Apartments for Rent in Riverdale, IL (352 Rentals)

The area that became known as Riverdale was founded by David Perriam in 1837. The land was later acquired by the Dolton family, who built a ferry across the Calumet River. The family also leased many acres of farmland to a Dutch immigrant named John Ton, an abolitionist who operated a station of the Underground Railroad on his land from 1849 until the end of the Civil War.áAfter the Civil War, Riverdale became a booming center for industrialism, with companies like Sherwin-Williams, the Chicago Drop Forge, and Acme Steel, as well as many construction material businesses, building their factories and plants in the area. Riverdale was annexed by Chicago in 1889, becoming one of the 77 established neighborhoods of the city.áEven after many of the plants and factories that once led Riverdale to economic success closed, the sense of family and community in the area remained strong. Local businesses and a thriving nightlife help keep Riverdale busy, and many families have lived there for generations.