View source for Halsted Street

{{short description|Major north-south street in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.}}
{{about|the section of Illinois Route 1 in Chicago|the entire route|Illinois Route 1}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{one source|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox street
|name           = Halsted Street
|image          = North Halsted, Chicago 2015-120.jpg
|caption        = North Halsted, Chicago in 2015
|alternate_name = 800 West
|former_names   = 8th Avenue
|part_of        = {{jct|state=IL|IL|1}} from Route 1 Cutoff / Parkside Avenue in [[Chicago Heights, Illinois|Chicago Heights]] to I-57 in Washington Heights, Chicago
|length_mi      = 
|location       = [[Chicago Heights, Illinois|Chicago Heights]]&ndash;[[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], Illinois, United States
|direction_a    = South
|terminus_a     = 26th Street in [[Chicago Heights, Illinois|Chicago Heights]]
|junction       = {{plainlist|
* {{jct|state=IL|US|30}} in Chicago Heights
* {{jct|state=IL|IL|1}} in Chicago Heights
* {{jct|state=IL|I-Toll|80|I-Toll|290}} in [[East Hazel Crest, Illinois|East Hazel Crest]]
* {{jct|state=IL|US|6}} in [[Harvey, Illinois|Harvey]]
* {{jct|state=IL|IL|83}} in Harvey
* {{jct|state=IL|I|57|IL|1}} in Washington Heights, Chicago
* {{jct|state=IL|US|12|US|20}} in Washington Heights, Chicago
}}
|direction_b    = North
|terminus_b     = Grace Street at [[Broadway (Chicago)|Broadway]] (3800 North) in Lake View, Chicago
}}

'''Halsted Street''' is a major north-south street in the U.S. city of [[Chicago, Illinois]].

==Location==
In [[Streets and highways of Chicago#Grid|Chicago's grid system]], Halsted Street marks 800 West, {{convert|1|mi|km}} west of [[State Street (Chicago)|State Street]], from Grace Street (3800 N) in [[Lakeview, Chicago|Lakeview]] south to the city limits at the [[Little Calumet River]] (13000 S) in [[West Pullman, Chicago|West Pullman]], a length of 168 north-south Chicago blocks. (From Grace north to Lawrence Avenue (4800 N) in [[Uptown, Chicago|Uptown]], 800 W is marked by Clarendon Avenue.)

==Route description==
===North Side===
In [[Lakeview, Chicago|Lakeview]] Halsted passes through Wrigleyville, as intersecting with [[Addison Street]], it is only two blocks east of [[Wrigley Field]] home of the [[Chicago Cubs]]. Halsted is then lined with restaurants, [[bar (establishment)|bar]]s and [[gay bar]]s and clubs as one enters [[Lakeview, Chicago#Northalsted (Boystown)|Boystown]], Chicago's main [[gay]] and [[lesbian]] [[gay village|community]], running as far as [[Belmont Avenue (Chicago)|Belmont Avenue]]. This area also contains numerous theaters and comedy clubs. As it continues south past [[Diversey Parkway (Chicago)|Diversey]] (2800 N), it goes past [[DePaul University]] and through the [[Lincoln Park, Chicago|Lincoln Park]] area, as a primary thoroughfare through the community area. South of [[Armitage Avenue (Chicago)|Armitage Avenue]], it passes two notable theaters: [[Steppenwolf Theatre Company|Steppenwolf]] and the Royal George.

At [[North Avenue (Chicago)|North Avenue]], Halsted passes Clybourn Avenue, through the [[Old Town, Chicago|Old Town area]]. The former site of the [[Cabrini–Green]] housing project is at Halsted and [[Division Street (Chicago)|Division]] (1200 N) in the [[Near North Side, Chicago|Near North Side]] neighborhood. Halsted Street has two bridges to mark its passage over [[Near North Side, Chicago#Goose Island|Goose Island]]; it is one of only two streets to completely traverse this, the [[Chicago River]]'s only island.<ref name="Halsted">{{google maps |title=Overview map of Halsted Street |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/S+Halsted+St,+Chicago+Heights,+IL+60411/41.9511969,-87.649608/@41.7511848,-87.8750858,10.21z/data=!4m16!4m15!1m10!1m1!1s0x880e1be74827ceff:0x771bc051f31f26e0!2m2!1d-87.637154!2d41.4915791!3m4!1m2!1d-87.6355587!2d41.5102214!3s0x880e1943b183a77f:0xb705a30c52db849b!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0?entry=tts |access-date=August 17, 2023 }}</ref>

===Near West===
Continuing south, Halsted soars high above feeder ramps to the [[Kennedy Expressway]], [[Union Pacific Railroad]] and [[Canadian National Railway]] and finally the [[Kennedy Expressway]] itself to enter the [[West Loop]]. One then passes through Chicago's [[Greektown, Chicago|Greektown]] at Jackson Blvd (300 S). South of a high bridge over the [[Eisenhower Expressway]], Halsted forms the eastern border of the [[University of Illinois at Chicago]]. North of Greektown is the headquarters for [[Weigel Broadcasting]] (owner of [[MeTV]]) and its local television stations ([[WCIU-TV]], [[WWME-CD]], and [[WMEU-CD]]), which are appropriately addressed at 26 N. Halsted Street, to honor WCIU-TV's channel number.

