Lincoln Park is Community Area #7 on Chicago’s North Side, running from North Avenue to Diversey Parkway between the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. It is known for the free Lincoln Park Zoo, DePaul University, the Chicago History Museum and tree-lined streets of 19th-century homes. The 2020 Census counted 70,492 residents.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community area number | 7 |
| Side of the city | North Side |
| Population (2020 Census) | 70,492 |
| Neighborhoods within | Lincoln Central, Mid-North, Old Town Triangle, Park West, RANCH Triangle, Sheffield, Wrightwood Neighbors |
| Main L and Metra stations | Red Line: Fullerton; Brown and Purple lines: Fullerton, Armitage, Diversey; Metra: Clybourn (UP North and UP Northwest) |
| Major parks and open space | Lincoln Park (with the zoo, conservatory and North Avenue Beach), Oz Park, Jonquil Park |
Where Lincoln Park is and its boundaries
Lincoln Park sits just north of the Near North Side on the North Side.
Diversey Parkway forms the northern edge and North Avenue the southern edge. Lake Michigan is the eastern edge and the North Branch of the Chicago River the western edge.
Neighborhoods within Lincoln Park
The community area contains Lincoln Central, Mid-North, the Old Town Triangle, Park West, RANCH Triangle, Sheffield and Wrightwood Neighbors.
It also holds most of the Clybourn Corridor shopping district. The Old Town Triangle is part of Lincoln Park, even though the rest of Old Town is in the Near North Side.
A short history
- Land north of North Avenue was set aside as the City Cemetery in 1837, the year Chicago incorporated.
- Residents pushed to turn the land into a park starting in 1860, and in 1865 Lake Park was renamed Lincoln Park.
- The original Ferris Wheel stood near Clark and Wrightwood from 1896 to 1903.
- The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre took place in a garage at 2122 N. Clark Street in 1929.
- The Lincoln Park Conservation Association formed in 1954 and shaped later redevelopment.
Landmarks and parks
- Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory
- Chicago History Museum and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- North Avenue Beach, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool and North Pond
- DePaul University and McCormick Theological Seminary
- Oz Park
- Statues of Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln
Getting there
Fullerton is the main L station, served by the Red, Brown and Purple lines. Armitage and Diversey serve the Brown Line, with Purple Line Express trains at rush hour.
Metra’s Clybourn station serves both Union Pacific North and Union Pacific Northwest trains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lincoln Park the park or the neighborhood?
Both. Lincoln Park is a lakefront park and also Community Area #7, which takes its name from the park.
Is Lincoln Park Zoo in the Lincoln Park community area?
Yes. The zoo sits in the park along the community area’s lakefront.
What L station serves DePaul?
Fullerton, on the Red, Brown and Purple lines.
Is Old Town in Lincoln Park?
Partly. The Old Town Triangle is in Lincoln Park; the rest of Old Town is in the Near North Side.
Related guides
- Best of Lincoln Park
- Best of Old Town
- Lake View (Community Area #6)
- North Center (Community Area #5)
- Logan Square (Community Area #22)
- West Town (Community Area #24)
- Near North Side (Community Area #8)
- Chicago’s 77 community areas, explained
- Chicago neighborhoods hub
- Red Line guide
- Brown Line guide
Sources
- Wikipedia: Lincoln Park, Chicago
- Dominican University Government Data: Chicago community areas by side
Last updated: October 31, 2026