Bridgeport
Links of Interest
Distance to Downtown Chicago
3 miles
Average Drive Times
12 minutes to Chicago Loop
32 minutes to O’Hare Airport
17 minutes to Midway Airport
Bridgeport is a south side Chicago community with a diverse culture and a long history. As the onetime residence of five of the city’s mayors and home to the Chicago White Sox’s U.S. Cellular Field, Bridgeport is one of the most coveted south side neighborhoods. Bridgeport real estate consists of single family homes, bungalows, and two- and three-flats as well as condos. The area’s quiet, tree-lined streets offer a mix of old and new architecture including vintage European-styled churches built by original immigrants and contemporary condos that have been rehabbed in recent years.
Bridgeport’s history involves many different cultures and ethnicities and has much to do with the Chicago River. In the 1830’s, Irish immigrants, many of whom helped to build the Erie Canal, came to Chicago to work on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. There were not enough funds for the project so the workers were issued land scrips instead of cash. In turn, many of the workers bought land where the north end of the canal met the south branch of the Chicago River. This land is known today as Bridgeport because of its proximity to a bridge on the river that was too low for boats to pass under. After the 1830’s, immigrants from other countries including Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Lithuania flooded the area. Today Bridgeport is primarily a residential neighborhood that resembles this working class culture.
Bridgeport’s diverse culture means one thing for food connoisseurs: a great variety of cuisines to choose from. For some casual American cuisine with a New Orleans twist, try the family-owned Cobblestones Bar & Grill. Trattoria 31 offers home-cooked, traditional Italian cuisine in an intimate setting. The Healthy Food Lithuanian Restaurant has been serving Lithuanian food reminiscent of grandma’s cooking since 1938. For an interesting presentation of Pan-Asian cuisine, try Han 202. This upscale establishment offers a unique five-course dinner for $20. White Sox fans need not look far for a place to catch the Pale Hose in action or celebrate a victory. Jimbo’s Lounge, just north of The Cell, is a great place to grab a beer and some bar food. Mitchell’s Tap is another original and authentic south side pub.
In addition to U.S. Cellular Field, Bridgeport has other parks and green spaces for recreational activities, namely Armour Square Park and Wilson Park. The former is named after the Armour Brothers who once owned Chicago’s largest meatpacking plant and was designed in 1905 by Daniel Burnham and Frederick Law Olmsted. Today the park has plenty of space for walking trails, basketball courts, baseball fields, a fitness center, and a community room. Wilson Park is a smaller area that offers sports programs, summer camps, and a senior citizens club.
Bridgeport residents have plenty of transportation options. Two highways, the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) and the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94), connect residents to the downtown area and the suburbs. A number of CTA buses serve the area as well. The Red Line and Orange Line of the CTA’s “El” train also serve Bridgeport residents. The Red Line stops at U.S. Cellular Field while the Orange Line has two stops at Halsted and Ashland.
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