Suburbs of Chicago

Suburbs of Chicago are a collection of cities, villages, and towns that surround Chicago, the third-most populous city in the United States, and are located in the Chicago metropolitan area. The suburbs are home to many notable institutions, including Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and Argonne National Laboratory. Many suburbs, such as Evanston, Illinois, Oak Park, Illinois, and Naperville, Illinois, have their own unique character and attractions, including the Art Institute of Chicago's satellite location in Western Springs, Illinois. The suburbs are also home to many major companies, including McDonald's in Oak Brook, Illinois, United Airlines in Willis Tower, and Caterpillar Inc. in Deerfield, Illinois.

Introduction

The suburbs of Chicago are a diverse and complex region, with over 200 municipalities, including Arlington Heights, Illinois, Schaumburg, Illinois, and Bolingbrook, Illinois. The suburbs are home to many different types of communities, ranging from affluent towns like Lake Forest, Illinois and Highland Park, Illinois, to working-class cities like Cicero, Illinois and Berwyn, Illinois. The suburbs are also home to many different types of industries, including healthcare companies like Abbott Laboratories in Abbott Park, Illinois, and technology companies like Motorola Solutions in Schaumburg, Illinois. Many suburbs, such as Des Plaines, Illinois and Park Ridge, Illinois, are also home to major transportation hubs, including O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Executive Airport.

Geography and Climate

The suburbs of Chicago are located in the Midwestern United States, in the Chicago metropolitan area, which includes Cook County, Illinois, DuPage County, Illinois, Kane County, Illinois, Lake County, Illinois, McHenry County, Illinois, and Will County, Illinois. The suburbs are situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, and are bounded by the Indiana Dunes National Park to the east, and the Illinois River to the west. The climate in the suburbs is characterized by cold winters and warm summers, with significant precipitation throughout the year, similar to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Detroit, Michigan. Many suburbs, such as Glenview, Illinois and Northbrook, Illinois, have their own parks and nature preserves, including the Skokie Lagoons and the Busse Woods Forest Preserve.

History of Suburbanization

The history of suburbanization in the Chicago area dates back to the late 19th century, when cities like Hyde Park, Chicago and Rogers Park, Chicago began to develop as streetcar suburbs. The construction of the Illinois Central Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad facilitated the growth of suburbs like Hinsdale, Illinois and Clarendon Hills, Illinois. The post-World War II period saw a massive expansion of the suburbs, with the construction of new highways like the Kennedy Expressway and the Eisenhower Expressway, and the development of new communities like Park Forest, Illinois and Village of Oak Lawn, Illinois. Many suburbs, such as Elmhurst, Illinois and Wheaton, Illinois, have their own historic districts, including the Elmhurst Historic District and the Wheaton Historic District.

Demographics and Economy

The demographics of the suburbs of Chicago are diverse, with a mix of affluent and working-class communities, and a range of different ethnic and racial groups, including African Americans in Maywood, Illinois and Bellwood, Illinois, and Hispanics in Melrose Park, Illinois and Stone Park, Illinois. The economy of the suburbs is driven by a range of different industries, including healthcare and technology, as well as manufacturing and logistics, with major companies like Caterpillar Inc. and United Airlines having headquarters or major facilities in the suburbs. Many suburbs, such as Downers Grove, