Evanston, Illinois

File:Illinois - Edwardsville through Grand Tower - NARA - 23939851 (cropped).jpg

File:Evanston Skyline 4.JPG

Prior to the 1830s, the area now occupied by Evanston was mainly uninhabited, consisting largely of wetlands and swampy forest. However, Potawatomi Native Americans used trails along higher lying ridges that ran in a general north–south direction through the area, and had at least some semi-permanent settlements along the trails.

French explorers referred to the general area as "Grosse Pointe" after a point of land jutting into Lake Michigan about {{convert|13|mi|0}} north of the mouth of the Chicago River. After the first non-Native Americans settled in the area in 1836, the names "Grosse Point Territory" and "Gross Point voting district" were used through the 1830s and 1840s, although the territory had no defined boundaries.{{Cite book | last1 = Illinois State Historical Society | last2 = Currey | first2 = Seymour | title = Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the year 1908 | chapter = Chicago's North Shore | publisher = Illinois State Historical Library | year = 1909 | location = Springfield, Illinois | pages = 101–109 | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-EXWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA109 | access-date = August 26, 2010 | archive-date = September 30, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230930085403/https://books.google.com/books?id=-EXWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA109#v=onepage&q&f=false | url-status = live }}{{cite book |title=This is Evanston |publisher=League of Women Voters of Evanston |year=2000 |isbn=0-9676994-0-1 |url=http://www.lwve.org/pdf/Complete-ThisIsEvanston.pdf |access-date=February 6, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325113813/http://www.lwve.org/pdf/Complete-ThisIsEvanston.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2009 |pages= 8–18}} The area remained only sparsely settled, supporting some farming and lumber activity on some of the higher ground, as well as a number of taverns or "hotels" along the ridge roads. Grosse Pointe itself steadily eroded into the lake during this period.

In 1850, a township called Ridgeville was organized, extending from Graceland Cemetery in Chicago to the southern edge of the Ouilmette Reservation, along what is now Central Street, and from Lake Michigan to Western Avenue in Chicago. The 1850 census shows a few hundred settlers in this township, and a post office with the name of Ridgeville was established at one of the taverns. However, no municipality yet existed.

In 1851, a group of Methodist business leaders founded Northwestern University and Garrett Biblical Institute. Unable to find available land on the north shore up to Lake Forest, the committee was ready to purchase farmland to the west of the city when Orrington Lunt insisted on one final visit to the present location.{{cite book |last=Willard |first=Frances|author-link=Frances Willard |date=1891 |title=A Classic Town: The Story of Evanston |publisher=Woman's Temperance Publishing Association |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/aclassictownsto00willgoog |page=[https://archive.org/details/aclassictownsto00willgoog/page/n27 19] |access-date=February 17, 2006}} They chose a bluffed and wooded site along the lake as Northwestern's home, purchasing several hundred acres of land from John Foster, a Chicago farm owner. In 1854, the founders of Northwestern submitted to the county judge their plans for a city to be named Evanston after John Evans,{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n121 122]}} one of their leaders. In 1857, the request was granted.{{cite web | url = http://evanstoncity.org/about/history.shtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080325073126/http://evanstoncity.org/about/history.shtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 25, 2008 | title = City of Evanston - About Evanston - History | access-date = December 13, 2008 | last = City of Evanston }} The township of Evanston was split off from Ridgeville Township; at approximately the same time, that portion of Ridgeville south of Devon Avenue was organized as Lake View Township.{{Cite book| last1 = Goodspeed Historical Association | title = History of Cook County, Illinois; being a general survey of Cook County | volume = 2 |editor= Weston A. Goodspeed |editor2=Daniel D. Healy | year = 1909 | location = Chicago, Illinois | publisher=Goodspeed Historical Association | pages = 250–260 | isbn = 9780608368948 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=VtwSAAAAYAAJ | access-date = August 26, 2010 }}

Evanston was formally incorporated as a town on December 29, 1863, but declined in 1869 to become a city despite the Illinois legislature passing a bill for that purpose. Evanston expanded after the Civil War with the annexation of the village of North Evanston. Finally, in early 1892, following the annexation of the village of South Evanston, voters elected to organize as a city.{{cite encyclopedia | editor = Newton Bateman | editor2 = Paul Selby | encyclopedia = Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois | title = Evanston | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lxoVAAAAYAAJ&q=Northwestern+University+founders+railroad&pg=PA159 | access-date = December 14, 2008 | year = 1917 | publisher = Munsell Publishing Co. | volume = 1 | location = Chicago | pages = 160 | archive-date = September 30, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230930085404/https://books.google.com/books?id=lxoVAAAAYAAJ&q=Northwestern+University+founders+railroad&pg=PA159#v=snippet&q=Northwestern%20University%20founders%20railroad&f=false | url-status = live }} The 1892 boundaries are largely those that exist today.

