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Home | Settlement B | Beverly, Chicago
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Beverly Hills (or Beverly) is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois, located on the southwestern edge of the city. Beverly Hills was built by English engineers as an exclusive suburb and the homes and large lots reflect this historic distinction. Beverly is within the City of Chicago - yet retains an exclusive quiet, green, safe, and family oriented feel all within the City. Beverly Hills is the highest elevation and is in the top 3 safest and wealthiest neighborhoods in the City of Chicago. Beverly has quick access (by public transport or car) to all of the Chicago financial markets, shopping, airports, and attractions, yet retains itself as a peaceful and quiet community. Beverly is one of the top five largest historic districts in any major city in the USA. The particular trains that are accessed by the Beverly community are provided from Metra's Rock Island line. Beverly is the only area in the City of Chicago with a terrain containing hills. Prior to settlement, it was known as Blue Island, a name now used by a suburb a few miles to the south. The blue color has been variously attributed to atmospheric scattering or to blue flowers growing on the ridge. Beverly is home to a large Irish-American community and many Irish establishments. Beverly was home of the South Side Irish Parade, which was held on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick's Day, the largest neighborhood parade of any type in the country. The neighborhood currently is home to more Irish-style pubs than any other in Chicago. Center is the location for the Chicago Irish Film Festival. There is a replica of a castle from Ireland in Beverly, which was constructed in the late 19th century when an American businessman, Robert Givens, was trying to convince his Irish fiancee to move to the United States, and so had a duplicate of her family castle built with stone from the same quarry. The "Givens Castle" (photo) at 10244 S. Longwood Drive, has been a home, an all-girls college, and is now a Unitarian church and pre-school. This Castle is known by legend to be haunted. The Beverly Branch Library has the largest Irish heritage collection in Chicago. This Beverly Branch opened a new facility in June of 2009 that has a new LEED certified design and engineering. Beverly Branch houses a bronze sculpture by Virginio Ferrari entitled Two Lovers; additional art has been commissioned for the new branch. Artwork was funded through the Percent for Art Ordinance administered by the City of Chicago Public Art Program. The Rotary Club was formed in Beverly at the home of Paul P. Harris on Longwood Drive, and today the house is owned by that organization. Beverly has several of Chicago's top rated public elementary schools: Kellogg, Clissold, Barnard, and Sutherland. The neighborhood public high school is Morgan Park HS. Many students leave the neighborhood to attend Whitney M. Young Magnet HS and Walter Payton College Prep. Beverly has five Catholic parishes: St. Barnabas, Christ the King, St. Walter, St. Cajetan, and St. John Fisher. Beverly also is a main drawing ground for many of the area's all-boys schools (Mt. Carmel, Brother Rice, St. Rita, St. Laurence, De La Salle); all-girls schools (Mother McAuley, Queen of Peace, Mount Assisi Academy, Maria); and co-educational (St. Ignatius, Marist) Catholic high schools. Chicago's wealthy black population also has long been a part of Beverly. Notable residents have included: Louis Farrakhan, Buddy Guy, Bryant/Greg Gumbel, Muhammed Ali's family. |
