Armour Square
Approximately two miles south of the Loop, and built from the leftovers of adjacent neighborhoods, Armour Square is 21 blocks long but merely 4 or 5 blocks wide. It contains three distinct populations. In the north is the famous Chinatown, the middle is primarily Hispanic with some Italians, and the south is mostly African American.
A long time tourist attraction for Chicago’s visitors, Chinatown is experiencing a wave of economic revitalization. At this time, over 300 new residences are being built, though housing availability will continue to be scare until the recent expansion is further along.
Chinatown, with more than 40 restaurants, many of them open-all-night, and an assortment of exotic Asian groceries, is a great place to grab a bite to eat. The neighborhood is the heart of Chinese culture in the city. Be sure to visit in February, as the annual Chinese New Year celebration features parades, paper mache dragons, dancing, and indigenous foods.
Chinatown moved to its current location from near Van Buren and Clark when an Illinois state detention center was built at that location. Chinatown Square is always an interesting stop. If you fancy yourself a chef, there are some fine Asian markets where the aspiring chef can find certain provisions that aren’t available in most other parts of the city.
The CTA Red line stops in Chinatown.
Locate this neighborhood using the map below and compare to the main map on Best Chicago Neighborhoods Homepage:
Armour Square has so much to offer as do all of the Chicago neighborhoods. Find out more about what the Windy City has to offer!
