Found in Chicago’s far west side, the Austin neighborhood is home to a diverse location of over 115,000 people. It is the third largest city in Illinois. It is also the largest neighborhood in Chicago in both size and locality. Its western border, Austin Boulevard, is shared with the upscale suburban community of Oak Park, which is best known as the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway. It now has a museum devoted to the author. It is also home to many Prairie Style buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Austin itself has experienced a tumultuous history, but is considered by many to be on the rebound. Its eastern, northern, and southern borders are Cicero Avenue, North Avenue, and Roosevelt Road, respectively. The northern portion of the neighborhood is marked by wood-framed single-family homes.

Austin began, much like Oak Park, as an upscale suburb based around the railroad industry. Its trees and wide streets once made Austin the Kenwood of the West Side. Its Columbus Park, by Prairie-style landscape architect Jens Jensen, is believed to be a great work. The childhood home of William Drummond, famous for his work with such famed architects as Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan, he contributed many churches and homes in the area.

The recent renovation and enlargement of the North Austin branch of the Chicago Public Library, the comprehensive resurfacing project (75 percent) of Austin’s streets and a program to dispose of bulk garbage items in the locality’s byways have all been positive signs for the community, which is hoping to recapture some of its previous glory.

The CTA Green line stops in the community and CTA busses have routes on virtually all of the major streets. The Eisenhower Expressway is also nearby.