“Find faith” echoes in the heart of Avondale at Local Evangelico Avondale. Local Evangelico Avondale is a church located in Cook County Illinois. Its coordinates place it at N41.93253 degrees and W87.70895 degrees according to the NAD83 datum. You can find Local Evangelico Avondale on the USGS 1:24K topographic map Chicago Loop IL.
Avondale itself boasts a rich tapestry of history. Once a prairie traversed by an Indian trail it transformed after 1848. Milwaukee Avenue emerged a planked road that spurred development. However this road was rough. Tollgates added insult to injury. In 1889 Avondale citizens rioted. They burned a tollgate and used the planks for firewood.
Annexation to Chicago in 1889 marked another leap. The city improved the roads. Electrification and street railway extensions further fueled growth from 1890 to 1920. Railroads and a horsecar line eased commutes to city jobs. By 1920 Avondale’s population exceeded 38000. A quarter were foreign-born. Germans Swedes and Austrians were among them. By 1930 Poles formed 33 percent of the 48000 residents. As Poles arrived Germans and Scandinavians moved northwest.
Avondale became a working-class hub. Rail lines and the Chicago River attracted industries. Clay pits and brick factories clustered near Belmont Avenue earning the area the name Bricktown. This brick was vital after the fire of 1871. It proved the need for brick construction. After 1920 Grebe’s Boatyard thrived. It made luxury yachts and naval vessels. Across the river was Riverview Amusement Park home to the Bobs roller coaster. Today luxury townhouses replace the industrial belt.
Avondale stands as Chicago’s Polish Village. Milwaukee Avenue between Diversey and Addison is a vibrant Polish community. Polish settlement began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Economic changes in Poland spurred immigration. Jobs drew Poles to Chicago creating a strong industrial base. The promise of a better life also beckoned. Polish immigrants populated milling and slaughterhouse industries.
A second wave followed World War II. Communist takeover further fueled immigration. The 1980s and 1990s saw another surge due to the Solidarity movement. Solidarity was the first non-Communist Party-controlled trade union. Martial law in Poland led many Solidarity members to seek refuge in Chicago. Avondale became a haven. These refugees enriched Chicago’s Polish community.
Parishes anchored community development. Saint Hyacinth Basilica and St. Wenceslaus Church are central. These churches were vital forums for Poles. They honored events suppressed by the Communist regime. These activities played a role in the collapse of Communism in Poland in 1989.
Avondale evolves embracing diverse groups. Ukrainians Belarusians and Czechs now call it home. Economic changes in Poland and suburban migration have shifted the demographics. Yet Avondale retains its Polish character.
Local Evangelico Avondale stands at an elevation of 597 feet above sea level. It is a testament to faith and community in a changing landscape.