Originally inhabited in the 18th Century by Fox Indians, Roscoe Village was settled by German immigrant workers in the late 1800s, and for a time was notable for its surprising number of greenhouses. In 1906, Riverview Park opened on the site of the former Sharpshooters Park (where Lane Tech now sits); this giant amusement park was a prime Chicago summer hangout, drawing enormous crowds every year.
Riverview's boon led to more commercial development along Roscoe Street, which became known for its plentiful shopping and many taverns, easily accessed from the trolley that traversed the thoroughfare. The economic explosion of the 1920s brought even more expansion, though following the Great Depression, Roscoe Village declined into a sketchy, crime-addled state in which it remained for many years.
The 1980s and 90s brought new commercial development to the area, resulting in nothing short of a total rebirth. Now Roscoe Village arguably owns the claim to the title of “village within the city,” as it maintains a small-town charm without losing any of its city cred. Few neighborhoods as family-friendly manage to also be as hip as Roscoe Village, which balances tree-lined streets and quaint shops with funky dining establishments and bars such as The Hungry Brain and Village Tap.
Antique Row, on Belmont between Western and Damen, features Chicago's largest concentration of antique shops. The Roscoe Village Farmer's Market is one of the most satisfying in the city. The annual street fair Retro on Roscoe brings out the neighborhood's grown-up-but-still-cool vibe for all to experience.
Fun Facts
- Roscoe Street may have been named for Roscoe, Pennsylvania by Philadelphia native John Lewis Cochran, who owned much of the land on Chicago's north side and had an affinity for naming streets for Pennsylvania cities and train depots.
- Roscoe Village was once home to some of the city's busiest retail establishments, including Wieboldt's and Goldblatt's.
- Three of the four members of Chicago band Fall Out Boy lived together in Roscoe Village before making it big. Their 2005 major-label debut album debuted at #9 on the Billboard chart and earned the band frequent rotation on MTV.
- Riverview Park, the Roscoe Village amusement park that closed its doors in 1967, in its prime boasted seven roller coasters and more than two miles of midway.
- Roscoe Village is the setting for an independent episodic comedy-drama titled (appropriately enough) "Roscoe Village." The cult show, chronicling the travails of twentysomething Roscoe Village residents, was released on the Internet in 2006.
