Evanston Street Names

ARNOLD STREET

Named for Isaac N. Arnold (1815-1884), a prominent citizen of Chicago and member of Congress 1861-65, who owned land in the vicinity of where this street is located.

ASBURY

Named for Francis Asbury, first Methodist Bishop in the United States (1745-1816). Both Northwestern University and the village of Evanston were founded by Methodists.

AYARS PLACE

For James Ayars, a citizen of Evanston, once President of Board of Village Trustees; the name of the street was changed to Garnett Place.

BENNETT AVENUE

For Mrs. C. C. Bennett, a sister of John Culyer, now and for many years past a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools.

BENSON AVENUE

For Francis H. Benson, a resident of Evanston in an early day.

BOOMER PLACE

For Norton W. Boomer, for many years principal of a public school in Chicago.

BOTSFORD STREET

For J. K. Botsford of Chicago, who was one of the trustees of the Northwestern University.

BROWN

For Andrew J. Brown, one of Northwestern’s founders. A wealthy real estate dealer; the lot which held his home ran from Maple to Oak, Grove to Lake.

BROWNE AVENUE

For Charles E. Browne, one of the original proprietors of North Evanston.

BURNHAM

For Daniel H. Burnham, Chicago’s city planner and prominent resident of Evanston. He was the designer of Chicago’s waterfront, and the chief architect for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

CENTRAL

The central street in the original village of North Evanston, annexed to Evanston in 1874. Obviously not central to Evanston any more. but the name of the street was retained.

CHANCELLOR STREET

For Chancellor L. Jenks, Jr., a son of Chancellor L. Jenks, a citizen of Evanston

CHICAGO AVENUE

Named because Evanston was adjacent to the fast growing city of Chicago, whose northern limits were at North Avenue, and a long stretch of open country lay between Evanston and Chicago. The road was sandy and its condition so bad that a corporation was formed in 1859 to grade it, and it was then called the gravel road.

CLARK STREET

For John Clark, a member of Rock River Conference, and the minister in charge of Clark Street church.

CLINTON PLACE

Name adopted by city ordinance, February 11, 1902.

COLFAX STREET

For Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the United States, 1869-73.

COLLEGE STREET

Original name of that portion of Davis Street west of Sherman Avenue. Was changed to Davis Street in 1871.

CRAIN STREET

For the Crain family, who were among the earliest settlers of Evanston.

CUSTER

General George Custer, 1839 to 1876, loser at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

DARROW

Named after a prominent African-American mason in Chicago.

DAVIS

Dr. Nathan S. Davis, founder of Northwestern’s Medical School and one of the founders of the American Medical Association, and of the Chicago Academy of Sciences.

DEMPSTER

Dr. John Dempster (1794-1863), first president of Garrett Biblical Institute (1854 to 1863).

DEWEY AVENUE

For two sisters, Electa E. Dewey and Mary J. Dewey, who were teachers in the Jones School, Chicago.

DODGE AVENUE

For Miss Kate Dodge, a teacher in the Jones School, Chicago.

EWING AVENUE

For Adlai T. Ewing, who had control for several years of Ewing's addition to Evanston.

EMERSON

Benjamin Emerson, pioneer resident of Evanston, and major landowner, whose home was east of Ridge.

FLORENCE AVENUE

For Miss Florence Tullis, a teacher in the Jones School, Chicago.

FOSTER STREET

George Foster was one of the earliest settlers in Grosse Point. Dr. John H. Foster owned 340 acres of central Evanston, which he sold to Northwestern University. Randolph S. Foster (1820-1903) was the second President of Northwestern University, 1856-59.

GAFFIELD PLACE

For Eli Gaffield, a pioneer resident of Evanston, one of the first contributors toward the founding of Northwestern University and served on the school board that voted to divide the township into two school districts.

GARRETT

For Mrs. Eliza Garrett, who gave the money to found Garrett Biblical Institute.

GARNETT PLACE

Formerly Ayars Place, named for Thomas H. Garnett, a member of a Negro infantry regiment killed in France in October 1918.

