Montclare

First settled by William Sayre in 1836, Montclare was mainly a farming community throughout most of the 19th century. These farmers "used Grand Avenue as their main thoroughfare to the downtown markets in Chicago," a street that is still one of the main roads that cuts through the area. "In 1872 Sayre allowed the Chicago & Pacific Railroad Company right-of-way over his property," and the new railroad access made the community a more desirable place to put down roots. The population of Montclare has slowly, but steadily, increased since then, and recently it has become a melting pot for numerous cultures and ethnicities.