Neighborhoods of Chicago: Wrigleyville

by the Apartment People

Wrigleyville’s namesake is the home of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, which occupies an entire square block in the neighborhood’s center. Although Wrigleyville is one of Chicago’s smallest neighborhoods, it possesses a distinctive culture and has more history than most other areas of the city. Chicago inhabitants come to Wrigleyville for its exciting nightlife, top-notch entertainment, and five-star dining experiences. During baseball season, Wrigleyville is one of the most exciting places to be in the entire city. Each game day, the entire neighborhood turns into a lively street party where inhabitants show their Chicago spirit and dedication to the Cubs. For individuals who enjoy a lively, fast-paced social life, Wrigleyville is the perfect neighborhood.
Due to the cheap cost of living compared to other areas of Chicago, Wrigleyville began as a working-class neighborhood. Wrigleyville also has also been a stronghold for Irish immigrants, evidenced by the numerous traditional Irish pubs still in operation today. In recent years, however, Wrigleyville has become a diverse part of the city, with students, new college graduates, and other young professionals making up a large part of its population. The neighborhood features traditional brick architecture, mostly low-rise apartments and studios. Some of the most interesting architectural elements of Wrigleyville are the bleachers on the roofs of many of the buildings surrounding Wrigley Field, which have long been used as additional seating for Cubs fans.