A semi-rural crossroads before the turn of the century, Uptown boomed after the first elevated train service to the area was established in 1901. By the 1920s, Uptown was the city’s fastest-growing neighborhood. Throughout the district, large apartment hotels were erected. As the supply of rooms increased, rents dropped and thousands of single adults moved to the area. Often new to the city, they sought the company of their peers at area restaurants, dance halls, amusement beaches, and movie theaters. Largely through their patronage, Uptown soon became the North Side’s leading retail and entertainment district. Some observers even wondered whether the district would soon eclipse the Loop, just as New York’s Midtown section had begun to eclipse Wall Street.
JAZZ AGE CHICAGO 