The
Near North Side is one of 77 defined
community areas of
Chicago,
Illinois,
United States. It is the northernmost of the four areas that constitute
Downtown Chicago, the others being the
Near West Side,
Near South Side, and the
Loop. The community area is located north and east of the
Chicago River. To its east is
Lake Michigan, and its northern boundary is the 19th-century city limit of Chicago,
North Avenue. Of the downtown community areas, the Near North Side has the second largest total area, after the Near West Side, the highest number of skyscrapers, and the largest population. With the exception of
Goose Island and the remants of
Cabrini–Green, to the west, the Near North Side is known for its extreme affluence, typified by the
Magnificent Mile,
Gold Coast,
Navy Pier, and its world-famous skyscrapers.