Rogers Park is Community Area #1, the northernmost lakefront community area on Chicago’s Far North Side, bordering Evanston. It is known for its string of public beaches, Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore Campus and one of the most diverse populations in the city. The 2020 Census counted 55,628 residents.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community area number | 1 |
| Side of the city | Far North Side |
| Population (2020 Census) | 55,628 (CMAP’s June 2026 snapshot estimates 54,173 for 2020–2024) |
| Neighborhoods within | Rogers Park, East Rogers Park, Loyola, Jarvis Square, Glenwood Arts District, North of Howard |
| Main L and Metra stations | Red Line: Howard, Jarvis, Morse, Loyola (Purple and Yellow Lines meet the Red Line at Howard); Metra: Rogers Park station |
| Major parks and open space | Lakefront beaches, Pottawattomie Park, Hartigan Park |
Where Rogers Park is and its boundaries
Rogers Park sits in the far northeast corner of the city, about where the Chicago lakefront meets the Evanston city line.
Its northern edge follows Juneway Terrace and Howard Street along the Evanston border. Lake Michigan forms the east side, Ridge Boulevard the west side, and Devon Avenue the south side, where Edgewater begins.
Neighborhoods within Rogers Park
The area includes Rogers Park proper, East Rogers Park near the lake and the Loyola area around the university’s campus. Smaller pockets with their own names include Jarvis Square, the Glenwood Arts District and North of Howard, sometimes shortened to NoHo.
A Latino community has grown along Clark Street since 2000, adding to an already mixed population.
A short history
- The area grew where two Native American trails met; those paths became Rogers Avenue and Ridge Boulevard.
- It is named for Phillip Rogers, who bought roughly 1,600 acres between the 1830s and 1856.
- Rogers Park incorporated as a village on April 29, 1878, and Chicago annexed it in 1893.
- The elevated line reached Howard Street in 1904, and St. Ignatius College moved to the lakefront and became Loyola University in the 1910s.
- By 1930 the population had reached 57,094, making it one of the densest parts of Chicago.
Landmarks and parks
- Loyola University Chicago Lake Shore Campus, including Madonna della Strada Chapel and the Mundelein Center
- A chain of public beaches, including the beach at the Farwell Avenue pier
- Artists of the Wall, a mural festival on lakefront concrete benches that has run for more than 20 years
- Leather Archives and Museum and the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives
- Glenwood Sunday Market, a seasonal farmers market
- Pottawattomie Park and Hartigan Park
Getting there
The Red Line is the main way in, with four stops: Loyola, Morse, Jarvis and Howard. Howard is also where the Purple Line to Evanston and the Yellow Line to Skokie begin.
Metra’s Rogers Park station sits at Lunt and Ravenswood avenues. CTA buses also serve the area.
Frequently asked questions
What community area number is Rogers Park?
Rogers Park is Community Area #1 in Chicago’s official list of 77 community areas.
Is Rogers Park on the North Side?
Yes. It is on the Far North Side, at the city’s northeast corner on Lake Michigan, bordering Evanston.
What university is in Rogers Park?
Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore Campus is in Rogers Park, along the lake near the Loyola Red Line stop.
How do you get to Rogers Park from downtown?
Take the Red Line north to Loyola, Morse, Jarvis or Howard. Metra also stops at Rogers Park station.
Related guides
- Best of Rogers Park
- West Ridge (Community Area #2)
- Edgewater (Community Area #77)
- Chicago’s 77 community areas, explained
- Chicago neighborhoods hub
- Red Line guide
- Metra guide
Sources
- Wikipedia: Rogers Park, Chicago
- CMAP Community Data Snapshot: Rogers Park (June 2026)
- Dominican University Government Data: Chicago community areas by side
Last updated: October 31, 2026