In the late summer of 1912, the beaches in Evanston were infested with thousands of rats. The rats had burrowed into the sides of the lake banks, dug holes in the sand, and hid under piers. Most of the rats were extremely large and savage, attacking people who disturbed them. Local bathers struggled to navigate the shores, constantly stepping into the hidden rat holes. John Morgan, the manager of an extermination company tasked with removing the vermin, stated that it was not uncommon for rats to live around the lake's shore because of the quantity of dead fish that was cast to shore by the waves. The weather also played a role since the close proximity to the beaches allowed the rats to swim out in the water during the hot summer.{{cite web|url= https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064384/1912-09-14/ed-1/seq-10/print/image_681x648_from_275%2C3379_to_2330%2C5337/|title= Fair Bathers and Big Rats Use Beach|author= The St. Mary Banner|date= September 14, 1912|website= Chronicling America|publisher= The St. Mary Banner|access-date= March 15, 2022|archive-date= March 15, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220315195230/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064384/1912-09-14/ed-1/seq-10/print/image_681x648_from_275,3379_to_2330,5337/|url-status= live}}

During the 1960s, Northwestern University changed the city's shoreline by adding a {{convert|74|acre|adj=on}} lakefill.{{cite web | url = http://digital.library.northwestern.edu/architecture/building.php?bid=24 | title = The James Roscoe Miller Campus | access-date = February 23, 2013 | archive-date = December 17, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121217005251/http://digital.library.northwestern.edu/architecture/building.php?bid=24 | url-status = live }}

In 1939, Evanston hosted the first NCAA basketball championship final at Northwestern University's Patten Gymnasium.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RFsaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5210%2C5220416 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Giant Oregon five defeats Ohio for U.S. title, 46–33 |date=March 28, 1939 |page=12 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In August 1954, Evanston hosted the second assembly of the World Council of Churches, still the only WCC assembly to have been held in the United States. President Dwight Eisenhower welcomed the delegates, and Dag Hammarskjöld, secretary-general of the United Nations, delivered an important address entitled "An instrument of faith".{{cite web | url = http://www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/Feat-04-40.html | title = Evanston After Fifty Years | access-date = December 18, 2008 | last = Hjelm | first = Norman A. | date = September 14, 2004 | publisher = World Council of Churches | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080704071257/http://www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/Feat-04-40.html | archive-date = July 4, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}

Evanston first received power in April 1893. Many people lined the streets on Emerson St. where the first appearance of street lights were lined and turned on. Today, the city is home to Northwestern University, Music Institute of Chicago, and other educational institutions, as well as headquarters of Alpha Phi International women's fraternity, Rotary International, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Lekotek Center, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

Evanston is the birthplace of Tinkertoys, and is one of the locations claiming to have originated the ice cream sundae.History Channel - Modern Marvels - "Ice Cream Tech" - (2008) Evanston was the home of the Clayton Mark and Company, which for many years supplied the most jobs.{{cite news | title = Clayton Mark Products Used Throughout the World | newspaper = Evansbriar Review | date = May 7, 1953}}

Evanston was a dry community from 1858 until 1972, when the City Council voted to allow restaurants and hotels to serve liquor on their premises. In 1984, the Council voted to allow retail liquor outlets within the city limits.Foerstner, Abigail. "Evanston liquor store to close door on era". Chicago Tribune. July 6, 1984. p. NS-1.

In March 2021, Evanston became the first city in the United States to pay reparations to African American residents (or their descendants) who were victims of unfair housing practices. The city council of the city voted 8 to 1 to approve the reparations which consisted of a $25,000 payment to African American households that can be used as down payments on their homes, house payments or for home repairs. This was the initial payment, with plans to distribute $10 million in reparations payments to Black residents over the next decade.{{cite web |title=Black residents to get reparations in Evanston, Illinois |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56497294 |website=BBC News |date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324004448/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56497294 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Illinois city 1st in US to offer Black residents reparations |url=https://apnews.com/article/reparations-evanston-illinois-black-residents-752a6fe83c560117523d7f8abba1bfb8 |website=AP NEWS |date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324022248/https://apnews.com/article/reparations-evanston-illinois-black-residents-752a6fe83c560117523d7f8abba1bfb8 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Illinois city approves first reparations program for Black residents |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/23/evanston-illinois-city-reparations-program-black-residents |website=The Guardian |date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324005922/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/23/evanston-illinois-city-reparations-program-black-residents |url-status=live }}

In August 2021, Evanston became one of the first cities to approve a pilot project providing a guaranteed income to select residents, drawing upon a combination of public funds and a partnership with Northwestern University.{{cite web|last=Seidenberg|first=Bob|date=August 12, 2021|title=Council moves forward on Guaranteed Income program with $500 monthly payments to select residents|url=http://evanstonroundtable.com/2021/08/12/council-moves-forward-on-guaranteed-income-program-with-500-monthly-payments-to-select-residents/|access-date=August 25, 2021|website=Evanston RoundTable|archive-date=August 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824134742/https://evanstonroundtable.com/2021/08/12/council-moves-forward-on-guaranteed-income-program-with-500-monthly-payments-to-select-residents/|url-status=live}}

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Evanston has a total area of {{convert|7.80|sqmi|km2|2}}, of which {{convert|7.78|sqmi|km2|2}} (or 99.72%) is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|km2|2}} (or 0.28%) is water.{{Cite web |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Census.gov |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824085937/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |url-status=live }}

