Uptown is Community Area #3 on Chicago’s Far North Side, on the lakefront between Lake View and Edgewater. It is known for its historic entertainment district, including the Aragon Ballroom, the Riviera Theatre and the Green Mill, and for Argyle Street’s Vietnamese restaurants. The 2020 Census counted 57,182 residents.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community area number | 3 |
| Side of the city | Far North Side |
| Population (2020 Census) | 57,182 |
| Neighborhoods within | Buena Park, Sheridan Park, Margate Park, Argyle (Little Saigon), Uptown Square, part of Andersonville |
| Main L and Metra stations | Red Line: Argyle, Lawrence, Wilson, Sheridan (edge); Metra Ravenswood station (UP North) is just west |
| Major parks and open space | Montrose Beach and Harbor, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Margate Park, Chase Park, Clarendon Park |
Where Uptown is and its boundaries
Uptown runs from the lakefront west toward Ravenswood Avenue on the Far North Side.
Foster Avenue forms its northern edge and Lake Michigan its eastern edge. Montrose Avenue and Irving Park Road mark the south, and Ravenswood Avenue and Clark Street mark the west.
Neighborhoods within Uptown
Uptown includes Buena Park, Sheridan Park and Margate Park, plus the entertainment district around Uptown Square at Broadway and Lawrence.
Argyle Street, also called Little Saigon, is a hub of Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian businesses. The western edge of Andersonville also falls within Uptown, although most of it is in Edgewater.
A short history
- Argyle Park, founded in the 1880s by William C. Goudy, was annexed to Chicago in 1889.
- The Northwestern Elevated Railroad opened its terminal at Wilson and Broadway in 1900.
- Large venues went up around Uptown Square in the mid-1920s.
- Population peaked at 84,462 in 1950.
- In the 1950s and 1960s, migration from the South and Appalachia reshaped the area.
- The Sheridan Park Historic District was established in 1985, and West Argyle Street joined the National Register in 2010.
Landmarks and parks
- Green Mill, a historic jazz club
- Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theatre and the Uptown Theatre
- Montrose Beach, Montrose Dog Beach, Montrose Harbor and the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
- Graceland Cemetery
- Essanay Studios, an early film studio
- Truman College
Getting there
The Red Line runs through Uptown with stops at Wilson, Lawrence and Argyle; Sheridan sits at the southern edge near Buena Park.
Metra’s Ravenswood station on the Union Pacific North Line is just west of the community area.
Frequently asked questions
What community area number is Uptown?
Uptown is Community Area #3.
What is Uptown Chicago known for?
Its 1920s entertainment district, including the Green Mill, Aragon Ballroom and Riviera Theatre, plus Montrose Beach and the Vietnamese businesses on Argyle Street.
Which L stops serve Uptown?
The Red Line stops at Wilson, Lawrence and Argyle, with Sheridan at the area’s southern edge.
Is Andersonville in Uptown?
Mostly no. Andersonville is largely in Edgewater, but its western portion extends into Uptown.
Related guides
- Best of Uptown
- Best of Andersonville
- Edgewater (Community Area #77)
- Lincoln Square (Community Area #4)
- Lake View (Community Area #6)
- Chicago’s 77 community areas, explained
- Chicago neighborhoods hub
- Red Line guide
Sources
Last updated: October 31, 2026