Portage Park is Community Area #15 on Chicago’s Northwest Side, a bungalow-belt area centered on the Six Corners shopping district. It is named for the old portage between the Des Plaines and Chicago rivers and for its namesake park, which hosted swimming at the 1959 Pan American Games. The 2020 Census counted 63,020 residents.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community area number | 15 |
| Side of the city | Northwest Side |
| Population (2020 Census) | 63,020 |
| Neighborhoods within | Portage Park, Old Portage Park, Six Corners, Belmont-Central (part) |
| Main L and Metra stations | Blue Line: Montrose (northeastern edge); Metra Mayfair station is nearby |
| Major parks and open space | Portage Park, Chopin Park, Dickinson Park, Dunham Park, Wilson Park |
Where Portage Park is and its boundaries
Portage Park lies on Chicago’s Northwest Side, centered on the intersection of Irving Park Road, Cicero Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue.
It borders Jefferson Park and Forest Glen to the north, Irving Park to the east, Belmont Cragin to the south, and Dunning and the suburb of Harwood Heights to the west.
Neighborhoods within Portage Park
The area includes Portage Park and Old Portage Park around the park itself, the Six Corners district and part of Belmont-Central.
It is part of Chicago’s bungalow belt, with mostly bungalows and two-flats. As of the 2000 Census it had the largest Polish community in the Chicago area.
A short history
- The area was swampy, and travelers crossed it by canoe on a portage linking the Des Plaines and Chicago rivers along today’s Irving Park Road.
- Jefferson Township was organized at the Dickinson Tavern in 1850, along with the Northwest Plank Road, now Milwaukee Avenue.
- Chicago annexed Jefferson Township in 1889.
- The park’s pool hosted swimming events of the 1959 Pan American Games.
- It also hosted U.S. swimming trials for the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Landmarks and parks
- Six Corners shopping district
- Portage Theater, now a performing arts center
- Patio Theater
- Portage Park and its fieldhouse
- St. Ladislaus and other historic parish churches
Getting there
The Blue Line’s Montrose station sits on the northeastern edge of the area in the Kennedy Expressway median, and Jefferson Park station is just to the north.
CTA buses also serve Six Corners and the area’s main streets.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the name Portage Park come from?
From the old canoe portage between the Des Plaines and Chicago rivers, which ran along today’s Irving Park Road.
What is Six Corners?
The shopping district where Irving Park Road, Cicero Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue meet.
Did Portage Park host an Olympic event?
Not the Olympics themselves. The park hosted 1959 Pan American Games swimming and U.S. swimming trials for the 1972 Olympics.
Which L stop serves Portage Park?
Montrose on the Blue Line, at the area’s northeastern edge.
Related guides
- Jefferson Park (Community Area #11)
- Forest Glen (Community Area #12)
- Irving Park (Community Area #16)
- Dunning (Community Area #17)
- Belmont Cragin (Community Area #19)
- Chicago’s 77 community areas, explained
- Chicago neighborhoods hub
- Blue Line guide
Sources
- Wikipedia: Portage Park, Chicago
- Dominican University Government Data: Chicago community areas by side
Last updated: October 31, 2026