In October 2006, the city voted to sign the United States Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement,{{cite web | url = http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/revised/ | title = Mayors Climate Protection Center | access-date = February 18, 2010 | publisher = United States Conference of Mayors | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100218214413/http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/revised/ | archive-date = February 18, 2010 | df = mdy-all }} and a number of citizen task forces convened to develop a plan to reduce the city's carbon footprint.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofevanston.org/global/green/warming.shtml |title=City of Evanston - Office of Sustainability > Warming |access-date=February 18, 2010 |publisher=City of Evanston |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421062725/http://www.cityofevanston.org/global/green/warming.shtml |archive-date=April 21, 2009 }} The Evanston Climate Action Plan ("ECAP"), accepted by the City Council in November 2008, suggested over 200 strategies to make Evanston more sustainable, principally by reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation, buildings, energy sources, waste, and food production.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofevanston.org/global/green/documents/ECAP.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306090935/http://www.cityofevanston.org/global/green/documents/ECAP.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2009|title=City of Evanston, Evanston Climate Action Plan}}{{cite web|url=http://www.greenerevanston.org/index.php?cat=23 |title=ECAP - Citizens for a Greener Evanston |access-date=February 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726131800/http://www.greenerevanston.org/index.php?cat=23 |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }} In June 2011, the United States Conference of Mayors awarded Evanston first place in the small city category of the Mayors' Climate Protection Awards, based largely on the city's use of the ECAP, which the city asserts has reduced emissions by 24,000 metric tons per year.{{cite web | url = http://centralstreetneighbors.com/content/evanston-wins-national-award-climate-protection | title = Evanston Wins National Award for Climate Protection | access-date = June 17, 2011 | date = June 17, 2011 | publisher = Central Street Neighbors Association | archive-date = August 13, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110813084835/http://centralstreetneighbors.com/content/evanston-wins-national-award-climate-protection | url-status = live }}{{cite web | url = http://usmayors.org/79thAnnualMeeting/documents/RELEASE_CLIMATEPROTECTIONAWARDS_0611.pdf | title = Houston (TX) and Evanston (IL) win First Place Honors for Local Climate Protection Efforts | access-date = June 17, 2011 | date = June 17, 2011 | publisher = The United States Conference of Mayors | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110621223649/http://usmayors.org/79thAnnualMeeting/documents/RELEASE_CLIMATEPROTECTIONAWARDS_0611.pdf | archive-date = June 21, 2011 | df = mdy-all }} On September 15, 2011, Wal-Mart presented Mayor Tisdahl with a $15,000 award in recognition of the honor, which the mayor donated to Citizens' Greener Evanston.{{cite web|url=https://evanstonnow.com/story/government/bill-smith/2011-09-16/44308/mayor-donates-climate-award-to-ecology-group|title=Mayor donates climate award to ecology group|last=Smith|first=Bill|date=September 16, 2011|website=Evanston Now|access-date=January 25, 2019|archive-date=January 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061104/https://evanstonnow.com/story/government/bill-smith/2011-09-16/44308/mayor-donates-climate-award-to-ecology-group|url-status=live}}

Evanston is in the Hot-summer humid continental climate, or Köppen Dfa zone. The zone includes four distinct seasons. Winter is cold with snow. Spring warms up with precipitation and storms. Summer has high precipitation and storms. Fall cools down.{{Weather box

| location = Evanston, IL: Precipitation normals

| source = NOAA {{cite web | url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&location=IL&station=US1ILCK0107 | title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access }}

| single line = Y

| width = auto

| Apr precipitation inch = 3.92

| Aug precipitation inch = 4.47

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.42

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.15

| Jan precipitation inch = 2.31

| Jul precipitation inch = 3.54

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.51

| Mar precipitation inch = 2.30

| May precipitation inch = 4.71

| Nov precipitation inch = 2.67

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.77

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.55

}}

{{US Census population

|1880= 4400

|1890= 9000

|1900= 19259

|1910= 24978

|1920= 37234

|1930= 63338

|1940= 65389

|1950= 73641

|1960= 79263

|1970= 79808

|1980= 73706

|1990= 73233

|2000= 74239

|2010= 74486

|2020= 78110

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=|archive-date=July 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706023553/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|url-status=live}}
2010 2020

}}

As of the 2020 census{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1724582 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929020511/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1724582 |url-status=live }} there were 78,110 people, 27,918 households, and 15,184 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|10,012.82|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 34,462 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|4,417.64|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 59.06% White, 16.06% African American, 9.92% Asian, 0.67% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.46% from other races, and 9.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 11.24% of the population.

There were 27,918 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.44% were married couples living together, 8.71% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.61% were non-families. 34.79% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.46% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 2.40.

The city's age distribution consisted of 19.9% under the age of 18, 16.0% from 18 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $82,335, and the median income for a family was $130,494. Males had a median income of $56,582 versus $42,589 for females. The per capita income for the city was $53,685. About 4.6% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

12.3% of Evanston's 9,259 businesses were Black-owned in 2012,{{Cite web

|url = http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1724582.html

|title = Evanston (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

|website = quickfacts.census.gov

|access-date = March 1, 2016

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120704060117/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1724582.html

|archive-date = July 4, 2012

|df = mdy-all

}} and 24% of the city's 2,041 employer firms were women-owned in 2017.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Evanston city, Illinois |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/evanstoncityillinois/SBO001217#SBO001217 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=www.census.gov |language=en |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930085415/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/evanstoncityillinois/SBO001217#SBO001217 |url-status=live }}

As of 2015, according to the State of Illinois Dept Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Individual Employers,{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofevanston.org/assets/Top%20Ten%20Employers%20-%20July%202015.pdf|title=City of Evanston - Major Employers in Evanston|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018125531/http://www.cityofevanston.org/assets/Top%20Ten%20Employers%20-%20July%202015.pdf|archive-date=October 18, 2016|url-status=dead}} the top employers in the city were:

