Reviews & Comments
Geneva, IL
Geneva East and West sides -
8/21/2013The social rift really does exist in Geneva and it’s been around for over 100 years. When I first moved here 25 years ago I was told by a local politician the east and west side social rift started in the early 1900’s when the native west side Protestant farmers didn’t care for the new Catholic settlers moving into the east side of town. Around the turn of the century Geneva was booming with industry and several poor Catholic immigrants came to the area looking for work. Well, now the year is 2013 and you would think we have put this type of prejudicial behavior behind us. I have had the pleasure to live on both sides of this town and I can assure you this stereotype still exists between the two sides. It is believed among the locals the east side is where the low to middle income blue collar people live and the west side is where the white collar upper income live. Living on both sides of this town I can assure you this is not true but unfortunately this stereo type has gotten so bad over recent years that when I tell someone from another town I live in Geneva they ask me what side of town I live on. As with all prejudice people this behavior comes from a small minority of people acting badly who believe social prejudice is acceptable behavior. Both sides of town have a lot to offer; on the east side the people tend to be grounded to their home but enjoy walking, jogging, and biking around town and are usually very good neighbors. On the west side the people like to be seen around town eating out or shopping around town. In comparison, the eastsiders are more neighborly. The west side of town is known for Third Street, shopping, restaurants, the train station, heavy traffic, and showy people. The east side of town is known for the bike path, forest preserve, Cougars baseball, and friendly people. Geneva is know for having great festivals year round and it is a great place to raise children. However, when they hit their teenage years there is not a lot of things for teenagers to do in this town. Another negative is both sides of town are known for being over taxed! I hope you enjoy whatever side you visit or live.
Geneva, IL
re: Geneva, IL quality of life - 4/18/2009 -
8/20/2013There are definitely two very different social classes roaming this town. I grew up on Chicago’s south side so I know a little something about social rifts when it comes to the side of town you live on. For the last 25 years I have lived in Geneva and I have lived on both sides of this town. When I first moved here I was told the east and west social rift started over 100 years ago when the native west side Protestant farmers didn’t like the new Catholic settlers moving into the east side of town. Well, here is my observation of the two sides today. On the east side the majority of the people are grounded and when they do go out (rarely) its places like Chili’s or the local Chinese buffet. On the west side the majority of the people are pretentious. They like to be seen around town and I can always recognize westy women during Christmas time wearing their ugly Christmas sweaters and the men all look like their wife dressed them. For the most part the east side people are very friendly and willing to help a neighbor in need. When you are on the east side of town you will always see people jogging, walking biking and neighbors talking in the street. In comparison, the westy’s are not very neighborly. I truly believe the saying “keeping up with the Jones’s” originated on the west side of town. The west side of town is known for Third Street, shopping, restaurants, traffic, and showy people. The east side of town is known for the bike path, forest preserve, Cougars baseball, and friendly people. Both sides are known for being over taxed! I hope you enjoy whatever side you visit or live.