Does Chicago have an "East Side"? (Waukegan, Highland Park: neighborhood, design)

[EddieOlSkool]

Ok this may seem a stupid question depending on who you ask. The city has a designated neighborhood called "East Side" but one can argue that anything east of state mostly exists on the South Side, and that the West, North, and South Sides are called so because of their position in relation to the Loop. The only east thing about any East Side is its name, as its position is mostly south and a little east. As they say, the lake is the east. And, even NWI is more South than it is East.

What do you think?

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

The only area I've ever heard called the east side is the "New Eastside" area between Michigan Ave and DuSable Harbor, south of the River and north of Randolph (where the Aon Center, Aqua, etc. are).

[Bluefox]

My best friend is from Hegewisch and she always used to say she was from the "East Side" until she got tired of people making the "what, the lake?" jokes. So now she says she's from the "Southeast Side".

[GoCUBS1]

I consider the south side, bordering Indiana, the "east side" because it is technically east of the loop but not the lake. But I could be wrong - I'll defer to what the residents of this area call it.

[EddieOlSkool]

Originally Posted by GoCUBS1

I consider the south side, bordering Indiana, the "east side" because it is technically east of the loop but not the lake. But I could be wrong - I'll defer to what the residents of this area call it.

It would be at most 5 and some odd miles east of state street. Yet about 12 miles south of madison. I fail to see how that's "east".

[GoCUBS1]

Originally Posted by EddieOlSkool

It would be at most 5 and some odd miles east of state street. Yet about 12 miles south of madison. I fail to see how that's "east".

Map of the area I am referring to...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Side,_Chicago

"East Side is bounded by Calumet River to the North and West, State Line Road (4100 E) to the East, and 126th street (12600 S) to the South."

It is south and east of downtown. It is called the "East Side" to further differentiate it from the "South Side," just like the "North Shore" does not tend to include all the northern towns on the lakeshore (e.g. Waukegan). But there are different interpretations of these areas - someone from the area will know more than me.

[EddieOlSkool]

Originally Posted by GoCUBS1

Map of the area I am referring to...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Side,_Chicago

"East Side is bounded by Calumet River to the North and West, State Line Road (4100 E) to the East, and 126th street (12600 S) to the South."

It is south and east of downtown. It is called the "East Side" to further differentiate it from the "South Side," just like the "North Shore" does not tend to include all the northern towns on the lakeshore (e.g. Waukegan). But there are different interpretations of these areas - someone from the area will know more than me.

What I'm saying is that nothing really separates the East Side from the South. It's part of the larger South Side. Why would the South Side end when the street numbers are clearly far South??? I guess I fail to see how the Southeast Side somehow is different from the South Side. Waukegan IS CLEARLY different from Highland Park or Wilmette. I grew up in this area and consider myself a Southsider because unlike the West Side, we're directly east of the loop; more South.

[NealIRC]

I would say no, Chicago has a Southeast side, but not an East side.

A more controversial question is, does Chicago have a Northeast side, or, can people refer Rogers Park as the Northeast side?

[GoCUBS1]

Originally Posted by EddieOlSkool

What I'm saying is that nothing really separates the East Side from the South. It's part of the larger South Side. Why would the South Side end when the street numbers are clearly far South??? I guess I fail to see how the Southeast Side somehow is different from the South Side. Waukegan IS CLEARLY different from Highland Park or Wilmette. I grew up in this area and consider myself a Southsider because unlike the West Side, we're directly east of the loop; more South.

If you grew up in the area, than I believe you. But some people do think there is an East Side, otherwise there would not be an entire Wiki page about it. Is there anything culturally distinct about the "East Side" area compared to the rest of the South Side?

[GoCUBS1]

Originally Posted by NealIRC

I would say no, Chicago has a Southeast side, but not an East side.

A more controversial question is, does Chicago have a Northeast side, or, can people refer Rogers Park as the Northeast side?

I think north side/far north side.