GRANT STREET

Named in honor of Civil War general Ulysses .S. Grant.

GREEN BAY

This is the old Green Bay Trail, the early road from Green Bay, Wisconsin to Fort Dearborn, Illinois.

GREENLEAF

For Luther L. Greenleaf (1821-1886) early trustee and benefactor of Northwestern, one of the founders of the Evanston Free Public Library.

GREY

In 1900 Charles F. Grey offered Evanston the sum of $100,000 to build a library, if the city would furnish the lot. But the city had exceeded its credit limit, and had no money to buy anything. Five years later, Andrew Carnegie furnished $50,000, and Evanston supplied the rest to build the first structure the Library owned. Grey also donated the William Bouguereau painting "At the Fountain" to the Library in 1925, which was on public display until its sale in 1999.

GROVE STREET

Received its name from the grove of giant oak trees, which grew abundantly on it, as well as the old Grove school, the playground of which extended to the street.

HAMILTON STREET

For James G. Hamilton, a resident of Evanston for many years and secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Northwestern University.

HAMLIN STREET

For Leonidas L. Hamlin (1797-1865) who was elected Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844.

HARTZELL STREET

Joseph C. Hartzell was Methodist Bishop of Africa and the hero of a rescue of four men from the wreck of the schooner "Storm" in May 1864.

HAVEN STREET

For Erastus O. Haven (1820-1881), President of the Northwestern University 1869-1872, and was elected a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1881.

HINMAN

For Clark T. Hinman, chosen to be the first president of Northwestern University, who died, however, before the university opened.

HOVLAND COURT

For Jacob S. Hovland, Chicago, who developed the subdivision which opened in 1914, bordered by Church and Emerson Streets, Hartrey and Dodge Avenues.

HURD

Harvey Hurd, prominent lawyer and anti-slavery activist; first president of the village of Evanston after its incorporation in 1863; first president of the Evanston Historical Association. (1898)

INDIAN BOUNDARY LINE

This street follows the line of the boundary established by a treaty with Ottawas, Chippewas and Pottawatomies, August 24, 1816.

ISABELLA STREET

Named by Charles E. Browne after one of his daughters.

JACKSON AVENUE

For A. B. Jackson, long a resident of Rogers Park.

JENKS STREET

For Chancellor L. Jenks (1828-1903) who practiced law in Chicago 1851-67.

JUDSON

Philo Judson (1807-1876), Methodist minister, first business agent of Northwestern, ( 1854-1876) who platted the village of Evanston in 1853-1854.

KEDZIE

John H. Kedzie, who lived on Ridge Avenue, was the first president of the Evanston Free Public Library Board (1873).

KEENEY STREET

For James F. Keeney, for some years a resident of Evanston.

KIRK STREET

For James S. Kirk (1818-1886) who lived in Evanston from 1859 to the time of his death.

LEE STREET

Named by L. C. Pitner for his son, Lee J. Pitner, when “Union Addition” was laid out in 1871.

LEON STREET

Named for Louis Leonhardt, a portion of his name being taken for the purpose.

LIBRARY STREET

That part of Hamlin Street extending from Orrington Avenue to Sherman Avenue, changed to this name because of its proximity to the Lunt Library, by city ordinance, June 21, 1904.

LINCOLN STREET

Obviously for the very popular Abraham Lincoln, who visited Ridgeville Township in 1860. The Main street of South Evanston was renamed Lincoln Street. The name was changed back to Main Street when South Evanston was annexed to Evanston in 1892 because North Evanston, admitted to Evanston in 1874, had a longer Lincoln Street.

LIVINGSTON STREET

Named for Livingston Jenks, a son of Chancellor L. Jenks.

LYONS STREET

For Joseph M. Lyons, a resident of Evanston since the '60s.

MAIN

See LINCOLN, above.

MARCY

Oliver Marcy was Professor of Natural History at Northwestern for 37 years, starting in 1862.

MCDANIEL AVENUE

For Alexander McDaniel (1816-1898) who came to Evanston in 1836 and served as Postmaster at Wilmette 1870-89.

