Ashburn Neighborhood of Chicago

ASHBURN NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHICAGO

Ashburn is one of Chicago’s 77 recognized communities and is located in the Far Southwest Side of Chicago.  The Ashburn neighborhood of Chicago is identified as community number 70.  Ashburn’s approximate boundries are 75th Street (North), Western Avenue (East), 87th Street (South), and Cicero Avenue (West).

ASHBURN HISTORY

Ashburn used to be the dumping site for the city’s ashes – hence the name Ashburn.  The first homes in Ashburn were started in 1893 around 83rd St and Central Ave and were known as the “Clarkdale” subdivision.  The first airfield in Chicago opened in Ashburn in 1916, only to close in 1939.  Ashburn’s vast tracts of land made it an attraction for certain carnivals and in 1953 a carnival – with elephants – was known to set up tents and entertain the masses.

ASHBURN TRANSPORTATION

Metra provides Monday – Saturday rail service at both the Ashburn (83rd Place and Columbus Avenue) and the Wrightwood (79th Street and West Columbus Avenue) railroad stations.

ARTS AND CULTURE

Ashburn is within 30 minutes of downtown Chicago, which offers the following must see’s for Arts and Culture.

• The John G. Shedd Aquarium
• The Field Museum of Natural History
• The Museum of Science and Industry
• The Adler Planetarium
• The Art Institute of Chicago

SPORTS AND LEISURE

For those interested in more athletic endeavors Chicago offers a wide variety of professional sports teams.

• Chicago Bears
• Chicago Blackhawks
• Chicago Bulls
• Chicago Cubs
• Chicago Fire
• Chicago Sky
• Chicago White Sox

Chicago offers many water-related and outdoor leisure time activities.  In addition to over 500 parks, the Chicago Park District has over 30 beaches, nine lakefront harbors, 16 lagoons, and thousand of sports programs.

Navy Pier and Millennium Park are two Chicago landmark and tourist destinations.  Other top destinations include Maggie Daley Park, the Buckingham Fountain, and the Lincoln Park Zoo.