The Jane Addams [[Hull House]], America's first settlement house, was located at Polk (800 S) and Halsted. The "Hull House Neighborhood," which was served by the [[Jane Addams]] settlement house, consisted of recently arrived immigrants at the turn of the 20th century.

Taylor Street (1000 S) was the port-of-call for Chicago's Italian American immigrants and became known as Chicago's Little Italy. Italians were the only ethnic group that remained after the exodus of Jews, Greeks, Irish, etc. that began shortly before the Great Depression of the 1930s. Greektown and Maxwell Street business establishments continue to exist as remnants of the mass emigration of Southern Europeans, terminated by an act of Congress in 1924.

South of an underpass allowing Halsted to cross the [[BNSF Railway]] tracks at 16th street, parallel to the [[Dan Ryan Expressway]], Halsted grazes the eastern edge of the [[Pilsen, Chicago|Pilsen]] neighborhood, then crosses the [[Chicago River]]'s south branch.<ref name="Halsted"/>

===South Side and south suburbs===
Here Halsted Street enters [[Bridgeport, Chicago|Bridgeport]], traditionally a working-class [[South Side Irish|Irish]], [[Lithuanian-American|Lithuanian]] and [[Italian-American|Italian]] community, it has been home to five of the city's mayors. Continuing south, Halsted passes between the borders of [[New City, Chicago#Back of the Yards|Back of the Yards]], which lies to the west side of Halsted from 40th to 55th Streets, and [[New City, Chicago#Canaryville|Canaryville]], which lies on the east side of Halsted between 40th and 49th Streets. Both Canaryville and Back of the Yards historically housed many [[Union Stock Yards]] workers. The Stockyards themselves were located to the west of Halsted between Pershing (39th) and 47th. Further south, Halsted Street passes into [[Englewood, Chicago|Englewood]]. [[Kennedy-King College]] has its campus in the heart of Englewood at 63rd Street and Halsted Street. Further south, Halsted intersects with 71st Street, which was honorarily named for [[Emmett Till]], a victim of the violence of white supremacy in the United States. Just south of [[95th Street (Chicago)|95th Street]] is the [[Carter G. Woodson]] regional branch of the [[Chicago Public Library]]. [[Illinois Route 1]] begins at Halsted Street's interchange with [[Interstate 57]] (at 99th Street) on the far south side, and follows Halsted through much of its length through the suburbs.

Leaving Chicago and entering the village of [[Riverdale, Illinois|Riverdale]] at the Little Calumet River near 129th St, Route 1 breaks off and is called Chicago Road, then Dixie Highway, ending at the [[Ohio River]], at the border with the state of [[Kentucky]].  Halsted Street continues through downtown [[Chicago Heights, Illinois|Chicago Heights]] and crosses the [[U.S. Route 30|Lincoln Highway]]. The road ends at 26th Street at the Chicago Heights–[[Steger, Illinois|Steger]] line. However, Halsted Street returns at 30th Street and continues south (marked as '''Halsted Boulevard''' south of 34th Street) before ending at 37th Street in Steger.<ref name="Halsted"/><ref name="Halsted Steger">{{google maps |title=Overview map of Halsted Street (Steger) |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/41.4770427,-87.6390438/41.4641114,-87.6387214/@41.4711933,-87.6426796,15.42z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-87.6389814!2d41.4703381!3s0x880e1bbd8d861df9:0xb96f36cfb53976b!1m0!3e0?entry=tts |access-date=August 17, 2023 }}</ref>

==Public transportation==
[[File:CTA bus stop at UIC-Halsted station (May 2025).jpg|thumb|CTA bus stop at the Halsted Street entrance of UIC–Halsted station]]
Halsted Street is served by major transportation lines.

