In the 2000s, the term “Jewish Quarter” spread to this area, partly referring to the district’s historical past. From the 19th century onwards, important institutions of the Jewish community in Budapest were indeed concentrated here, although it is important to note that the Jewish population was actually present in every district of the capital.
The tragic historical significance of the area is due to the fact that the Great Pest Ghetto was established here in 1944. The Jewish population was crowded together in inhumane conditions in the area bordered by Király Street, Kertész Street, Dohány Street and Károly Boulevard, while the non-Jewish residents were deported. The ghetto's population reached 70,000.
Initially, the area was covered with kitchen gardens and cabbage fields. The first significant buildings appeared in the 1860s. In 1866, the orphanage of the Hungarian Women's National Association was built at 29 Damjanich Street. At the end of the decade, the depot complex for the horse railway was completed at 19 Damjanich Street.
Among the first significant buildings still standing today is the Budapest National Institute for the Jewish Deaf and Dumb, built between 1876-77 on today's Bethlen Square. The first seven buildings of the University of Veterinary Medicine were completed in 1881, and in 1882 the classicist villa of fashion merchant Sámuel Káry stood at today's Dózsa György út 74. Until the mid-1880s, only a few significant buildings stood in the area. The first elements of the street network also began to emerge at this time, but the current street structure was not fully formed until the 1890s.
The development of the residential area began in the second half of the 1880s and took about 25 years. The characteristic buildings of the area were two- or three-story tenement houses with circular corridors.
The name of the area “Chicago” dates back to 1902, when Dr. József Abonyi first used the term at a social gathering. There are several theories about the origin of the name. According to one, it may refer to the rapid development of the area, which was reminiscent of the development of Chicago in the United States. According to another theory, it may be related to the poor public safety of the area, which made the area synonymous with metropolitan crime.
The development of Külső-Erzsébetváros is a good example of the rapid urbanization of Budapest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and how an agricultural area was transformed into a densely populated urban district in a few decades. This process reflects the dynamic growth of the capital at that time and the social changes that led to the emergence of the modern metropolis.
Ligetváros is a part of Budapest's 7th district, Erzsébetváros, located near the City Park. The area is bordered by István utca, Dózsa György út, Damjanich utca and Rottenbiller utca. The name spread in the early 2000s, mainly at the initiative of real estate agencies and investors, to distinguish the area from the less advantageous parts of Külső-Erzsébetváros. The best-known street of Ligetváros is the patina Damjanich utca, which is also the main shopping street of the area. The name gradually becomes part of the identity of the people living here, strengthening the sense of community. The development of the district is closely linked to the renewal of the City Park, which increases the attractiveness and value of the area.
Ligetváros is thus transformed into a part of the city with a unique character, combining the historical atmosphere with modern city life, taking advantage of the proximity of the City Park.