• Magnetar Capital, a hedge fund based in Evanston{{Cite web|url=http://www.citadel.com/_files/uploads/2015/03/II-Alpha-Hedge-Fund-Report-Card-2015-Citadel.pdf|title=The Hedge Fund Report Card|last=Taub|first=Stephen|publisher=Institutional Investor's Alpha.|access-date=July 20, 2016|archive-date=August 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803193047/http://www.citadel.com/_files/uploads/2015/03/II-Alpha-Hedge-Fund-Report-Card-2015-Citadel.pdf|url-status=live}}
• ZS Associates, a consulting firm
• Clayton Mark and Company, steel product manufacturerSmith, S.H.; Mark,S (2011). https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/ssj/article/view/13413 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606142716/https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/ssj/article/view/13413 |date=June 6, 2023 }}
• Legacy.com, online memorial provider

• Evanston Art Center
• Evanston Township High School
• Frances Willard House
• Free School of Evanston
• Grosse Point Lighthouse
• Harley Clarke Mansion
• Ladd Arboretum
• Lighthouse Beach
• Mount Trashmore
• North Shore Channel Trail
• Northwestern University
• Ryan Field

Once the home of one of the first Marshall Field's{{cite web | url = http://chicago.urban-history.org/ven/dss/fields.shtml#evanston | title = Jazz Age Chicago--Marshall Field & Co. | access-date = December 13, 2008 | last = Newman | first = Scott A. | date = May 11, 2006 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927065743/http://chicago.urban-history.org/ven/dss/fields.shtml#evanston | archive-date = September 27, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}{{cite web | url = http://www.winthropproperties.com/evanstongalleria/history.htm | title = Evanston Galleria - Building History | access-date = December 14, 2008 | archive-date = July 3, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080703215714/http://www.winthropproperties.com/evanstongalleria/history.htm | url-status = live }} and Sears stores in suburbia, Evanston has several shopping areas:

• Downtown - centered on the Davis Street Metra and "L" stops,{{cite web|url=http://www.downtownevanston.org/|title=Where Chicago and the North Shore Meet - Downtown Evanston Gift Card - Downtown Evanston|website=www.downtownevanston.org|access-date=December 14, 2008|archive-date=November 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101023135/http://www.downtownevanston.org/|url-status=live}} Evanston's downtown adjoins Northwestern University. There are over 300 businesses,{{cite web|url=http://www.evmark.org/|title=消費者金融でお金を借りる？？ - 消費者金融について書いています。|website=www.evmark.org|access-date=December 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903113738/http://www.evmark.org/|archive-date=September 3, 2018|url-status=dead}} several high-rise office and residential buildings, three traditional low-rise shopping areas and over 85 restaurants. It is roughly bordered by Emerson Street to the north, Dempster Street to the south, Ridge Avenue to the west, and the Lake to the east.
• Central Street - actually several shopping districts linked along the northernmost of the city's principal east–west arteries,{{cite web | url = http://www.centralstreetneighbors.com/?q=node/95 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120721201600/http://www.centralstreetneighbors.com/?q=node/95 | url-status = dead | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | title = About Central Street - Central Street Neighbors Association | access-date = December 13, 2008 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.centralstreet-evanston.com/ | title = Central Street Business Association – Home | access-date = December 13, 2008 | archive-date = October 12, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141012042754/http://centralstreet-evanston.com/ | url-status = live }} with the most active clustered around the Central Street Metra station and characterized by specialty shops and restaurants.{{cite web|url=http://chicagonorthshorehome.com/2008/06/11/evanstons-central-street/ |title=Evanston's Central Street |access-date=December 13, 2008 |last=Hartong |first=Jason |date=June 11, 2008 |publisher=Chicago North Shore Home & Beyond |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708143703/http://chicagonorthshorehome.com/2008/06/11/evanstons-central-street/ |archive-date=July 8, 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ksgmac.com/evanston/ |title=Our Evanston- Green Bay Road Office |access-date=December 13, 2008 |publisher=Koenig & Strey |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205110909/http://www.ksgmac.com/evanston/ |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofevanston.org/global/central/pdf/01_MasterPlan_summary.pdf |title=Central Street Master Plan Council Handout April 12, 2007 |access-date=December 13, 2008 |last=The Lakota Group |date=April 12, 2007 |publisher=City of Evanston |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325113813/http://www.cityofevanston.org/global/central/pdf/01_MasterPlan_summary.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2009 }}
• Dempster Street - just off the Dempster "L" stop; over 60 shops.{{cite web |url=http://shopevanston.com/ |title=Chicago/Dempster Merchants Association |access-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-date=November 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105220637/http://www.shopevanston.com/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles/travel/36881/evanston |title=3.6 hours in Evanston |access-date=December 16, 2008 |last=Aeh |first=Kevin |date=July 9, 2008 |work=Time Out Chicago |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209175431/http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles/travel/36881/evanston |archive-date=February 9, 2009 }}
• Main Street - approximately three blocks of mostly independent boutiques and restaurants{{cite web | url = http://www.carfreechicago.com/blog/1272 | title = Main Street Station - Evanston with a Heart | access-date = June 10, 2013 | publisher = Carfree Chicago | archive-date = July 5, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130705061739/http://www.carfreechicago.com/blog/1272 | url-status = live }} abutting both a CTA and Metra stop. The neighborhood is also home to the Evanston Arts Depot.{{cite web | url = http://www.artsdepot.us/artsdepot/ | title = Evanston Arts Depot - Cultural Arts Center | access-date = December 13, 2008 | year = 2006 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090217185305/http://www.artsdepot.us/artsdepot/ | archive-date = February 17, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}
• Howard Street - Howard Street forms the southern border between Evanston and the City of Chicago. The Howard Street CTA station is a transfer point between the Red, Purple, and Yellow line trains as well as several CTA and PACE bus routes.
• Chicago Avenue - not a separate shopping district per se, this extension of what is called Clark Street in Chicago runs parallel to the rail lines and is the principal north–south artery in Evanston from Howard Street north to its terminus at Northwestern University. Chicago Avenue connects the Main Street, Dempster Street, and Downtown shopping districts.
• Noyes - Bordering the Noyes "L" stop with around a dozen restaurants, dry-cleaners and convenience stores.