On the [[Chicago "L"]], the [[Red Line (CTA)|Red]], [[Brown Line (CTA)|Brown]], and [[Purple Line (CTA)|Purple Lines]] run nearby on the North Side. Stations along Halsted Street appear on the Red Line ({{cta|North/Clybourn}}), the [[Blue Line (CTA)|Blue Line]] ({{cta|Grand|Blue}} and {{cta|UIC–Halsted}}), the [[Green Line (CTA)|Green Line]] ({{cta|Halsted|Green}} at 63rd Street), and the [[Orange Line (CTA)|Orange Line]] ({{cta|Halsted|Orange}} at Archer Avenue). Three [[Metra]] [[commuter rail|commuter lines]] directly serve Halsted Street: the [[BNSF Line]] ([[Halsted Street station]] at 16th Street), the [[Rock Island District|Rock Island Line]] ([[Gresham station]] at 87th Street), and the Blue Island branch of the [[Metra Electric District]] ([[West Pullman station]] at 121st Street).<ref name="rtamap">{{cite web |title=RTA System Map |url=https://www.rtachicago.org/uploads/images/general/RTA-System-Map.pdf |publisher=Regional Transportation Authority |date=February 2024 |access-date=6 September 2024}}</ref>

Three [[Chicago Transit Authority|CTA]] bus routes provide service along Halsted Street: '''8 Halsted''' between Broadway/Waveland and 79th Street, '''8A South Halsted''' between the {{cta|79th}} Red Line station and Halsted/119th (with select trips continuing to 127th/Lowe), and the '''108 Halsted/95th''' between the {{cta|95th/Dan Ryan}} Red Line terminal and 127th/Lowe. [[Pace (transit)|Pace]] provides suburban bus service along Halsted Street south of 95th Street. The '''352 Halsted''' route operates 24/7 between 95th/Dan Ryan station and the Chicago Heights Bus Terminal in [[Chicago Heights, Illinois]]. The bus route serves a major transfer hub at [[Harvey Transportation Center]] in [[Harvey, Illinois]]. The 359 Robbins/South Kedzie Avenue also runs along Halsted between 95th/Dan Ryan station and 124th Street before turning west.<ref name="rtamap"/>

==Etymology==
The street derives its name from William H. and Caleb O. Halsted, Philadelphia bankers who made large investments in Chicago real estate through [[William B. Ogden]], Chicago's first mayor. The street ran through their property, and they ceded valuable rights to the city.

Halsted has had several names, originally known as "Egyptian Road" because it led to the [[Southern Illinois|Little Egypt]] area of Illinois, it was subsequently known as First Street, then Dyer Street, after [[Charles Volney Dyer]], a prominent Chicago physician and [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]].<ref>Hayner, Don and McNamee, Tom  ''Streetwise Chicago, A History of Chicago Street Names'' Loyola University Press, 1988. {{ISBN|0-8294-0597-6}}</ref>

==Major Intersections==
{{Jcttop|county=Cook|state=IL|length_ref=<ref name="Halsted"/>}}
{{ILint
|location=Chicago Heights
|lspan=3
|mile=0.0
|road=26th Street
|notes=Southern terminus
}}
{{ILint
|mile=1.0
|road={{jct|state=IL|US|30|name1=[[Lincoln Highway in Illinois|Lincoln Highway]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{ILint
|type=concur
|mile=1.7
|road={{jct|state=IL|IL|1|dir1=south}}
|notes=Southern end of IL 1 concurrency
}}
{{ILint
|location=East Hazel Crest
|mile=6.0
|road={{jct|state=IL|I-Toll|80|I-Toll|294|name2=Tri-State Tollway|city1=Joliet}}
|type=toll
|notes=I-80/I-294 exit 2
}}
{{ILint
|location=Harvey
|lspan=2
|mile=7.6
|road={{jct|state=IL|US|6|name1=[[159th Street (Chicago)|159th Street]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{ILint
|mile=9.2
|road={{jct|state=IL|IL|83|name1=147th Street / Sibley Boulevard}}
|notes=
}}
{{ILint
|location=Chicago
|lspan=5
|type=concur
|mile=15.5
|road={{jct|state=IL|I|57|I|94|to2=to}}<br>{{jct|state=IL|IL|1|dir1=ends}}
|notes=I-57 exit 357, northern end of IL 1 concurrency
}}
{{ILint
|mile=16.0
|road={{jct|state=IL|US|12|US|20|name2=[[95th Street (Chicago)|95th Street]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{ILint
|mile=26.8
|road={{jctname|state=IL|US-Hist|66|name1=[[Jackson Boulevard]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{ILint
|mile=30.0
|road={{jctname|state=IL|IL|64|name1=[[North Avenue (Chicago)|North Avenue]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{ILint
|mile=33.6
|road=[[Broadway (Chicago)|Broadway]] / Grace Street
|notes=Northern terminus
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=toll,concur}}

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|Chicago}}
*{{portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.northalsted.com/ Northalsted Merchants Association]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070429041019/http://www.depaul.edu/about/campuses/lincoln_park.asp DePaul University - Lincoln Park campus]
*[http://www.uic.edu University of Illinois at Chicago]
*[https://archive.today/19970127205912/http://www.openair.org/oldmax/oldmax.html Old Maxwell Street Market]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070611121137/http://www.bync.org/site/ Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council]

{{Streets in Chicago}}

[[Category:Streets in Chicago]]