Is Evanston the only city-suburb? (Chicago, Rockford: how much, houses, living in)

[SloopyJ]

Having lived in Evanston for the past year, I would assert that Evanston really is more of a small city than a suburb (and I wouldn't have said that when I was living in Chicago). It certainly has suburban parts - I live in one - but having suburban areas doesn't mean Evanston is more suburb than city. Those parts are really no more suburban than Sauganash or Beverly, for example.

In that respect, I think Evanston is truly unique among "suburbs". Are there any other 'burbs that would qualify as cities? I don't think Naperville or Schaumburg qualify, even though they're larger. Maybe Aurora, but I don't really think of that as part of suburban Chicago. If Metra didn't go there, I'd think of it as another Rockford-like small city.

I'm especially interested in whether folks think of Oak Park as a small city like Evanston, since those two "suburbs" are usually considered most similar.

[oakparkdude]

Before we have this discussion, define "suburb" and "city".

If by "suburb" you mean areas with only single-family houses, and by "city" you mean dense walkable areas with mixed-use buildings and rapid transit, , then yes, Oak Park has both.

[ajolotl]

I'm extremely impressed by Oak Park, especially how much it has improved from the early 80s. Most people I know who have kids want to and/or are planning to move there. For me it is pretty close to an ideal mix of urban/suburban.

I somewhat regret not pulling the trigger on a house there last year. For me, though, the location isn't ideal (given where I have to go every day), so maybe it was the right choice.

[sgresident]

You are a bit confused if you don't think that aurora is a suburb of chicago. Also, it is definitely a city. so is Elgin. and I would definitely classify naperville as a city and how about joliet? The suburbs of chicago are pretty vast.

[SloopyJ]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Before we have this discussion, define "suburb" and "city".

Well, that's part of why I wanted to have this discussion. "Suburb" seems easy enough to define, but "city" is harder. And, clearly in the case of Evanston, a place can be both.

Still, you'll never get me to agree that Naperville is a city. Joliet, Aurora, Elgin?

[icebergsyndrome]

Originally Posted by SloopyJ

Still, you'll never get me to agree that Naperville is a city. Joliet, Aurora, Elgin?

All were ring cities before endless car-driven sprawl pushed its way towards them and subsequently engulfed them.

[chitown85]

Suburb just means a smaller municipality around a metro city.

[Irishtom29]

Joliet has been around almost as long as Chicago and has it's own history, economy and culture. There's alot going on there newcomers aren't aware of.

I'd say it's an independant city that's now being swallowed.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Joliet has been around almost as long as Chicago and has it's own history, economy and culture. There's alot going on there newcomers aren't aware of.

I'd say it's an independant city that's now being swallowed.

Just like Rockford, St. Charles,Elgin, etc...

[Lookout Kid]

Don't forget Gary. Or does the OP only want to count "nice" city-suburbs?