Forest Glen

Forest Glen is the 12th community area on Chicago’s Northwestern side. This area is segregated from the city and suburbs by a belt of forest preserves, parks, golf courses, and graveyards. The Chicago River’s North Branch forms part of the area’s southern boundary, wriggling from northwest to southeast through the community’s eastern section. 

The renowned Edgebrook and Sauganash neighborhoods are located in this well-to-do, well-kept community. Many city officials, upper-level police and fire officials, lawyers, judges, and politicians reside in the Forest Glen neighborhood. The area’s distinctiveness is further highlighted by a complex street design that differs significantly from the strict rectangular grid that dominates most of Chicago’s streets due to the river’s snaking pattern.

Forest Glen is also known for its strategic location; the community is 12.6 miles (20.2 km) away from the downtown Loop. It only takes 18 minutes to travel to and from the central business district by car.

Map

Forest Glen is bordered on the north with the Chicago River and Foster Avenue to the south. The Metra Milwaukee District North line and Cicero Avenue define the Forest Glen neighborhood’s west and east side, respectively. The community has the same zip code as Jefferson Park (60630). 

Population

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning counted the total population of Forest Glen as 19,596 in its August 2021 release. 81.8% of this population consists of Native Americans, while the remaining 18.2% comprise foreign settlers.

According to the Forest Glen Community Club, the first inhabitants of the Forest Glen community were the Pottawatomie Indians who migrated to the area in the 17th century. They settled near the Chicago River’s northern branch, which flows east-west through Forest Glen’s northern part after being attracted to the area’s forests and natural resources. Captain William Hazelton, who belonged to the 1st Cavalry Division, a Civil War veteran, was the first European American to settle Forest Glen. Captain Hazelton erected a house in Forest Glen that is still standing, as well as a Sunday School that later became the Forest Glen First Congregational Church. Hazelton also built Glen’s first barn at what is now recognized as Lawler and Elston. Billie Caldwell (also known as Chief Sauganash) was the first person to be officially recognized as the owner of Forest Glen. His parents were also of mixed cultural backgrounds; his mother was a Pottawatomie Indian, and his father was a British Army soldier stationed in Detroit who was Irish.

By the year 2000, the neighborhood remained primarily white and Roman Catholic. Since then, the neighborhood has sheltered people of various ethnicities, with Asians still owning a major population share. At present, the greatest racial sector in Forest Glen is the White (70.3%). Hispanics come second at 15.1%, following Asians (10.7%) and blacks (1.2%). 

Real Estate

The Regional Housing Solutions identify that the Forest Glen neighborhood falls into two submarkets. 87% of the community is a part of submarket 6. These parts have a high-cost suburban housing stock, low density, high income, and an aging population. The remaining 13% area of Forest Glen is a component of submarket 4, where one can find low-cost postwar suburban housing stock for moderate- and middle-income families.

Forest Glen’s architectural housing qualities are extremely attractive. Homebuyers will find a delightful mix of mid-century ranches, brick bungalows, English Tudors, and small cottages that appear as they jump straight out of a fairy tale on every street.

There are 7,021 households in forest Glen with an average family size of 2.8. Out of the 96.2% that are occupied in the Forest Glen neighborhood, 90.5% are owner-occupied, and around 9.5% are rented. Single-family detached housings occupy 87.0% of the real estate market. Two units and three to four units following immediately after at 5.0% and 1.2%, respectively.

“Chicago’s Finest Community,” one of the oldest communities of around 550 homes on the city’s far northwest side, is located at the southern end of the Forest Glen neighborhood. The Forest Glen neighborhood has a somewhat competitive market with an average sale price of $534K. This median listing price is significantly higher than the Chicago average of $335K, indicating that Forest Glen is a posh and desired residential community in the city. Some locals even argue that Forest Glen is a neighboring suburb rather than a true part of Chicago.

The Forest Glen community hosts exclusive events for the Glen residents, like a Halloween party, Young at Heart social clubs, and summer garage sales. Local families also have access to the Forest Glen Playlot, a small plot of grass and playground. Despite being smaller than most Community Club grounds, the Forest Glen Playlot is popular for keeping kids occupied and providing a source of recreation to families. The neighborhood also offers plenty of opportunities for biking, hiking, bird watching, and dining. You will always find comfortable parking, restrooms, and picnic tables conveniently located in the Forest Glen area.

