Save yourself the long flight and high expense of a trip to Sweden and visit Andersonville instead.

This active and charming community has roots that date back to the early 1800s when Swedish farmers began settling there.

Today the community has diversified greatly, but many Swedish shops, restaurants and bakeries remain, helping to add some old world flavor to a very hip downtown area.

The community of Andersonville is bounded by Winnemac (5033 N) to the south, Elmdale (6000 N)) to the north, Ravenswood (1800 W) to the west, and Magnolia (1250 W) to the east.

The neighborhood of 28,522 (according to the 2000 census) is a mix of families, single young professionals and professional couples, says Keller Williams Realtor Steve Acoba. While the majority of Andersonville’s residents rent, buyers are very present and drawn here because of the wide range of housing types and prices.

“I think the things that I like about it the most are its proximity to the lake and also the amount of amenities. It makes it really appealing for a lot of different types of buyers. Everything is just right there,” Acoba says. “There’s stuff for first time buyers to families raising small children.”

Families with children, or planning for them, may be attracted the schools in Andersonville, which include Sacred Heart, St. Gregory grade school and elementary school, and the new Rogers Park Montessori School at Balmoral and Ravenswood. Pierce Elementary and Senn High School are the nearest public schools.

First time buyers can find a one-bedroom condo for around $212,000. Two and three bedroom condos are also abundant and single family homes average $799,000.

Jan Baxter moved to Andersonville more than 40 years ago. She raised two chidlren here and became owner of the Landmark of Andersonville.

“It really does offer everything a suburb has," she said. "There’s space. I love how it has grown. You can have a house with a backyard and a garage. It’s a very live and let live community. Everybody gets along.”

And there is a strong sense of camaraderie, she adds.

“The people are very nice. It’s a neighborhood that works within itself and you have neighbors and you know their names and you talk to them. It’s a very comfortable place to live.”