To its east is the shore of Lake Michigan, and its northern boundary is the early 19th-century city limit of Chicago, North Avenue.

In 2020 the Near North Side had 105,481 residents, surpassing Lake View as the largest Chicago community area by population.

With the exception of areas near Goose Island in the northwest (which is undergoing development), the Near North Side is known for its affluence, typified by the Gold Coast, Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, and residential skyscrapers.

In the 1780s, in what is now the Near North Side, on the northern banks of the Chicago River near today's Michigan Avenue Bridge, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable built the first known permanent settlement in what was called "Eschecagou."

Especially in the vicinity of Rush and Erie streets, the Near North Side was once known as McCormickville; so named because it is here where many branches of the famous McCormick family of mechanical reaper fame built their mansions in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

It crosses portions of the community areas of southern Lincoln Park, as well as the northern Near North Side, and is part of Chicago's 43rd ward.

However, in the 1950s, most of this area was an enclave to the first emigrants from Puerto Rico to Chicago, who referred to it as part of "La Clark" until commercialization decorated late 1960s shop signs with the name of Old Town.

The neighborhood is home to St. Michael's Church, originally built to serve German immigrants,[4] and one of only 7 to survive the great Chicago fire.

St. Michael's, Holy Name Cathedral, Immaculate Conception, and St. Joseph's Catholic churches all catered to Latinos with a Mass in Spanish.

Many of the streets and alleys, particularly in the Old Town Triangle section, predate the Great Chicago Fire and do not all adhere to the city's typical grid pattern.

This was the first "gay ghetto" in Chicago, predating the current large Lake View neighborhood which also contains the Boystown district.

Old Town is home to the famous Second City improvisational comedy troupe which has launched the careers of many successful comedians and actors.

[6] Additionally, there is seasonal access from the north via the Chicago Water Taxi service dock at the south end of the Cherry Avenue Bridge.

River North was previously named Smokey Hollow, at the turn of the 20th century, due to the many factories and forges in the area.

At the time, Smokey Hollow was a major transportation hub, with railroad tracks linking the ports along the Chicago River to the surrounding areas.

The now mixed-use Merchandise Mart was once a major storage warehouse for goods, and it still has railroad tracks underneath its sprawling structure.

[11] Along with hundreds of art galleries, the area has many taverns, rooftop bars, dance clubs, popular restaurants, and entertainment venues.

The Magnificent Mile is a stretch of North Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street.

The area has a high concentration of the city's major media firms and advertising agencies as well, including the Chicago Tribune newspaper.

[19] Potbelly Sandwich Works likewise was located in the Merchandise Mart complex before moving to the West Loop in 2015.

[20][21] The Near North Side is currently part of the 2nd, 27th, 42nd, and 43rd wards of the Chicago City Council, which are respectively represented by Democratic aldermen Brian Hopkins, Walter Burnett Jr., Brendan Reilly, and Michele Smith.

[22] In the Cook County Board of Commissioners the majority of the area is in the 3rd district, represented by Democrat Bill Lowry.

[35][36] Other countries with missions here include Austria,[37] Bosnia and Herzegovina,[38] Brazil,[39] Bulgaria,[40] Chile,[41] Colombia,[42] Denmark,[43] Egypt,[44] Germany,[45] Greece,[46] India,[47] Republic of Ireland,[48] Italy,[49] Japan,[50] South Korea,[51] Lithuania,[52] Poland,[53] Serbia,[54] Switzerland,[55] Thailand,[56] the United Kingdom,[57] and Ukraine.