Just How Dense Are We? Population and Housing Density in Evanston

Evanston has a total area of 7.73 square miles of land. Within that area, according to the 2000 census, we had a population of 74,239, or 9,584.1 people per square mile, and 30,817 housing units, for a housing density of 3,978.4 units per square mile. How does that relate to other cities and towns? What it means is that Evanston, even 8 years ago, already had one of the highest densities, not just in the metropolitan area, but in the entire Midwest.

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Prairie Trillium

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Prairie trillium (Trillium recurvatum), found in every county in Illinois, has become one of my favorites. A bulb-based lily family member that likes shade and humusy soil in hardwood woodlands, it has three mottled or speckled leaves and a small, delicate dark red flower that appears in mid spring and never fully opens. A shy plant that needs some help to keep the lilies of the valley, scilla, and other bulb-based competition away. Supposedly hard to get going, but reportedly will self-colonize and form large masses given the right conditions.

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Canadian Wild Ginger

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Canadian Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense, as its name might imply, is most commonly found in Canada, where it may have originated. It has spread, and the USDA lists its distribution as throughout most of the eastern half of the US. A hardy shade perennial that needs moisture, it has violet-like leaves on slightly fuzzy stems, and grows about 4" above the ground, forming a nice cover. In masses, it's a good native alternative to pachysandra, and looks beautiful as a low border in front of ferns.

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Bloodroot

I suspect that the scary-sounding name of Sanguinaria canadensis, a member of the poppy family, is the main reason you don't see this shade perennial much in gardens or even in nurseries. I found it listed in some native plant guides as yet another candidate for my shady, moist woodlands area, and finally got some from an elderly greenhouse worker in Chicago who brought me some from her own garden.

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Another New Restaurant Coming to Central Street

The "West Central" business district will be gaining another new restaurant soon. Moving into the old CDK site at 2902 Central will be the Old Neighborhood Grill. Informed Central street sources said it is expected to be a Mediterranean style restaurant which will include an outdoor eating area in the front alcove of the building.

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