15 Fun Facts About Evanston

Evanston Fun Facts
  1. Evanston was named in 1857 in honor of John Evans, a central founder of Northwestern. 
     
  2. During the Civil War, Evanston fought on the side of the abolitionists. 

  3. Evanston was formally incorporated in 1863.

  4. Northwestern was founded before the city of Evanston was. 

  5. From 1858 until 1972, Evanston was a dry community, and it wasn’t until 1984 that the City Council voted to allow retail liquor stores.  

  6. In 1855, Northwestern University held its first classes, with 10 students and 2 faculty members.

  7. Evanston is the birthplace of Tinkertoys.

  8. The “ice cream sundae” originated here.  Well, Evanston claims it did….but so does New York, Wisconsin and Ithaca!

  9. The first NCAA basketball championship final was hosted in Evanston in 1939.

  10. More than 60 films have been shot here, some of which include: Sixteen Candles, Dennis the Menace, Road to Perdition, Home Alone 2 & 3, and Contagion.

  11. With it’s phenomenal lakefront, Evanston is home to six Lake Michigan beaches: Lighthouse Beach, Clark Street Beach, Greenwood Street Beach, Lee Street Beach, South Boulevard Beach & Lincoln Street Beach.

  12. Evanston has 76 parks and 50 playgrounds.  

  13. 98% of Evanston households are within half a mile of green space.  

  14. There are 268 acres of park area, 147 miles of streets and 76 miles of alleys.

  15. Two train systems serve Evanston.  The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) purple line has seven stops here, and the Metra’s Union Pacific North Line has three stops here. 

  16. The amazing Downtown Evanston Farmers Market hosts nearly 60 vendors every spring and summer. 

Brad Malow
THE MALOW TEAM @ COMPASS
Licensed Real Estate Broker
[email protected]
847.868.3070


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