Humboldt Park is Community Area #23 on Chicago’s West Side, named for the 207-acre park on its eastern edge. It is the center of Puerto Rican Chicago, marked by two 59-foot Puerto Rican flags on Division Street. The 2020 Census counted 54,165 residents.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community area number | 23 |
| Side of the city | West Side |
| Population (2020 Census) | 54,165 |
| Neighborhoods within | Humboldt Park, West Humboldt Park, part of K-Town |
| Main L and Metra stations | None listed inside the area; CTA buses serve the main streets |
| Major parks and open space | Humboldt Park (207 acres) with its boathouse and lagoons |
Where Humboldt Park is and its boundaries
Humboldt Park lies on the West Side, west of West Town and south of Hermosa and Logan Square.
Bloomingdale Avenue forms its northern edge and the Union Pacific railroad tracks its southern edge. The eastern edge runs along the park, to the east side of California Avenue, and the western edge follows the tracks between Kostner and Cicero avenues.
Neighborhoods within Humboldt Park
The area includes Humboldt Park proper and West Humboldt Park, west of Sacramento Boulevard. Part of K-Town, the area of streets starting with K between Pulaski and Cicero, also falls inside.
East Humboldt Park is officially part of West Town, not this community area.
A short history
- The park and neighborhood are named for German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt; his statue was unveiled in October 1892.
- Chicago annexed most of the area in 1869, the year the park was laid out.
- Landscape architect Jens Jensen worked from an office in the park’s stable building.
- The Our Lady of the Angels School fire on December 1, 1958, killed 92 students and three nuns.
- The Division Street riots of 1966 shaped local organizing.
- In 1995 the City named a stretch of Division Street Paseo Boricua; it was renamed Barrio Borikén in June 2024.
Landmarks and parks
- Humboldt Park’s boathouse, fieldhouse and lagoons
- Humboldt Park Stable and Receptory (1895), a Chicago Landmark
- National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, in the historic stables
- The 59-foot Puerto Rican flags on Division Street
- Statue of Alexander von Humboldt
Getting there
Our sources list no L station inside Humboldt Park; CTA buses serve its main streets.
The Blue Line’s Division station in West Town is east of the park.
Frequently asked questions
What community area number is Humboldt Park?
Humboldt Park is Community Area #23.
Is Humboldt Park on the West Side?
Yes. It is grouped with the West Side.
What is Paseo Boricua?
The stretch of Division Street marked by two 59-foot Puerto Rican flags, named in 1995 and renamed Barrio Borikén in June 2024.
How big is Humboldt Park?
The park covers 207 acres; the community area covers about 3.6 square miles.
Related guides
- Best of Humboldt Park
- West Town (Community Area #24)
- Logan Square (Community Area #22)
- Hermosa (Community Area #20)
- Austin (Community Area #25)
- West Garfield Park (Community Area #26)
- East Garfield Park (Community Area #27)
- Chicago’s 77 community areas, explained
- Chicago neighborhoods hub
Sources
- Wikipedia: Humboldt Park, Chicago
- Dominican University Government Data: Chicago community areas by side
Last updated: October 31, 2026