Schools

The educational attainment rate in Forest Glen is extraordinary. The least percentage of people has less than a high school diploma; 13.4% have a high school diploma, and 18.2% of the people attended some college but earned no degree. 5.5% of the population has an Associate degree, while the majority has a Bachelor’s degree (31.0%). Graduate and professional degree holders account for 26.1% of the total Forest Glen populace.

There is an abundance of Chicago Public Schools and privately operated educational institutions in the Forest Glen community. Some of the best-rated ones are listed below:

1- Northside College Preparatory High School

Population: 1,078 students in grades 9 to 12

Teacher-student ratio: 18-to-1

2- Westinghouse College Prep

Population: 1,238 students in grades 9 to 12

Teacher-student ratio: 17-to-1

3- DeVry University Advantage Academy High School

Population: 142 students in grades 11 to 12

Teacher-student ratio: 14-to-1

4- Lenart Elementary Regional Gift Center

Population: 282 in grades PK, K-8

Teacher-student ratio: 17-to-1

5- Decatur Classical School

Population: 282 students in grades K-6

Teacher-student ratio: 16-to-1

Some of the top-rated private educational institutions in the Forest Glen neighborhood are listed below:

6-  Saint Ignatius College Preparatory School

Population: 1,476 students in grades 9 to 12

Teacher-student ratio: 12-to-1

7- Regina Dominican High School

Population: 258 students in grades 9 to 12

Teacher-student ratio: 9-to-1

Crime Ratings

Forest Glen is a safe community for families to reside in. It lies in District 16, where 0 murder cases were recorded from February 14th to 22nd, followed by 1 robbery case. Other crime reports include 6 burglary cases, 1 age-battery case, and 16 theft incidents.

History

Because the river has always shielded the forest from fires driven eastward by the prevailing west winds, the forests to the east of the river channel are denser than those to the west. The Miami and Potawatomi Indians once found summer campsites and good hunting grounds for the Miami and Potawatomi Indians in these resourceful forests. Occasionally, we can unearth traces of their presence here, and streets with Indian names evoke their remembrance. 

A renowned Potawatomi chief, Billy Caldwell, formerly owned the almost two-and-a-half-square-mile region covered by Sauganash and Edgebrook. Caldwell, whose Indian name was Sauganash (which meant “Englishman”), was in charge of negotiating treaties between the Indians and the United States. The federal government gave Caldwell the plot of property in 1828 as an appreciation for his assistance.

The construction of commuter train lines attracted more and more distant communities to the urban network as Chicago moved outward. By the 1880s, Forest Glen and Edgebrook railroad terminals had fostered the commuter population. Captain Charles Hazelton erected the first church in the area, built a residence that still stands, and subdivided 10 acres for subsequent development over that decade. At Edgebrook, Milwaukee Railroad executives built a home hideaway next to a golf course. This area, formerly part of Jefferson Township, was mainly merged to Chicago in 1889. Forest Glen’s slow development was most likely due to its remote location from the city center and restricted transit options. 

Home construction did not begin until the 1920s. By 1940, Forest Glen had taken on the image of a wealthy and influential neighborhood of exquisite homes that it has today. By this time, the founding settlers of English and Swedish ancestry had been joined by German, Czech, and Irish neighbors. Along with ancient Protestant churches, Roman Catholics established new parishes. In 1970, the community’s population peaked at 20,531 people. Many people moved to Forest Glen as a result of Mayor Richard J. Daley’s desire that municipal workers live in the city.

Forest Glen had various industries along the train tracks and minimal commercial facilities near important junctions on Cicero, Devon, and Lehigh Avenues at the turn of the twentieth century. Despite this, the neighborhood was mainly residential, with the majority of the homes being single-family homes. Despite the lack of apartments, condos, and townhouses, the housing market was stable. Properties in the region ranged in price from $150,000 to $300,000, with larger, aristocratic older homes fetching $500,000 or more. Some of these historic residences have been passed down through the centuries.

Compared to the rest of Chicago, the neighborhood is stable, pleasant, and affluent, and it radiates political influence. As younger inhabitants have moved out to start their own families, the population has declined slightly from its 1970 peak.