Medical Village
Chicago’s Medical District is the hub of the city’s $3.3 billion dollar healthcare industry. The area, situated just south of the Eisenhower Expressway between Western and Ashland avenues, is more medical campus than residential community. Still, the neighborhood hosts a comfortable section of residential streets on its southwest border with rehabbed loft spaces, split-level houses and two-story homes.
Like many of Chicago’s neighborhoods, the Medical District’s history goes back to the days following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The fire devastated much of downtown and took a tremendous toll in human life. With so many burn and trauma injuries from a single incident, the city decided that a concentrated area of hospitals and healthcare facilities would be beneficial to Chicago's growing community. Cook County Hospital was the first of the medical institutions built in the area, constructed in 1876. The next year, Rush Medical College was established, and subsequently Presbyterian Hospital (which is associated with Rush) and the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Medicine were founded. As the decades passed, additional medical facilities joined the community and today it is a 560-acre campus. With state, county and city government support, the Medical District hospitals continue to make advances in technology, education and health sciences.
As we’ve mentioned, the main focus of the Medical District is healthcare – but everybody’s got to eat, right? There are a few on-the-run dining options in the Medical District that include coffee shops, fast-food joints and a couple mom-and-pop cafes. Dunkin’ Donuts is a popular stop for doctors on their breaks and the local residents are also pleased to have a close by outlet for caffeine and breakfast treats. Retail businesses are limited in the Medical District – not the best place to shop for fashion, although there is a chain department store or two. Fittingly, there are a few pharmacies in the neighborhood and the UIC Medical Bookstore has every title you’d need to self-diagnose your ailments.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus routes and trains run through the Medical District, providing commuting health care providers, students and residents alike with convenient travel options. The Pink and Blue Line “L” trains make a few stops in the area along Paulina Street and the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) flanks the northern edge of the District, offering motorists easy access to the area's hospitals.
- CLICK HERE FOR MEDICAL VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD MAP
- CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT REAL ESTATE IN MEDICAL VILLAGE
| Interested in Medical Village real estate? | Medical Village Restaurants & Bars | ||
| Medical Village Resources | Medical Village Schools |
Dining in Medical Village
| Carnitas Urapan Restaurant 1725 W. 18th Cuisine: Mexican |
El Charco Verde 2253 W. Taylor Cuisine: Mexican |
| TJ's Family Restaurant 1928 E. Cermak Cuisine: American |
Cerwood Inn Bar 1759 W. Cermak |
| Simpson's Bar Grenshaw & Western |
White Horse Lounge 2059 W. 19th |
Resources in Medical Village
| Hospitals Cook County Hospital 1835 W. Harrison Johnston R. Bowman Health Center 710 S. Paulina Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's 725 W. Harrison University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital 1740 W. Taylor US Veterans Medical Center 820 S. Damen |
Schools in Medical Village
| Children of Peace School 2187 W. Bowler |
Cooper Branch School 1641 W. 16th |
| Cristo Rey High 1852 W. 22nd Pl. |
Holy Trinity School 1900 W. Taylor |
| Illinois College of Medicine 1853 W. Polk |
Montefiore Boys School 1300 S. Ashland |
| Octavio Paz Charter 2401 W. Congress Pkwy |
Orozco Community Academy 1940 W. 18th |
| Pickard Elementary School 2301 W. 21st |
St. Ann Grade School 2211 W. 18th |
| UIC University of Illinois 818 S. Wolcott |
William E. Gladstone School 1231 S. Damen |
