Western Avenue

Western Avenue is a street within the city of Chicago. Western Avenue extends south as a continuous road to the Dixie Highway at Sibley Boulevard (Illinois Route 83) in Dixmoor, giving the road a total length of . Western Avenue, after becoming into Asbury Ave, runs out on the north side at Howard Street Road in Chicago and on the south side at Crete-Monee Road in Crete. However, Western Avenue extends intermittently through the Southland to the Will/Kankakee county border in unincorporated Will Township. Within Chicago's grid street system, Western Avenue is 2400 West, three miles west of State Street (0 East/West). Western Avenue is the longest continuous road in Chicago. Western Avenue becomes Asbury Avenue at Howard Street at the Chicago/Evanston border and then runs out. Unlike Pulaski Road, which was originally Crawford Avenue in both the city and suburbs, Western was always the name in the city. Asbury is only used in Evanston. In the suburbs, Western Avenue constitutes the boundary between several of Cook County's southern townships. North of 135th Street, Worth Township is on the west and Calumet Township is on the east; from 135th to 183rd Streets, Bremen Township is on the west and Thornton Township is on the east; and south of 183rd Street, Rich Township is on the west and Bloom Township is on the east. History From 1851 to 1869, Western Avenue delineated the western edge of the city of Chicago. Being at the edge of town, it became a picnic spot, and Riverview Park was built at the intersection of Western and Belmont Avenues. The amusement park remained open from 1904 until 1967. The park's property is now home to the Riverview Plaza shopping center, the Belmont District Chicago Police Station, and DeVry University.