It's Curious City, where we take your questions about Chicago and the region, and investigate.

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From WBEZ.

I'm Erin Allen.

When Tristan helped rides around Uptown in Chicago, he notices the small things.

West Carmen Avenue, West Angelely Street, West Stry-

Tristan is a third grader, by the way.

West Winona Street, West Column Avenue, and West Belle Plain Avenue.

But he noticed something a little curious about the Ashland street signs at these particular intersections.

So like Suddyside, it says Boulevard, then Wilson says Avenue.

There are at least eight street signs in Uptown between Winona and Belle Plain

that read Ashland Boulevard instead of Ashland Avenue.

And this got Tristan wondering.

Why is Ashland Avenue sometimes Ashland Boulevard?

Tristan, good observation.

Mostly, Ashland is an avenue.

But ever since the 19th century, some parts have also been designated as a boulevard.

I'm going to dig into why that is in a moment.

But first, how is a boulevard even different from an avenue?

A boulevard is one of the few kinds of streets that has actual legal definition that matters.

This is Bill Savage.

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