Is the political/cultural divide between city and suburbs in Chicagoland the greatest in the US? (Evanston: real estate, neighborhoods)

[Tex?Il?]

There have been so many threads that have gotten heated, going nowhere debating is Chicago liberal? Chicago conservative? Back and forth and so on?
Which is a liberal suburb? Whats a conservative neighborhood? etc.

Often we are trying to provide info fo newcomers who are looking for a right neighborhood, but I'm wondering

If its just a simple fact that the political/cultural difference between city and suburb in Chicagoland is perhaps the widest than in other metro areas, despite the perception that Chicagoland is seen as a tight area.

Heres my take, and there is data I believe to back this up, although I'm too lazy to get it right now:

The east and west coasts more than other regions, have a higher degree of liberalism in many coastal metro areas, including The San Francisco bay area, Seattle area, and Boston. Tri-state New York area, LA area, and DC may have traditional republican strongholds such as Orange County, parts of northern Virginia, but because these areas, have attracted "the creative class" (Hollywood/media, hippies in the Bay area, ivy league schools on the east coast, Arlington/Alexandria, etc.) for so much longer, the fact that there are world class universties in the surrounding metro areas on the coasts, that liberalism extends in the hinterlands much more than in Chicagoland.

However, no where in between the coasts attracts a creative class that loves vibrant city neighborhoods for the simple fact that it doesn't exist to the same degree in other inland metro areas.

Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta for example have become very cosmopolitan over the past few decades certainly, but the attraction first and foremost is a healthy business friendly environment, low taxes, cheap real estates. And so even though there are some funky neighborhoods, etc. these places don't have quite what they are looking for.

Conversely, other metro areas in the midwest may have a few funky areas too(except Minneapolis which is the only midwest metro has a liberal, progressive creative class vibe more on par with Chicago) they are more struggling to keep their young people in town.

Chicagos attractions, are so more concentrated in the city, and their is relatively less in the hinterlands that really attract newcomers (although the suburbs have countless hidden gems!) that the suburbs are may simply attract those who are just looking for the suburban lifestyle. Other inland metro areas primarily only offer suburban lifestyles relatively speaking, whereas coastal metro areas, have a lot of "action" culture, etc. in the surrounding areas.

Now, yes the Chicago suburbs may not bible belt in any way, except for around Wheaton maybe) there is no arguguing that there is a HEAVY dose of "Reagan Democrats" (people with blue collared roots whose grandparents may have voted for and supported FDR/JFK but have gravitated toward the republicans because they don't like how they perceive democrats to waste money on people not working, etc.

Also, if city workers did not have to live in the city (many of whom have that very "Reagan democrat" views) would Chicago proper as a whole be even more liberal?

[Irishtom29]

You seem to be talking about social liberals. Chicago and the burbs have many economic liberals but most don't live in the Youth Ghettos and trendy neighborhoods.

[Chicagoland60426]

Chicago is not really a social liberal city, the racial divide speaks for itself.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland60426

Chicago is not really a social liberal city, the racial divide speaks for itself.

That's an ignorant cop-out.

There are deep-seated historical reasons for the "racial divide" in Chicago, history that so-called "progressive" cities have never had to deal with either because they did the bulk of their growing after society liberalized racially or because (like Portland, where I grew up) they simply don't have enough racial minorities for there to be a noticeable divide.

Study a little history and then see if you're not embarrassed by your statement.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by emathias

That's an ignorant cop-out.

There are deep-seated historical reasons for the "racial divide" in Chicago, history that so-called "progressive" cities have never had to deal with either because they did the bulk of their growing after society liberalized racially or because (like Portland, where I grew up) they simply don't have enough racial minorities for there to be a noticeable divide.

Study a little history and then see if you're not embarrassed by your statement.

It's easy to be a liberal, open-minded and tolerant white person when minorities are less than 20% of the population.

[chet everett]

The large amount of jobs concentrated in the loop, the fact Chicago has not lost it's sports teams to outlying areas, that both O'Hare & Midway are inside city linnets and vital parts of the national air transport, all point to the fact that Chicago and suburbs are far more "on the same page" than most other cities and their suburbs.

A few pugnacious posters distort the animosity ...

[LakeShoreSoxGo]

The divide is vastly over-stated. Especially w/inner ring suburbs that do not look much different than the city limits they border.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by emathias

There are deep-seated historical reasons for the "racial divide" in Chicago, history that so-called "progressive" cities have never had to deal with either because they did the bulk of their growing after society liberalized racially or because (like Portland, where I grew up) they simply don't have enough racial minorities for there to be a noticeable divide.

Portland evidently had alot of Irish though; I was recently up there and saw the statue of John Ford that was recently placed across from where his father's speakeasy was (Maine having been dry before Federal prohibition).

[xavier xerxes]

The divide is way more apparent between Milwaukee the city and its suburbs, especially the further out ones like Delafield and Waukesha and Brookfield.

Many burbians are really afraid of the city of Milwaukee,
and are quite conservative. Milwaukee does have its conservative elements but in general pretty pretty liberal.

There are some liberal burbs there, namely Wauwautosa.

Yeah, I think you tend to have more conservative people in the South Suburbs and the further out West and North Burbs and Exurbs.
The inner ring burbs like Evanston and the Nearwest side like OakPark and such tend to be liberal, some of Northshore is a mix, but is definitely more conservative.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by urza216

It's easy to be a liberal, open-minded and tolerant white person when minorities are less than 20% of the population.

Chicago is 42% White.

100 - 42 = 58.

58 > 20 ~3x.