What area is downtown? (Chicago, Joliet: neighborhood, live in, design)

[Skyline887]

many people consider the gold coast, maginificent mile and river north downtown. i thought downtown is just the loop. I hear so many different things that it is driving me crazy. I consider downtown chicago to be from the river(upper wacker) south to roosevelt and east to the lake and as bounded west by the chicago river

[Drover]

What is considered "downtown" is generally a function of how far you live from the Loop. If you live in an inner-ring neighborhood like South Loop, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Bridgeport, etc., then "downtown" is the Loop. If you live in an outer-ring neighborhood like Edison Park or Dunning or an inner-ring suburb like Evanston or Evergreen Park, "downtown" typically means the parts you describe above. If you live in the outer suburbs like the Fox Valley, Joliet, upper McHenry County, etc., "downtown" may comprise up to anything within the city limits.

[Skyline887]

naw, i don't think it goes that far. my problem is the magnificent mile and the gold coast. When i look at the cta map its seemed like it is but when i look in the enyclopedia. the loop is considered downtown. I arge with people about this.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

"Downtown" isn't an official designation. Therefore what constitutes "downtown" is totally subjective. There is no final answer. It's a matter of opinion. To me, "downtown" is bordered by, say, Division to the north, Roosevelt to the south, the lake to the east and... maybe Halsted to the west? I don't know. It's totally subjective.

[Manigault]

Roosevelt to Chicago, Halsted to the lake. Downtown is where expired meter tickets are more expensive.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

As good a measure as any. Over in the Mag Mile area, though, Chicago doesn't feel like much of a boundary. Once you get up to Oak and Lakshore cuts back to meet Michigan kinda feels natural. Plus I consider the Rush St area "downtown".

Like I say. Pretty subjective.

[Lookout Kid]

I think of downtown as being from Oak street to Roosevelt, and from the the Highway east to the lake. But the Loop is the Loop, right?

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I think of downtown as being from Oak street to Roosevelt, and from the the Highway east to the lake. But the Loop is the Loop, right?

The Kennedy is way too far west. The Loop itself is officially defined as being bounded on the west and north by the river, the east by the lake, and the south by roosevelt road. south of roosevelt road is the South Loop, west of the river is the West Loop. north of the river comprises River North, Streeterville, etc.. The Loop used to be defined literally by the area the L tracks encircle, but thats not the case anymore.

Now if you want to say "downtown", well that could mean anything.

[Lookout Kid]

Most people still think of the Loop as the area roughly bounded by the "L" tracks. "Downtown" can mean anything, however.

[Attrill]

The Loop is the Loop. "Downtown" is a bit more amorphous. I tend to go with Roosevelt on the south, Kennedy to the West, and about Division to the North (i.e. where Old Town begins downtown ends). But it is subjective.