Apartments in South Loop Chicago

Downtown Energy and Business Hustle in Chicago’s South Loop

On the beach at 18th Street, in the area we know as South Loop, the Fort Dearborn Massacre took place in 1812. In 1836 Henry B. Clark built a home on 20 acres on the outskirts of a town called Chicago, and the city was incorporated a year later. Clark House--built in the Greek Revival style--is the oldest surviving home in Chicago and is now a museum that gives us a glimpse into life before the Civil War. The west border of South Loop is the Chicago River. The Donohue Building was the first printing house on what was to become Printer’s Row. Dearborn Station was built across the street and became a major transportation hub for the entire city. Eventually Printer’s Row buildings were vacated, and the area lost its prominence. South Loop was home to brothels, burlesque theaters and arcades. It was one of the city’s Skid Rows until the 1970s and one of the largest shelters was located on State and Balbo until 2007. Dearborn Station has been converted to retail and office space and former warehouses and factories have been converted to residential buildings.

Who Lives There

The total population of South Loop is 23,021 and the median age is 34. Only 7.13% of households have children and the household average annual income is $102,500. 46.7% of the residents have never been married and 25% hold bachelor’s degrees. A one-bedroom, 760 square foot apartment will cost you approximately $2,200 per month and a three-bedroom, 2,149 square foot place will run about $7,175 per month.

Places of Interest

The Museum Campus was not created until 1998, though it started in 1921 when the Field Museum moved from the Palace of Fine Arts Building. The other museums that are located on the campus are the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. The Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place and the Auditorium Theater are two major venues in South Loop. Saturdays during the summer you can take advantage of Printer’s Row Farmers Market. Grant Park is a must visit destination in the area, with 319 acres it hosts many public events and festivals like Taste of Chicago, The Grant Park Music Festival, Lollapalooza and the Chicago Marathon.