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Roseland consists of: Rosemoor.
This south side Chicago neighborhood is filled with numerous homes that have great access to scores of excellent schools and plenty of shopping. Roseland inhabitants enjoy lots of public outdoor space and recreational activities found at the various neighborhood parks scattered throughout the residential blocks. Like many Chicago communities, Roseland's properties are characterized by a mixture of architecture and home designs. Split-level houses, wood-frame homes and brick bungalows are most common, with a selection of condos and attached townhomes here and there. Roseland's central commercial area is lined with a good number of shoe stores and fashion outlets that serve just fine for a mini-shopping spree or wardrobe makeover.
Like many Chicago neighborhoods, Roseland’s residential streets present a mixture of architecture and home designs. From the quaint brick bungalow to the spit-level house to the one-story with a tiny pillared front porch, the housing options here are quite diverse and affordable. Condos and townhomes are less common than single-family dwellings in Roseland, so the majority of residents enjoy the privacy and space of their own lot. Roseland homes typically have modest yards, but many are without a garage, meaning those of us with cars might have to park on the street. This is never much of an issue though, as street parking is plentiful in this south side Chicago neighborhood.
Due to the economic downturn Roseland experienced in the 1970s and ‘80s, the quality of housing varies from property to property. Although most of the homes are in good condition, a handful of houses have become run-down and would require very extensive renovations to return them to their original glory. But if you shop around, you’ll find a good number of beautifully maintained homes with manicured lawns and freshly-pruned shrubbery.
As with other south side neighborhoods, real estate in Roseland most commonly leans toward the Cape Cod design with a number of those adorable Chicago bungalows thrown in the mix. There are some new-construction two-stories going up in Roseland and a sizable portion of residential buildings have been split into two- or three-flats.
Ah, the way things used to be. Let’s take a trip back in time and gander at Roseland back in the day. The day in question is sometime in 1849. Let’s say it’s a Tuesday. On this particular Tuesday, a group of recently arrived Dutch settlers found the perfect plot of unsettled land to build their farms. They called their settlement 'de Hooge Prairie,' or High Prairie because it was built on higher and drier ground than other nearby settlements. With the city of Chicago to the north and stockyards to the west, farming flourished in High Prairie, bringing in both prosperity and more settlers.
In 1873, James H. Bowen, president of the nearby Calumet and Chicago Canal and Dock Company (which, by this time, employed a majority of the Roseland population) suggested that the area, now an orderly village abundantly landscaped with flowers, change its name to Roseland. The residents agreed and the name stuck, even after the town was incorporated into Chicago in the 1890s.
During the 1870s, the area around Roseland began to develop. Since it was pretty far from Chicago (at the time) and it had an ever-expanding population that provided a nice supply of workers, it was the perfect place to build factories and other industrial sites. As businesses such as the Calumet and Chicago Canal and Dock Company and the Pullman Car Works moved in, more and more of Roseland’s inhabitants set their farming aside and took to industrial labor.
Fast forward a hundred years: The closing of numerous local factories was detrimental to life in Roseland during the 1970s and ‘80s, as it forced unemployment on numerous residents who relied on the factories for jobs. Although times were tough for many for a while, the neighborhood remained strong with growing community organizations and area outreach groups, and the area, once noted for its topography and later for its flowers, is still a pleasant place to live, and it draws many a Chicago family to its south side setting.
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