File:Evanston Public Library.JPG

The Evanston Public Library was established in 1873,{{citation

| title = Library Anniversaries

| journal = Illinois Libraries

| publisher = Illinois Library Extension Division

| date = October 1923

| volume = 5

| issue = 4

| page = 61

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dKgTAAAAYAAJ

| access-date = November 10, 2020

| archive-date = September 30, 2023

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230930085404/https://books.google.com/books?id=dKgTAAAAYAAJ

| url-status = live

}} and has a satellite branch at the Robert Crown Community Center. Heather Norborg is the Interim Library Director. The North and South Branches of the Evanston Library were closed in 2021.

{{See also|List of mayors of Evanston, Illinois}}

{{more citations needed section|date=May 2021}}

The City of Evanston became sister cities with the Dnieprovsky District of the City of Kyiv, Ukraine in 1988, and sister cities with Belize City, Belize in 1992.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Evanston has a council-manager system of government and is divided into nine wards, each of which is represented by an Alderman, or member of the Evanston City Council.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Evanston was heavily Republican in voter identification from the time of the Civil War up to the 1960s. Richard Nixon carried it in the 1968 presidential election.{{cite magazine | title = Affluent Settled Evanston, Illinois | date = March 15, 1971 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904827,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081221203326/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904827,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = December 21, 2008 | magazine = Time | access-date = September 18, 2011}} The city began trending Democratic in the 1960s, though it never elected a Democratic mayor until 1993.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democratic incumbent Barack Obama won 85% of Evanston's vote, compared to 13% for Republican challenger Mitt Romney.{{cite web|title=Suburban Cook County Election Results, November 06, 2012 Presidential General Election|url=http://results1112.cookcountyclerk.com/summary.aspx?eid=110612|publisher=Cook County Clerk|access-date=April 14, 2017|archive-date=April 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415104026/http://results1112.cookcountyclerk.com/summary.aspx?eid=110612|url-status=live}} In the 2016 Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton received 54% of the votes of Evanston Democrats to Bernie Sanders' 45%.{{cite web|title=Suburban Cook County Election Results, March 15, 2016 Presidential Primary Election|url=http://results316.cookcountyclerk.com/Summary.aspx?eid=31516|publisher=Cook County Clerk|access-date=October 25, 2017|archive-date=October 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026111508/http://results316.cookcountyclerk.com/Summary.aspx?eid=31516|url-status=live}} During that year's general election, Clinton won 87% of the vote in Evanston, while Republican Donald Trump received just 7%.{{cite web|title=Suburban Cook County Election Results, November 08, 2016 Presidential General Election|url=http://results1116.cookcountyclerk.com/Detail.aspx?eid=110816&rid=11&vfor=1&twpftr=1|publisher=Cook County Clerk|access-date=April 14, 2017|archive-date=April 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200327/http://results1116.cookcountyclerk.com/Detail.aspx?eid=110816&rid=11&vfor=1&twpftr=1|url-status=live}} Evanston's turnout for presidential elections has grown steadily since 2004, with 80% of registered voters voting in the 2016 general election.{{cite web|title=Post-Election Report 2016|url=http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections/electiondata/Documents/PostElectionReport_110816.pdf|website=Cook County Clerk|access-date=April 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200429/http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections/electiondata/Documents/PostElectionReport_110816.pdf|archive-date=April 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}

In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden received 90% of the vote, while Republican Donald Trump received only 7%.{{cite web|url=https://results1120.cookcountyclerkil.gov/summary.aspx?eid=110320 |title=Suburban Cook County Election Results. November 03, 2020 Presidential General Election|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228000037/https://results1120.cookcountyclerkil.gov/summary.aspx?eid=110320|date=February 28, 2021|archive-date=February 28, 2021 }}

{{more citations needed section|date=August 2021}}

File:Evanston Township High School front.jpg]]

Most of Evanston (and a small part of the village of Skokie) is within the boundaries of Evanston Township High School District 202.{{cite web|url=https://www.eths.k12.il.us//cms/lib/IL01903927/Centricity/Domain/220/ETHS%20School%20Profile%202018-19.pdf|title=EVANSTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL 2018-19 School Profile|publisher=Evanston Township High School|access-date=July 17, 2019|archive-date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716214356/https://www.eths.k12.il.us//cms/lib/IL01903927/Centricity/Domain/220/ETHS%20School%20Profile%202018-19.pdf|url-status=live}} The school district has a single high school, Evanston Township High School, with an enrollment of just over 4,000, covering grades 9 through 12.

