Hermosa is Community Area #20 on Chicago’s Northwest Side, a compact, mostly Latino residential area about 6 miles northwest of the Loop. It is the birthplace of Walt Disney and was long home to the Schwinn Bicycle Company. The 2020 Census counted 24,062 residents.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community area number | 20 |
| Side of the city | Northwest Side |
| Population (2020 Census) | 24,062 |
| Neighborhoods within | Hermosa, Kelvyn Park |
| Main L and Metra stations | No L or Metra stations inside the area; Metra lines form its eastern and southern edges |
| Major parks and open space | Kelvyn Park (about 8.5 acres), Hermosa Park, Ken-Well Park |
Where Hermosa is and its boundaries
Hermosa is a small area of about 1.17 square miles on the Northwest Side.
Belmont Avenue forms its northern edge and Bloomingdale Avenue, along the Metra Milwaukee District West Line, its southern edge. Cicero Avenue marks the west, and the Metra Milwaukee District North Line marks the east.
Neighborhoods within Hermosa
The area has two neighborhoods, Hermosa and Kelvyn Park.
About 82 percent of residents were Hispanic in 2023.
A short history
- A rail line extension crossed the area in 1872, and the first verifiable European settlement came in the early 1880s.
- The settlement changed its name from Garfield to Hermosa, Spanish for beautiful, in 1885 so it could get a post office.
- Chicago annexed Hermosa in the fall of 1889.
- Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in the house his parents built at 2156 N. Tripp Avenue.
- Schwinn had headquarters and manufacturing in Hermosa from 1895 to 1982.
- The Hermosa Bungalow Historic District joined the National Register on December 31, 2018.
Landmarks and parks
- Walt Disney’s birthplace, 2156 N. Tripp Avenue
- Kelvyn Park, the area’s largest park
- St. Philomena Catholic Church, founded in 1894
- Hermosa Bungalow Historic District
Getting there
Hermosa has no L station of its own. CTA buses on Pulaski, Cicero, Fullerton, Armitage, Diversey, Belmont and North avenues serve the area.
The Blue Line’s Logan Square station lies to the east, in the Logan Square community area.
Frequently asked questions
Was Walt Disney born in Chicago?
Yes. He was born on December 5, 1901, at 2156 N. Tripp Avenue in Hermosa.
What does Hermosa mean?
Hermosa is Spanish for beautiful; the name was adopted in 1885.
What company was based in Hermosa?
The Schwinn Bicycle Company, which had facilities there from 1895 to 1982.
What side of Chicago is Hermosa on?
The Northwest Side.
Related guides
- Belmont Cragin (Community Area #19)
- Avondale (Community Area #21)
- Logan Square (Community Area #22)
- Humboldt Park (Community Area #23)
- Chicago’s 77 community areas, explained
- Chicago neighborhoods hub
- Blue Line guide
Sources
Last updated: October 31, 2026