes built on very large lots in relation to most of Chicago. Beverly was initially an exclusive suburb perched atop a ridge later annexed by the city. English engineers designed the infrastructure over 100 years ago.

Beverly residents are very proud of their distinct urban neighborhood. Beverly has more of the appearance of a quiet suburb, yet is within the city of Chicago and has a diverse ethnic mix of residents.

Beverly has very easy access (by public transport or car) to all of the Chicago financial markets and world-class attractions, yet retains itself as a peaceful, quiet community. Beverly is one of the top five largest historic districts in any major city in the USA, and the homes there reflect this historic distinction. Beverly is also ranked the "safest" neighborhood in Chicago year after year.

Beverly is notable as one of the few areas within Chicago containing hills. Prior to settlement, it was known as Blue Island, a name now used by a suburb a few miles to the south. The blue color has been variously attributed to atmospheric scattering or to blue flowers growing on the ridge.

It is home to a large Irish-American community and many Irish establishments. Beverly is the home of the South Side Irish Parade, which is held on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick's Day, the largest neighborhood parade of any type in the country. The neighborhood is home to more Irish-style pubs than any other in Chicago, including Cork and Kerry, Keegan's, the Dubliner and Fox's. [http://www.beverlyartcenter.org/ The Beverly Arts Center] is the location for the Chicago Irish Film Festival.

There is a replica of a castle from Ireland in Beverly, which was constructed in the late 19th century when an American businessman, Robert Givens, was trying to convince his Irish fiancee to move to the United States, and so had a duplicate of her family castle built with stone from the same quarry. The "Givens Castle"( [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sarhaus/courses/501f97/kris/givens.gifPhoto] ),at 10244 S. Longwood Drive, has been a home, an all-girls college, and is now a Unitarian church and pre-school. The Castle is one of Chicago's most reputed haunted places.

The Beverly Branch Library has the largest Irish heritage collection in Chicago.

The Rotary Club was formed in Beverly at the home of Paul P. Harris on Longwood Drive, and today the house is owned by that organization.

Beverly has five Catholic parishes: St. John Fisher, St. Walter, St. Barnabas, Christ the King, and St. Cajetan. Beverly also is a main drawing ground for many of the area's all-boys (Mt. Carmel, Brother Rice, St. Rita, St. Laurence, Leo, and De La Salle), all-girls (Mother McAuley, Queen of Peace, Mt. Assisi, Maria) and co-ed (Marian Catholic, St. Ignatius, Marist) Catholic high schools. The area is home to Dan Ryan Woods, part of the Cook County Forest Preserves' Calumet division.

External links

* [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/Community_Areas_BEVERLY.pdf Official City of Chicago Beverly Community Map]
* [http://ridgehistoricalsociety.org Ridge Historical Society]
* [http://www.bapa.org Beverly Area Planning Association]
* [http://www.beverlyartcenter.org Beverly Arts Center]
* [http://www.southsideirishparade.org South Side Irish Parade]
* [http://www.prairieghosts.com/irish.html Givens Castle]
* [http://www.southwestobserver.com SouthwestObserver.com News web site for Mount Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park]
* [http://www.BeverlyToday.com BeverlyToday.com Neighborhood Portal for local happenings for Beverly and Morgan Park]

Geographic Location 2
Center = Beverly, Chicago
Northeast = Auburn Gresham, Chicago
East = Washington Heights, Chicago
South = Morgan Park, Chicago
Southwest = Mount Greenwood, Chicago
WNW = Evergreen Park, Illinois
Northwest = Ashburn, Chicago