Edgewater is a north Chicago, Illinois, community seven miles north of downtown bordering the neighborhoods of Rogers Park to the north, Uptown to the south, Lincoln Square to the west and south and West Ridge to the west and north. As one of Chicago’s 77 community areas, Edgewater is bounded by Foster on the south, Devon on the north, Ravenswood on the west, and Lake Michigan on the east. Edgewater contains several beaches that residents enjoy in the warm months. Historically, Edgewater was once part of Lake View Township, an independent, self-governing suburb of Chicago.
Edgewater has the highest population density of any of the neighborhoods in Chicago. Also, affirming the reputation of Lakeview and its Lake View East Boystown enclave as being a center of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender culture, the zip code 60640, one of two zip codes in Edgewater (the other being 60660), has the highest concentration of gay and lesbian couples in the city, and fifth highest in the country.
Edgewater was first developed around the 1890s as a summer home for Chicago's elite. With the exception of pockets acknowledged as historic districts (like the Bryn Mawr Historic District), Edgewater (actually, Edgewater Beach) boasts a skyline of apartment buildings, condominium complexes, and mid-rise homes. Edgewater Beach is highlighted by two main corridors: North Winthrop Avenue and North Kenmore Avenue to Loyola University Chicago. Winthrop and Kenmore are rehabilitated areas with homes touched up to harken back to Edgewater's glory days.
