When my mom tells people where I live, she says Greektown. “Anybody who has been to Chicago knows where Greektown is,” she says. The area’s rich history and the fond memory of her post-prom at one of Halsted Street’s Greek restaurants probably have her imagining my lazy Sundays including trips to the Athenian Bakery for a box of melomakarona. It is also easier than telling her friends I live in the neighborhood formerly known as Chicago’s Skid Row.

When I am asked where I live, the answer varies. Not because I can’t get it straight, but because our area goes by so many different names.

I live in the West Loop when I am talking to people from Chicago, but I live in Greektown when I am talking to those who have only visited the city on vacation. For most of the sports fanatics I encounter, I live in the neighborhood east of the United Center, where the Bulls and Blackhawks play. For people who only know Chicago by name, I live a mile west of the Sears Tower (no, I have not gotten over the name change yet).

The West Loop is also known as West Loop Gate, though that label seems to be falling into disuse.

For city planners, the West Loop represents the center of Chicago’s Community Area No. 28, also known as the Near West Side. So, I’m technically a Near West Sider, I suppose. According to the City of Chicago’s community area maps, the Near West Side is bound by the railroad tracks near Carroll on the north, tracks near Rockwell on the west, the South Branch of the Chicago River to the east and 16th Street to the south.

Sometimes, the confusion about our neighborhood isn’t from who is asking, but with our own interpretations. Wikipedia’s page on neighborhoods within the Near West Side is a clear example of this boundary confusion.

The Near West Side Wiki page places the eastern boundary of the West Loop at the Kennedy Expressway and the Chicago River south of Madison Street. Other sources draw the eastern edge at Wells Street, where the El trains reach the western most point of the Loop. Anything immediately west of the El, the thinking goes, is thus the West Loop. Still others push the boundary as far west as Halsted. I split the difference, and typically think of Clinton as the eastern edge.

The northern edge of the West Loop is debated as well. Some say it’s Lake. Others, anything south of the train tracks north of Fulton. Or it could be anything south of Grand. I say it’s Grand because I like to claim the great Italian food for my neighborhood. There’s more agreement about the western border of the West Loop (Ashland) and the southern border (the Eisenhower).

Inside of the West Loop, once you establish the borders, are fascinating subsections and enclaves — areas as distinct as separate little towns, each with their own historical trajectories, issues, personalities, organizations and styles. My editor calls these the principalities of the West Loop, unique subareas within the broader neighborhood.

What are they? Let me take a stab.

Greektown, with its specialized restaurants and institutions, I’ve already mentioned.

There’s the Old School Fulton Market District, full of the meat and seafood vendors who fill up butcher cases and restaurant kitchens in probably every neighborhood in Chicago. And there’s the New School Fulton Market District, populated by chic clubs and bars, art dealers and boutiques.

Another principality of the West Loop is the 1500 block of W. Jackson, an intact stretch of row homes fronted by graceful trees. The area feels slightly separate from the surrounding neighborhood and beautifully distinct.

Close to this area, up and down Ashland, one might identify “Uniontown,” because of all of the labor organizations that keep offices here.

We could call the area south of Skinner Park “Institutionville,” meanwhile. It’s a mouthful, I’ll admit, but adjacent to each other south of Skinner are Whitney Young High School and the police training academy.

We can’t forget Oprah’s Domain and Restaurant Row, of course.

Finally, on the east, is the Fulton River District, an area claimed by the Fulton River District Association, defined by them as between Ohio, Madison, the Kennedy and the Chicago River to the east.

For readers’ convenience, my editor has drawn a map of the West Loop and the core principalities I’ve identified.

Did I miss any? Let me know: mm@chicagojournal.com.

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By AmySue from ?? :-)
Posted: 05/08/2010 2:17 PM

There was a billboard recently along Randolph referring to the area as Restaurant Row - and the conversation continues! Thanks for the link funkdragon - good read....I lived up that way before moving here...north center, st. bens, lincoln square, ravenswood...

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By Schmüdde from Uniontown
Posted: 03/13/2010 10:46 PM

I live on the edge of the neighborhood - Ashland and Jackson - and have never found a good way to describe it. I appreciate your write-up on it. Good to know I'm not alone! Schmüdde www.schmudde.net

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By funkdragon23
Posted: 03/12/2010 6:21 PM

Terrific piece. The Straight Dope tackled this issue recently, concerning the "location" of Ravenswood: http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20100225.php (PS to Texas T--you definitely live in River West)

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By Luke J from Hyde Park
Posted: 03/12/2010 5:58 PM

Awesome post... I think your map does a nice job, but there's a few things you might add. 1. You've lumped the art galleries in with the clubs and restaurants, when really they're geographically distinct. The galleries are centered around that block of Peoria between Washington and Randolph, and few extend west of Racine or south of Washington. 2. In the sea of meatpacking all along Fulton and Lake, there's an island of fish marketry around Halsted and Fulton.

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By rickey gold from Lakeview
Posted: 03/12/2010 11:45 AM

I feel the confusion. Sometimes I call your area West Loop....other times, West Town. But then I live in East Lakeview and my husband lives in Wrigleyville!

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By TexasT from West Town
Posted: 03/12/2010 11:27 AM

I still don't know where we live and I typically tell my coworkers, "2 miles west of downtown". We're basically at Grand & Ogden and I have heard us called West Town, East Ukrainian Village, River West, West Loop, Noble Square. So confusing!