MULFORD

Army Major Edward H. Mulford opened the first jewelry store in Chicago, and was Evanston’s first settler, taking up government land in 1835 in what became Ridgeville Township. He named his 140 acre estate on Ridge (where St. Francis Hospital now stands) "Oakton." It was one of the stops on the post road to Chicago, included a tavern and an inn, as well as the first post office. He was one of the founders of the First Baptist Church, and one of the first Justices of the Peace in Cook County.

NANZIG STREET

Named for Paul Nanzig, son of Reinard Nanzig, who was on the school board and served as county commissioner in Wilmette. Evanston decided to change the name of the street, which started at Central Street and ran to Isabella, to Central Park in 1920 to conform to the name of the street in Chicago.

NATE STREET

Former name of Clinton Place, originally named for Rev. John Nate, a minister of the Methodist Church, long a resident of Evanston.

NOYES

Henry Sanborn Noyes, a member of the original faculty at Northwestern, was acting president of the University from 1860 to 1869.

OAKTON

The name given by Major Mulford to his estate on South Ridge Avenue. Eventually, East and West streets named Oakton were extended from Ridge.

ORRINGTON

For Orrington Lunt, leader of the expedition of Chicago Methodists to find a location for Northwestern University. He was one of the founders of Northwestern and a leading benefactor. A rich grain merchant, he moved to Evanston after the 1871 Chicago fire, and was a charter member and supporter of Garrett Biblical Institute.

PAYNE STREET

For Henry M. Payne, a resident of Chicago.

PITNER

Named for Levi C. Pitner, long time resident of Evanston, a real estate developer, and a preacher in the Methodist Church.

PRATT COURT

For the Pratt family, of whom two brothers, George and Paul, came to Evanston in 1837.

REBA PLACE

Named for Miss Reba Poor, a daughter of John E. Poor.

REESE AVENUE

For Theodore Reese, surveyor, longtime resident of Evanston.

RIDGE

A high terrain left by the prehistoric retreat of Lake Michigan. Oldest street in Evanston, established as a military route in 1832. Route of a stage coach line in 1836, which continued until the railroad came in 1855.

RINN STREET

For Jacob Rinn, longtime resident of Evanston.

SEWARD STREET

Named for William H. Seward, Secretary of State under President Abraham Lincoln.

SHERIDAN

Named in honor of General Philip H. Sheridan, after whom Fort Sheridan was named. A famous Civil War cavalry leader.

SHERMAN

Alson S. Sherman (1811-1903) was mayor of Chicago in 1844, later mayor of Waukegan. One of the incorporators of Northwestern University. and its first vice president. Never lived in Evanston.

SHUMAN STREET

For Andrew Shuman (1830-1890), for many years an editor of the Chicago Evening Journal and Lieutenant Governor of Illinois 1877-81.

SIMPSON

Rev. Matthew Simpson (1811-1884), Bishop in the Methodist Church, orator, who preached Lincoln’s funeral sermon.

STANLEY AVENUE

For B. F. Stanley and name given by C. L. Jenks.

STEWART AVENUE

For John W. Stewart, one of the original owners of North Evanston.

STOCKHAM PLACE

For Mrs. Alice B. Stockham, longtime resident of Evanston.

THAYER STREET

Named by John Culver for his wife, whose maiden name was Thayer.

WARREN STREET

For Henry A. Warren, formerly a resident of Evanston.

WESLEY

John Wesley (1703-1791), an English theological evangelist, the founder of Methodism. The 9 original founders of Northwestern University were Methodists.

WILDER STREET

For Aldin G. Wilder, a lumber dealer in Evanston in 1866, who also subdivided lands in the western part of the city.

WILLARD PLACE

For Frances E. Willard (1839-1898), President of Women's College, Evanston 1870, President of Women's Christian Temperance Union 1879, and President of World's Christian Temperance Union 1888.

Originally published by the Evanston Historical Society with the permission of Joan Costello, its President, and with help from Eden Pearlman, Collection Manager. Updated and revised by Margaret Schatz and Valerie Bernstein; additional research by Joan Edwards.