The Oakland neighborhood in Chicago was originally part of the settlement of Cleaverville, named after businessman Charles Cleaver. It was a community that grew out of a soap factory and was a company town that grew to include commissary, church, town hall as well as homes for local employees of the factory.
A portion of the area was incorporated into Chicago in 1863, and the remaining area in 1889.
The area was renamed Oakland by developers responsible for subdividing it in 1871. When the railroad was built into the area in 1881 new employment opportunities led to increased settlement. For a short few years, many of the city’s elite lived in the area before moving.
With lake front access along their eastern border, along with historic greystone buildings, the area has been seeing renewed attention from residents and developers alike.
