Lincoln Square

      Prayer Points

• There has been a renewed interest in church planting in this community. Pray for the churches that are building relationships and sowing seeds and their effectiveness in the community.

• Former business establishments are being converted to lofts. Pray for the residents moving into the lofts to realize their need of the Gospel.

• Pray for the German culture within this area; that they would be reached for Christ and therefore influence their homeland for Christ as well. Pray for the efforts, which help fund, develop, and administer various programs aimed at improving the life of its residents.

• Lincoln Square is home to many art schools, studios, and theaters. Pray that the gifts and talents of these musicians, artists, and actors would point to and draw people toward the glory of God.

      Ethnic Breakdown

• Asian (13.0%)
• Black or African American (4.7%)
• Hispanic or Latino (18.6%)
• White (61.2%)

Neighborhood Background

Lincoln Square began primarily in commercial agriculture through the 1800s. As transportation developed, new residents flooded into Lincoln Square. Among the new residents were many Greeks, whose small businesses set the groundwork for the “new Greektown” after the old Greektown had been displaced.

Industries popped up along the North Western Railway tracks and Ravenswood Avenue, including Abbott Laboratories. Lincoln Square was soon known as “Ravenswood” due to its residential nature. However, in 1949, the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce began promoting a commercial image of the community.

Empty storefronts and the lack of customers following WWII led to the erection of a statue of Abraham Lincoln in 1956 and later the development of the Lincoln Square mall in 1978. The empty storefronts eventually filled up with business owners of various ethnic backgrounds, including Latinos and Asians who found the residential nature of Lincoln Square appealing.