11 miles directly north of the Loop, the Evanston area is one of the most culturally oriented communities on the North Shore. This diverse community has everything a suburban dweller could want. Its lakeside location, convenient shopping, and proximity to Chicago all add to its diverse population.
Evanston has preserved much of its historical charm through such significant buildings as the Gross Point Lighthouse and the Charles Gates Dawes House. The village is home to numerous theater groups, a symphony orchestra, five museums and a number of art galleries and centers. Growth and urbanization have taken their toll on Evanston’s conservative character, a leftover (some say) of an amendment to Northwestern University charter, passed back in 1853 that prohibited the sale of liquor within four miles of Northwestern University. This amendment had a profound and continuing effect on the city, keeping it 'dry' until the 1970s. As a result, Evanston was a staunch supporter of the prohibition movement, and in 1874, the Women's Christian Temperance Union was founded here.
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