Evanston-Skokie Community Consolidated School District 65, covering all of Evanston and a small part of Skokie, provides primary education from pre-kindergarten through grade 8. The district has ten elementary schools (kindergarten through fifth grade), three middle schools (grades 6 through 8), two magnet schools (K through 8), two special schools or centers, and an early childhood school.

Private schools located in Evanston, Illinois include:

• Beacon Academy, a Montessori high school
• Chiaravalle Montessori School, a Montessori school for children ages 2–14
• Midwest Montessori School
• Pope John XXIII School, a Catholic school serving children pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school dates back to 1886 with the establishment of separate schools serving St. Nicholas and St. Mary's parishes in Evanston. The original St. Nicholas School was in the building now called the Annex. The main school building was built in 1954. In 1986 the two parish schools consolidated and the new school was renamed Pope John XXIII School. In 2023, the St. Nicholas parish was renamed to St. John XXIII parish and the St. Mary's parish was closed due to funding issues.{{cite web | url = http://www.popejohn23.org/?page_id=507 | title = Pope John XXIII School - Our History | access-date = April 4, 2014 | publisher = Pope John XXIII School | archive-date = September 30, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230930085408/https://www.popejohn23.org/?page_id=507 | url-status = live }}
• Roycemore School
• St. Athanasius School, a Catholic school for children from junior kindergarten through eighth grade. "St. A's" is a popular shortened nickname for the school and it is part of the St. Athanasius parish in Northwest Evanston. The teams are known as the RedHawks. The school focuses on three key themes; Love, Learn, Lead.

In 2006, National-Louis University closed its former main site, which had {{convert|6.5|acre|ha}} of land, with about 33% in Evanston; the majority of the land was in Wilmette.{{cite web|author=Brachear, Manya A.|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-05-07-0405070268-story.html|title=National-Louis to move campus|work=Chicago Tribune|date=May 7, 2004|access-date=July 31, 2019|archive-date=August 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801044826/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-05-07-0405070268-story.html|url-status=live}}

Founded in 1855, Evanston is home to Northwestern University. Located along Lake Michigan, Northwestern's campus spans 240 acres with an estimated 250 buildings. Since 1908, Kellogg School of Management as well as Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (1853) have institutions, of which both share the campus with Northwestern.

• Illinois Industrial School for Girls

• The Daily Northwestern, the student newspaper at Northwestern University
• The Evanstonian, the student newspaper at Evanston Township High School
• The Evanston Review, subscription weekly newspaper, part of Pioneer Press
• The Evanston RoundTable, a free online news site
• The Evanston Sentinel, a free weekly African-American newspaper
• Evanston Now, an online newspaper and community website

Evanston's variety of housing and commercial districts, combined with easy access to Chicago, make it a popular filming location. Evanston as of December 2008 is listed as a filming location for 65 different films, notably those of John Hughes.{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&locations=Evanston,%20Illinois,%20USA&&heading=18;with+locations+including;Evanston,%20Illinois,%20USA |title=Titles with locations including Evanston, Illinois, USA |access-date=December 13, 2008 |website=IMDb}} Much of the 1984 film Sixteen Candles was filmed in and around Evanston,{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088128/ |title=Sixteen Candles (1984) |website=IMDb |access-date=December 14, 2008 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216034308/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088128/ |url-status=live }} the 1988 film She's Having a Baby, as was the 1989 film Uncle Buck,{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098554/ | title=Uncle Buck (1989) | website=IMDb | access-date=June 29, 2018 | archive-date=July 13, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713204018/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098554/ | url-status=live }} the 1993 film Dennis the Menace,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106701/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt|title=Dennis the Menace (1993)|website=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=March 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330065736/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106701/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt|url-status=live}} and the 1997 film Home Alone 3.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119303/locations|title=Home Alone 3 (1997)|website=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415111100/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119303/locations|url-status=live}} A number of scenes from the 1986 Garry Marshall film Nothing in Common were filmed on the Northwestern University campus and Evanston's lakeshore.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091653/locations|title=Nothing in Common (1986)|website=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325053424/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091653/locations|url-status=live}} Although not filmed there, the 2004 film Mean Girls is set in the Chicago suburbs, and makes several references to the area. The movie's screenwriter and co-star, Tina Fey, had worked at the Evanston YMCA when starting her comedy career. In the 2003 film Cheaper by the Dozen, the family moves to Evanston.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1530908.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105044642/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1530908.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2012|title='Mean' streets? Teens say Evanston not that bad Harsh high school movie supposedly set in north suburb|date=May 4, 2004}} Additionally, 1993 film Rookie of the Year, starring Gary Busey and Thomas Ian Nicholas, was partially shot at Haven Middle School.{{IMDb title|qid=Q3212960|title=Rookie of the Year}} The 2015 ABC Family reality series Becoming Us was filmed in Evanston.

In The Princess Bride, according to IMDb, the screenplay says that the boy and his grandfather live in Evanston.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv|title=The Princess Bride (1987)|website=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930053314/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv|url-status=live}} This was also stated by Mandy Patinkin in a behind-the-scenes interview.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZwX1LKllU&t=44s| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519035603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZwX1LKllU| archive-date=May 19, 2015|title=behind the scenes PRINCESS BRIDE part 1|last=Johnny Cade|date=August 20, 2014|via=YouTube}} The story's author, William Goldman, was born in Chicago and grew up in Highland Park a little more than ten miles north of Evanston.

