Then and Now

The present day City of Berwyn, a western Chicago suburb, was at one time three separate communities: LaVergne, Upsala (also known as Swedetown) and Berwyn. LaVergne was an exclusive, upscale neighborhood of 10-acre lots with well-maintained roads and thousands of transplanted trees. Thomas Baldwin, LaVergne's founder and developer, wanted to attract more residents in his community, so he sold off a narrow passage of land to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad to promote the construction of a train line between LaVergne and the city. A station was later erected that drew more people to the area and by the late 1880s a school was also built in town.

A separate railroad, the Illinois Central, ran just north of LaVergne where a small settlement of Swedish immigrants emerged on the scene in Upsala. The community was revered for their great bakery shops and skilled craft workers-whose Swedish heritage led to the nickname "Swedetown." A third train station was built by two forward-thinking developers who called their stop Berwyn. A tiny downtown district sprouted up at Berwyn and before long several residential clusters justified the installment of streets and sidewalks.

Berwyn was incorporated as village in the early 1900s and then six years later became a city. By 1910, there were approximately 5,800 people living in Berwyn and the town continued to grow with a housing boom that lasted into the 1920s. In 1930, the population was over 47,000 and Berwyn was filled with gorgeous Chicago-style brick bungalows that are still sought-after pieces of property to this day. There are now around 52,000 inhabitants in Berwyn, which has managed to keep its old-fashioned architectural charm while transitioning smoothly into the 21st century. The suburb has a healthy business economy, good schools, a strong local government and active community associations that all strive to make a wonderful place to raise a family, start a career or settle down for retirement.
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Park is the Place

There are three departments in charge of keeping Berwyn's community parks and recreation site up to snuff: the City of Berwyn Recreation Department, the Berwyn Park District and the North Berwyn Park District. In addition to public outdoor space and parklands, the trio of associations also maintains swimming and wading pools, greenhouses and gardens, ponds and creeks, picnic pavilions and memorial fountains, athletic fields and courts, and much more. All three organizations also offer a number of group activities and special events for Berwyn residents of all ages.
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Real Estate

Berwyn residential real estate is best characterized by the classic Chicago bungalow. Rows of the quaint brick homes are found throughout the city, many of which were built during the construction boom in the 1920s. Because of the rapid expansion in Berwyn, the houses were place quite close together to squeeze as many residences into one block as possible. As is typical in Chicago, the neighborhoods in this suburb stick to the standard grid street pattern with a service alley system for garage access and garbage pick-up. Most properties have small backyards between the house and garage and wide stone stoops and front porches leading up to the home from the street.

Detached single-family real estate in Berwyn generally starts at around $140,000 for a small frame house with siding, while brick bungalows are usually priced from $175,000. The higher end of pricing for Berwyn residences is in the upper $400,000s. Attached homes (otherwise known as condos and townhouses) are also part of housing market in Berwyn. Some older units have price tags for under $100,000, but for the most part home buyers will spend between $105,000 and $160,000 for a one-bedroom condo. Larger condos and townhomes can be quite a bit more expensive with prices in the upper $200,000s.
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Berwyn Residential Real Estate Info for Single-Family Detached Homes

Average Sale Price 2005-2006	Average # of Days on the Market	Number of Sales 2005-2006	One Year Price Change	Price Change Since 94
$253,401	72	572	11%	124%

Source: Multiple Listings Service of Northern Illinois

Best Shopping Stops

There are four main commercial business corridors in Berwyn. The most prominent is the Cermak Road Theatre Area where residents enjoy an assortment of retail stores, dining options and services. The South Berwyn Depot District is sort of like the area's historic downtown center, where the train tracks and three Metra stops are concentrated within a couple-block radius. There are a limited number of restaurants and markets in this area, but the majority of the businesses here are service related. The historic Route 66 runs through town and is the site of another Berwyn commercial district called the Ogden Avenue Corridor. The area's retro motif reminds visitors of the 1950s, however, the wide ranging roster of businesses and shops presents locals with a slew of modern conveniences and all the latest and greatest. On the north side of the city is Roosevelt Road Corridor, where the Oak Park suburb begins. This strip holds a good mix of eateries, bars, pizzerias, roadhouses, bakeries and some retail shops, too.
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Schools

St. Odilo School - 2301 S. Clarence Ave - 708-484-0775
St. Leonard School - 3322 S. Clarence Ave - 708-749-3666
Emerson School - 3105 S. Clinton Ave - 708-795-2322
Hiawatha School - 6539 W. 26 Street - 708-795-2327
Freedom Middle School - 3016 Ridgeland Ave. - 708-795-5800
Prairie Oak School - 1427 S. Oak Park Ave - 708-795-2442
Havlicek School - 6401 W. 15 Street - 708-795-2450
Jefferson School - 7035 W. 16 Street - 708-795-2454
Lincoln Middle School - 6432 W. 15 Street - 708-795-2475
Irving School - 3501 S. Kenilworth Ave - 708-795-2334
Komensky School - 2515 S. Cuyler Ave - 708-795-2342
Pershing School - 6537 W. 37 Street - 708-795-2349
Piper School - 2435 S. Kenilworth Ave - 708-795-2364
Heritage Middle School - 6850 W. 31 Street - 708-749-6110
Morton West High School - 2400 S. Home Ave Berwyn, IL 60402
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