Friday, December 29, 2023   |   View in browser

Happy 160 Birthday, Evanston!

Evanston was formally incorporated as a town on December 29, 1863. Join us in celebrating 160 glorious years along Lake Michigan. 

A brief history

In the late 1830s, a small settlement named Ridgeville emerged along the ridge that is now Ridge Avenue. Northwestern later acquired this property, transforming it into the campus and town of Evanston in 1854. Northwestern University officially opened its doors in 1855. The town did not officially incorporate, however, until 1863. 

After the Civil War, Evanston saw a huge economic and population boom. Between 1860 and 1870, the population quadrupled. In the 1870s, the separate towns of South Evanston and North Evanston were founded. North Evanston annexed to Evanston in 1874. South Evanston annexed to Evanston in 1892, when the city form of government was adopted. 

Evanston continued to grow and remained independent of Chicago. The city became known for its architecture and beautiful homes on the lake. Then, between 1920 and 1930, there was a 70 percent increase in population. Today, Evanston as we know it is still a thriving, picturesque, and unique city bordering Chicago. 

Additional resources

Interested in learning more about the history of Evanston? Visit the Evanston History Center, Shorefront Legacy Center, Evanston Public Library or Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, to check out photos, research and additional resources.