Evanston sits on Lake Michigan about 12 miles north of the Chicago Loop in Cook County. It borders Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west and Wilmette to the north, and the 2020 census counted 78,110 residents. A 2024 estimate put the figure at 76,006.
The lakefront
Most of what people mean when they describe Evanston starts at the water. The city’s Parks and Recreation pages describe a lakefront path of one mile running from Lee Street beach to Clark Street beach, and the city maintains 76 parks and 50 playgrounds across more than 300 acres in 97 sites. The count of public swimming beaches varies in published sources, so check the city’s lakefront page for the current season.
On that shoreline stands the Grosse Point Lighthouse, a landmark visible from the water and from the park around it. Nearby is the Harley Clarke Mansion.
A university town and a commuter suburb
Northwestern University occupies much of the lakefront north of downtown, and its presence shapes everything from rental housing to the restaurant mix near Davis Street. The city is also well connected: the CTA Purple Line, Metra’s Union Pacific North Line and several bus routes meet at Davis Street, which keeps downtown busy at commuting hours.
Health care and daily life
Two hospitals serve the city: Evanston Hospital, part of NorthShore University HealthSystem, and Ascension Saint Francis Hospital Evanston. Independent restaurants and shops sit a few blocks from national chains and from university facilities, which gives the commercial districts their mixed character.