The Neighborhood Of Bridgeport
Bridgeport came into being more than 160 years ago, when immigrants arrived and built the Illinois & Michigan Canal to link Lake Michigan and the Illinois River. Many arrived from Italy, Lithuania, Poland, and Ireland, hoping to recreate the tight-knit communities they had left behind. These immigrants settled in “Hardscrabble”, which was renamed “Bridgeport” in 1836, after a low bridge that crossed the South Branch of the Chicago River. When the canal was built, they worked in the stockyards and packing houses of the “Back of the Yards” to the immediate south.
With the completion of the Canal Origins Park early in the 21st century, Bridgeport will be a noticeable forerunner in the redevelopment of Chicago’s neighborhoods. The park will be located at the site of the former Fuller Street Bridge (near Ashland Avenue and 27th Street), the crossing that’s credited with giving Bridgeport its name. Bridgeport is south of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) and north of Pershing Road. The Chicago and Western Indiana tracks form its eastern boundary and Ashland Avenue is on its west. The four-block-wide eastern vertical strip of the neighborhood, roughly between the railroad tracks and the Dan Ryan Expressway, is often lumped together with Bridgeport but actually is a separate community called Armour Square. Chinatown forms its northeast corner, sectioned off by the Stevenson. Although it may have quite a different character than its North Side counterpart “Wrigleyville”, Bridgeport boasts Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox. And while you won’t find the density of restaurants and bars that Wrigleyville offers, you will find some historic, less-crowded spots for a post-game drink or meal.
Though it’s mainly a residential area, Bridgeport is bisected by a busy central commercial district along Halsted Street. Here, Italian and Lithuanian restaurants mingle with Chinese grocers and discount variety stores. The Ramova Theater, shuttered but still displaying its marquee, is the only visible reminder of the half-dozen theaters that used to dot the neighborhood. An evening in Bridgeport is best enjoyed in one of its many taverns or restaurants. Unless, of course, there’s a game at Comiskey, in which case follow the bright lights illuminating the sky above 35th Street near the Dan Ryan.
A chalk mural at the Polo Cafe (on Morgan Street) illustrates interesting spots around the Bridgeport. Many are churches, still standing even though they were built in the late 1800’s. Also depicted in the mural are five Chicago mayors who were born in Bridgeport, including Richard J. Daley, who lived there his entire life, and his son Richard M. Daley. More than anything else, Bridgeport offers an atmosphere of family, church, and home.
Schools:
| School | Address | Phone | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambrose Plamondon School | 2642 W 15th Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-1789 | Elementary Schools |
| Armour Elementary School | 950 W 33rd Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-4530 | Elementary Schools |
| Armour Elementary School | 950 W 33rd Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-4530 | Elementary Schools |
| Arthur A Libby School | 5300 S Loomis Blvd Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9050 | Elementary Schools |
| Attucks Elementary School | 3813 S Dearborn St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1270 | Elementary Schools |
| Beethoven Elementary School | 25 W 47th St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1480 | Elementary Schools |
| Beethoven Elementary School | 25 W 47th St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1480 | Elementary Schools |
| Bridgeport Grade School | 1300 N Main St Bridgeport IL 62417 | 618-945-5721 | Elementary Schools |
| Chalmers Elementary School | 2745 W Roosevelt Rd Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-1720 | Elementary Schools |
| Colman Elementary School | 4655 S Dearborn St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1450 | Elementary Schools |
| Cooper Branch School | 1645 W 18th Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7363 | Elementary Schools |
| Daniel H Williams School | 2710 S Dearborn St Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9225 | Elementary Schools |
| Dela Cruz School | 2317 W 23rd Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-4585 | Elementary Schools |
| El Centro De La Causa School | 731 W 17th St Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-7906 | Elementary Schools |
| Evangical Mc Kinley School | 1326 W 14th Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7764 | Elementary Schools |
| Everett Elementary School | 3419 S Bell Ave Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-4550 | Elementary Schools |
| Finkle School | 2332 S Western Ave Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-5850 | Elementary Schools |
| Graham Elementary School | 4436 S Union Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1308 | Elementary Schools |
| Graham Elementary School | 4436 S Union Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1308 | Elementary Schools |
| Graham Primary School | 745 W 45th St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1315 | Elementary Schools |
| Hamline Branch School | 1548 W 48th St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4565 | Elementary Schools |
| Hamline Elementary School | 4747 S Bishop St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4565 | Elementary Schools |
| Hartigan Elementary School | 8 W Root St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1460 | Elementary Schools |
| Healy Elementary School | 3010 S Parnell Ave Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9190 | Elementary Schools |
| Hedges West School | 4951 S Seeley Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9220 | Elementary Schools |
| Helen J Mc Corkle Elementary | 4421 S State St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1793 | Elementary Schools |
| Holden Elementary School | 1104 W 31st St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-7200 | Elementary Schools |
| Investigations School | 1819 W Pershing Rd Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-7510 | Elementary Schools |
| Irma Ruiz Elementary School | 2410 S Leavitt St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-4825 | Elementary Schools |
| James Hedges School | 4747 S Winchester Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-7360 | Elementary Schools |
| James R Doolittle Primary Schl | 521 E 35th St Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 535-1050 | Elementary Schools |
| James Ward Elementary School | 2701 S Shields Ave Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9050 | Elementary Schools |
| John A Walsh School | 2031 S Peoria St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7950 | Elementary Schools |
| John B Drake Elementary School | 2722 S Dr Martin L King Jr Dr Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9129 | Elementary Schools |
| John C Haines School | 247 W 23rd Pl Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9200 | Elementary Schools |
| John Farren Elementary School | 5055 S State St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1440 | Elementary Schools |
| John H Hamline Branch School | 1548 W 48th St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4790 | Elementary Schools |
| John M Smyth School | 1059 W 13th St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7180 | Elementary Schools |
| Joseph Jungman School | 1746 S Miller St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7375 | Elementary Schools |
| Joseph Medill Primary School | 1301 W 14th St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7750 | Elementary Schools |
| Lara Augustin School | 4619 S Wolcott Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4389 | Elementary Schools |
| Libby Annex Schools | 5338 S Loomis Blvd Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9350 | Elementary Schools |
| M Sheridan Elementary School | 533 W 27th St Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9120 | Elementary Schools |
| Mary C Terrell School | 5410 S State St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1490 | Elementary Schools |
| Mc Clellan Elementary School | 3527 S Wallace St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1732 | Elementary Schools |
| Nathanael Greene Schools | 3525 S Honore St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4560 | Elementary Schools |
| Parkman Elementary School | 245 W 51st St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1740 | Elementary Schools |
| Perez Elementary School Anx | 2001 S Throop St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7695 | Elementary Schools |
| Perez School | 1241 W 19th St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7650 | Elementary Schools |
| Pershing Elementary School | 3113 S Rhodes Ave Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9272 | Elementary Schools |
| Peter Cooper School | 1624 W 19th St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7205 | Elementary Schools |
| Philip Armour School | 911 W 32nd Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-7298 | Elementary Schools |
| Pickard Elementary School | 2301 W 21st Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-7280 | Elementary Schools |
| Plamondon Elementary School | 2642 W 15th Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-1790 | Elementary Schools |
| Richard J Daley School | 5024 S Wolcott Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9091 | Elementary Schools |
| Robert Abbott Elementary Schl | 3630 S Wells St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1660 | Elementary Schools |
| Robert Fulton School | 5300 S Hermitage Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9000 | Elementary Schools |
| Robert Fulton School | 5300 S Hermitage Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9000 | Elementary Schools |
| Robert Healy Annex School | 3040 S Parnell Ave Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9170 | Elementary Schools |
| Santa Lucia School | 3017 S Wells St Chicago IL 60616 | (312) 326-1839 | Elementary Schools |