File:Evanston 1170.jpg stop is visible in the lower half of the photograph.]]

Evanston's growth occurred largely because of its accessibility from Chicago by rail. The Northwestern founders did not finalize their commitment to siting the university there until they were assured the Chicago & Milwaukee Railway line would run there. C&M trains began stopping in Evanston in 1855.{{cite web | url = http://www.library.northwestern.edu/about/welcome/history-the-library-0 | title = History of Northwestern University Library | access-date = December 14, 2008 | date = March 3, 2001 | publisher = Northwestern University Library | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110709015418/http://www.library.northwestern.edu/about/welcome/history-the-library-0 | archive-date = July 9, 2011 | df = mdy-all }} Evanston later experienced rapid growth as one of the first streetcar suburbs. The North Shore Line, the interurban railroad that gave the area its nickname, ran through Evanston and continued to Waukegan and Milwaukee.

The city is still connected to Chicago by rail transit. The CTA's Purple Line, part of the Chicago 'L' system, runs through Evanston. From its terminal at Howard in Chicago, the line heads north to the South Boulevard, Main, Dempster, Davis, Foster, Noyes, and Central stations, before terminating at the Linden station in Wilmette. During weekday rush hours, the Purple Line extends another {{convert|10.3|mi|km}} south on the North Side Main Line from Howard to downtown Chicago running express from Howard to {{cta|Belmont|Red}}, with a single stop at {{cta|Wilson}}, and then making all local stops from Belmont to the Loop. The express service is known as the Purple Line Express (or the Evanston Express). Metra's Union Pacific North Line also serves Evanston, with stations at Main Street, Davis Street and Central Street, the first two being adjacent to Purple Line stations. The CTA's Yellow Line also runs through the city, though it does not stop there. Evanston is served by six CTA bus routes as well as four Pace bus routes.

Automobile routes from Chicago to Evanston include Lake Shore Drive, the Edens Expressway (I-94), and McCormick Boulevard, although the first two of those do not extend to Evanston itself and require driving through Rogers Park (via Sheridan Road or Ridge Avenue) and Skokie, respectively. The main routes from the north are the Edens, Green Bay Road, and Sheridan Road. Active modes of transportation include miles of sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

Two hospitals are located within Evanston's city limits:

• Evanston Hospital, part of NorthShore University HealthSystem
• Ascension Saint Francis Hospital Evanston, part of Ascension{{cite web| publisher=Ascension| title=Ascension Saint Francis| year=2022| url=https://healthcare.ascension.org/locations/illinois/ilchi/evanston-ascension-saint-francis| accessdate=2022-08-02| archive-date=August 29, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829222332/https://healthcare.ascension.org/locations/illinois/ilchi/evanston-ascension-saint-francis| url-status=live}}

{{Main|List of people from Evanston, Illinois}}

File:Northwestern Arch.jpg]]

A perennial debate in Evanston is the issue of Northwestern University's status as a tax-exempt institution.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northwestern.edu/controller/tax/tax-exempt-status.html|title=Tax Exempt Status: Office of the Controller - Northwestern University|access-date=June 5, 2020|archive-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605022059/https://www.northwestern.edu/controller/tax/tax-exempt-status.html|url-status=live}} In the founding charter of Northwestern University, signed in 1851, the state granted the school an exemption from paying property taxes, and unlike other well-off private universities with statutory exemptions,{{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2D6173EF93BA15752C1A966958260 | title = Harvard Will Pay More To Cambridge in Accord | work = The New York Times | date = November 28, 1990 | access-date = May 2, 2010 | archive-date = September 30, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230930085405/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/28/news/harvard-will-pay-more-to-cambridge-in-accord.html | url-status = live }} it provides its own police services, but not firefighter/paramedic services. It pays water, sewer, communications, real property transfer taxes, and building permit fees, but not property taxes. Northwestern does not make Payments in Lieu of Taxes for the real estate it removes from property tax rolls.

Its backers, like former Evanston mayor and Northwestern alumna Lorraine H. Morton, contend that the benefits of having an elite research institution justify Northwestern's tax status.{{cite news|title=Nu Celebrates Landmark Birthday|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/10/22/nu-celebrates-landmark-birthday/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 22, 2000|first=J Linn|last=Allen|access-date=July 16, 2013|archive-date=March 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301093430/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-10-22/news/0010220428_1_postal-card-postal-service-celebration|url-status=live}} These supporters highlight the fact that Northwestern University is the largest employer in Evanston,Evanston, Illinois#Top employers and that its students and faculty constitute a large consumer base for Evanston businesses. This controversy was revived in 2003 when the university purchased an eight-story office building downtown, removing it from the tax rolls. An advisory referendum put on the April elections ballot, dubbed by supporters as a "Fair Share Initiative", received a majority, but was not passed into ordinance by the City Council.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

