Basics on finding a neighborhood

There are over two hundred neighborhoods and seventy-seven communities in Chicago! We have tried to make it easy for you to find a neighborhood. If you have an address, the best method of finding the neighborhood quickly and easily is to use the Google Map below. Just enter the address in the box - it has "Chicago, Illinois" in it at present, but you can easily change it to your address. After you enter the address, just press the Click button and Google Maps will take you to your address. Once there, you might have to zoom out a little to find the name of the neighborhood. It will be nearby. BTW - Use the minus sign in the lefthand corner of the map to zoom out. When you have the name of the neighborhood, you can learn more about it or sign in using Facebook and start building your neighborhood community. As part of the community you can start a petition, plan a block party or work to green the common areas. Wherever your imagination - or necessity - takes you.

How to use Google Maps

You can find a geolocation (the point on the map) by entering an address in the search box or by searching using the zoom in and zoom out buttons. The directional arrows work well too. Google Maps can also be moved using your curser. If you want to center the map, press the Click button with "Chicago, Illinois" in the address box. After you enter the address, just press the Click button and Google Maps will take you to your address. Once there, you might have to zoom in or zoom out a little to find the name of the neighborhood. It will be nearby. Use the plus/minus sign icon boxes in the lefthand corner of the map to zoom. To find a neighborhood using Google Maps, click here!

How to use Google Earth

Google Earth is for explorers! The controls are a bit more sophisticated than Google Maps, and you will have to roll over them to see them more clearly. Experiment by moving your curser around. Try the zoom in and zoom out buttons. Once you have mastered the controls start searching for a neighborhood by looking for landmarks and street signs. Left click your mouse, and a marker will popup with the name of the neighborhood. Parenthetically, most new computers have Google Earth already installed. If you do not have it on your machine, you can download it for free from Google Earth.
To find a neighborhood using Google Earth, click here!

 

Choose a neighborhood

Do you want to know more about Chicago? Each neighborhood has its own character - the people and places that make a neighborhood feel like home or a fascinating place to visit. Learn about a neighborhood by clicking one from the list.

 

Build a community for your neighborhood . . . and you will build a neighborhood for your community.

Through Chicago and Friends members can get to know their neighborhood and neighbors. They can work to improve their communities, start initiatives, work with city services to fix problems . . . or simply make friends. They learn about the people and places in their communities, and they contribute to the public face of their neighborhood. They can support their neighborhoods through events. They can be proactive, reach out, create green initiatives. Or they can simply throw a party!

Do you want to become more active in your community, but you do not know where to start? Check out the neighborhood groups. If you do not see a group that you like – start your own. Chicago and Friends provides the communication tools to get your group noticed in Facebook and Chicago and Friends while protecting your privacy. Learn about your neighborhood - become a member of Chicago and Friends.

Groups

Chicago and Friends provides a URL for each group. Groups can be private or public. Groups can have their own Facebook page or Facebook group. Neighbors can connect to the Facebook groups and receive status updates without distributing their other Facebook activity to their neighbors. So members can use the Facebook newsfeeds to reach their neighbors when they want and on their own terms. Privacy and connectivity.

Privacy

Each neighborhood in Chicago is like a separate small town. And yet it can be hard to connect. Large social media websites are terrific to connect with close friends and family, but you can lose some of your privacy in the process. Chicago and Friends is an interface between the tremendous network Facebook has built and maintaining your privacy