| Seward Branch School | 4541 S Wood St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4198 | Elementary Schools |
| Sherman Elementary School | 1000 W 52nd St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1757 | Elementary Schools |
| South Loop Branch School | 1915 S Federal St Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9065 | Elementary Schools |
| Visitation Grammar School | 900 W Garfield Blvd Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 373-5200 | Elementary Schools |
| Whittier Elementary School | 1900 W 23rd St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-4590 | Elementary Schools |
| William E Gladstone School | 1231 S Damen Ave Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7266 | Elementary Schools |
| Williams Elementary School | 2710 S Dearborn St Chicago IL 60616 | (312) 294-4731 | Elementary Schools |
| Benito Juarez High School | 2150 S Laflin St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7030 | High Schools |
| Cristo Rey High School | 1852 W 22nd Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 254-4080 | High Schools |
| De La Salle High School | 3455 S Wabash Ave Chicago IL 60616 | (312) 842-7355 | High Schools |
| Garfield Alternative High Schl | 220 W 45th Pl Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 924-0543 | High Schools |
| Red Hill High School | 908 Church St Bridgeport IL 62417 | 618-945-2521 | High Schools |
| Richards Vocational High Schl | 5009 S Laflin St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4945 | High Schools |
| Simpson High School | 1321 S Paulina St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7811 | High Schools |
| Tilden High School | 4747 S Union Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1625 | High Schools |
| Ambrose Plamondon School | 2642 W 15th Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-1789 | Middle Schools |
| Arthur A Libby School | 5300 S Loomis Blvd Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9050 | Middle Schools |
| Cesar Chavez Mac | 4747 S Marshfield Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4600 | Middle Schools |
| Dela Cruz School | 2317 W 23rd Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 535-4585 | Middle Schools |
| Doolittle East Interm School | 535 E 35th St Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 535-1040 | Middle Schools |
| Hedges Middle School | 1954 W 48th St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-4680 | Middle Schools |
| Hedges West School | 4951 S Seeley Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9220 | Middle Schools |
| John C Haines School | 247 W 23rd Pl Chicago IL 60616 | (773) 534-9200 | Middle Schools |
| John M Smyth School | 1059 W 13th St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7180 | Middle Schools |
| Joseph Medill Intrmdt School | 1326 W 14th Pl Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7760 | Middle Schools |
| Mary C Terrell School | 5410 S State St Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-1490 | Middle Schools |
| Perez School | 1241 W 19th St Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7650 | Middle Schools |
| Richard J Daley School | 5024 S Wolcott Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9091 | Middle Schools |
| Robert Fulton School | 5300 S Hermitage Ave Chicago IL 60609 | (773) 535-9000 | Middle Schools |
| Santa Lucia School | 3017 S Wells St Chicago IL 60618 | (312) 326-1839 | Middle Schools |
| William E Gladstone School | 1231 S Damen Ave Chicago IL 60608 | (773) 534-7266 | Middle Schools |
Important Information For Bridgeport:
City of Chicago Vehicle Stickers
All Chicago residents driving, parking, leasing and/or owning a vehicle for which they are responsible in the City of Chicago are subject to the Chicago Wheel Tax and must purchase a Chicago City Vehicle Sticker. This includes Chicago residents that maintain their registration outside of the City of Chicago, but use the vehicle in the City. We want motorists to avoid costly tickets: You must purchase a Chicago Vehicle Sticker within 30 days of residing in the City or acquiring a new vehicle to avoid late fees and fines.
Click Here for more details.
Residential Parking Permits
Chicago’s Residential Parking Permit program is designed to restrict parking on designated residential streets during specified hours, except for the residents of that street, guests of the residents or those who provide a service to the residents. This program helps to ensure that residents of densely populated areas have reasonable access to parking near their residences. Cars parked in violation of this ordinance are ticketed.
The City of Chicago does not mess around. The city has a dillignet parking patrol staff that will ticket you if you are in a spot where a permit you don’t have is required. All spots that require permits are marked with white street signs. Please look out for them!
For more information, contact the city clerk at 312-744-6861 or email info@chicityclerk.com. We also recommend that you ask your Real Estate Agent, Leasing Agent, or Land Lord about parking permit requirements in your area.