During the tenure of Elizabeth Tisdahl as mayor, relationships between the university and Evanston improved. Upon arriving at Northwestern in 2009 president Morton O. Schapiro forged a strong working relationship with Tisdahl;{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2010-04-04-ct-biz-0404-chicago-confidential-20100404-story.html|title=Evanston, Northwestern tensions crumble after cookie gambit|last=Harris|first=Melissa|website=chicagotribune.com|date=April 4, 2010|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428002502/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2010-04-04-ct-biz-0404-chicago-confidential-20100404-story.html|url-status=live}} in 2015, the two announced that Northwestern would begin to donate $1 million annually to benefit city services and programs.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/news/ct-evr-nu-city-fund-tl-1015-20151013-story.html|title=Evanston, Northwestern announce details of $1 million donation|last=Seidenberg|first=Bob|website=chicagotribune.com|date=October 13, 2015|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=May 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504215006/https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/news/ct-evr-nu-city-fund-tl-1015-20151013-story.html|url-status=live}}

• Early after its founding, because of its strong Methodist influence, and its attempt to impose moral rigor, Evanston was called "Heavenston".{{cite web | url = http://www.epl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216&Itemid=327 | title = A Brief History of Evanston | access-date = January 8, 2009 | publisher = Evanston Public Library | archive-date = April 20, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140420105455/http://www.epl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216&Itemid=327 | url-status = live }}
• In the early 20th century Evanston was called "The City of Churches".{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = The Encyclopedia Americana | title = Evanston, Ill. | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NLFPAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA593 | access-date = January 8, 2009 | year = 1918 | volume = X | page = 593 | quote = It is really a residential suburb of Chicago, and called "City of Churches." | archive-date = September 30, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230930085405/https://books.google.com/books?id=NLFPAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA593#v=onepage&q&f=false | url-status = live }}
• The varied works of numerous prominent architects, and many prominent mansions, especially near the lakefront, gave the town by the 1920s the sobriquet "The City of Homes",{{cite web | url = http://www.epl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216&Itemid=327 | title = Welcome to Heavenston | access-date = January 8, 2009 | last = Green | first = Caryn | date = January 2009 | work = North Shore Magazine | archive-date = April 20, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140420105455/http://www.epl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216&Itemid=327 | url-status = live }} a fact often touted by local real estate agents.e.g., {{cite web | url = http://www.chicagorealestate-bw.com/Evanston-real-estate.htm | title = Evanston Real Estate - Evanston MLS | access-date = January 8, 2009 | year = 2007 | publisher = Baird & Warner | archive-date = January 22, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090122220747/http://chicagorealestate-bw.com/Evanston-real-estate.htm | url-status = dead }} Use of the phrase has been attributed to a 1924 speech at the local Kiwanis club.{{cite web | url = http://www.pargroupltd.com/PDF%20profiles/Evanston%20CM%20profile%2008.pdf | title = Evanston CM | access-date = January 8, 2009 | date = January 2009 | publisher = City of Evanston (advertisement for City Manager) | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140718050151/http://www.pargroupltd.com/PDF%20profiles/Evanston%20CM%20profile%2008.pdf | archive-date = July 18, 2014 | df = mdy-all }}
• Since the late 20th century, because of Evanston's activism and often left-of-center politics, it is sometimes humorously (or sarcastically) referred to as "The People's Republic of Evanston".{{cite news | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/surprise-this-bank-refuse_b_146522 | title=Surprise! This Bank Refuses Fed Bailout | last=Reed | first=Robert | work=HuffPost | date=November 26, 2008 | access-date=April 27, 2020 | archive-date=August 15, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815203934/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/surprise-this-bank-refuse_b_146522 | url-status=live }}{{cite news|author=Traffic Guy |title=The Traffic Guy Hears |date=June 11, 2008 |url=http://www.evanstonroundtable.com/rt_061108/index.html |work=Evanston Roundtable |access-date=January 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212032727/http://www.evanstonroundtable.com/rt_061108/index.html |archive-date=December 12, 2008 }}{{cite web | url = http://centralstreetneighbors.com/?q=node/530 | title = CSNA Mayoral Forum Q. #9 (gentrification) & Q.10 (People's Republic of Evanston) / Central Street Neighbors Association | access-date = March 26, 2009 | date = March 23, 2009 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120707064753/http://centralstreetneighbors.com/?q=node/530 | archive-date = July 7, 2012 | url-status = dead }}

{{Portal|Chicago|Illinois}}

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Evanston, Illinois

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{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |publisher = J.C.W. Bailey |location = Chicago |title = Illinois State Gazetteer and Business Directory, for the Years 1864–5 |date = 1864 |oclc = 6867103 |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/illinoisstategaz00bail#page/364/mode/2up |chapter= Evanston |ol = 7082742M }}
• Barr, Mary (2014). [http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/F/bo18337683.html Friends Disappear: The Battle for Racial Equality in Evanston].

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• {{wikivoyage inline|Evanston}}
• {{official website|http://www.cityofevanston.org }}

{{Geographic location

| Center = Evanston

| North = Wilmette

| East = Lake Michigan

| Northwest = Wilmette

| Southwest = Skokie

| Southeast = Rogers Park, Chicago

| South = West Ridge, Chicago

| West = Skokie

}}

{{Evanston, Illinois}}

{{Cook County, Illinois}}

{{Chicagoland}}

{{North Shore (Chicago)}}

{{Great Lakes Megalopolis}}

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Category:1857 establishments in Illinois

Category:Chicago metropolitan area

Category:Cities in Cook County, Illinois

Category:Cities in Illinois

Category:Populated places established in 1857

Category:Illinois populated places on Lake Michigan

Category:Streetcar suburbs