Are there parts of Chicago where people say I'm going into the city"? (Lincoln: home, neighborhoods)

[edsg25]

I'm in the suburbs and when people refer to Chicago, they overwhelmingly use the term "the city". Using "Chicago": not so much. And those with a skewed view of the city will use "downtown"....there are enough folks out there who, if going to Diversy and Clark would say "I'm going downtown."

Now here's what I'm curious about: are there fringe areas in the city, you know, places with a sububan feel that could be their own tow/village (I'm thinking of places like Edison Park, Norwood Park, Edgebrook, Sauganasg, Berveley, Mt Greenwood) who would use the term "going into the City" or even the much less likely "going into Chicago"?

And I hope I'm not muddying the waters when I add a different question: are there different degrees of "chicagoness" just like there are different degrees of "newyokness" where manhattan (particularly its lower 2/3) gets the most, Brooklyn gets a lot, Staten Island a little and Far Rockaway a miniscule part?

So does our general downtown area from North to Cermak, the lakefront to the UC and Med Ctr have the most? The powerful, eclectic, urbane areas neighborhoos north of downtown (Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown! etc) and Hyde Park have the next level of chicagoness, maybe followed by the far north side neighborhoods that are urban, but far off from the core to be related to it (I'm thinking Edgewater, Rogers Pk, WRP, Albany Park, etc) and the least amount of chicagoness to those Sububan like areas I previously mentioned (like Sauganash and Beverly) get the least?

I realize that I mostly used Norh Side areas...but only because I know them better.

I also realize I very may well have generated some truly whacky ideas here (hey, I am on to myself), but I really am interested in how people see these issues

[MassVt]

This is true for large metro areas everywhere. Here in Boston, there are some "townie" suburbs that are full of people who have little knowledge of the city, with the exception of perhaps Fenway Park or TD Garden..

Of course, I'm not immune to this. I don't know much about neighborhoods like Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan, because they're 1) dangerous, and 2) there's not much to see and do in them..

I suspect that there are many people that have no intimate knowledge of many South Side neighborhoods. Perhaps the large geographical size of Chicago has something to do with this, but I don't think it's the main reason..

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by MassVt

This is true for large metro areas everywhere. Here in Boston, there are some "townie" suburbs that are full of people who have little knowledge of the city, with the exception of perhaps Fenway Park or TD Garden..

Of course, I'm not immune to this. I don't know much about neighborhoods like Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan, because they're 1) dangerous, and 2) there's not much to see and do in them..

I suspect that there are many people that have no intimate knowledge of many South Side neighborhoods. Perhaps the large geographical size of Chicago has something to do with this, but I don't think it's the main reason..

Roxbury and Dorchester are not dangerous. They’re not the nicest neighborhoods in the city, but they aren’t really dangerous. I can understand your lack of familiarity with him, because there really aren’t a lot of reason to visit those neighborhoods. Ive spent time in Roxbury because I’m black and I lived in two neighborhoods that border Roxbury (South End and JP), so my barber was there. Dorchester, I visited because it’s home to some of the best Vietnamese and West Indian food in the city.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

I've never heard what you describe. I think people would usually say "going downtown", "going into the Loop", or the specific neighborhood or community area they're visiting.

Regarding the part about neighborhoods that feel suburban, I actually think we're more the other way around on this compared to most cities. While, yes, we do have a few fairly quiet, affluent, and tree-lined neighborhoods like that, they're outweighed by the many suburbs that feel pretty much urban. I'd expect the phenomenon of people who live within the limits of a major city saying they're "going into the city" to be a lot more common for lower-density cities where the fringes feel very suburban or even rural, e.g. Columbus, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City.

[beaniemac]

I only hear suburban folks talking about "going to the city". unlike in NYC where "going to the city" means going into manhattan.

[VA All Day]

I'm on the far north side and have said "going into the city" in reference to downtown, I suppose in the same vein as people in the outer boroughs and Manhattan.

[christianstad]

I'm a native south sider now north sider of many years. Either side of town - its always "going downtown." "I work downtown." "Lets go downtown," etc.

My suburban relatives will say they are going to "the city."

[flamadiddle]

Originally Posted by christianstad

I'm a native south sider now north sider of many years. Either side of town - its always "going downtown." "I work downtown." "Lets go downtown," etc.

My suburban relatives will say they are going to "the city."

Yep, that was going to be my answer. "We're going downtown", "Let's go downtown"

Which covers a large geographical area roughly from Chinatown to Lincoln Park.

[Alacran]

I've heard people from the clearing neighborhood say the city.

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by beaniemac

I only hear suburban folks talking about "going to the city". unlike in NYC where "going to the city" means going into manhattan.

Agreed.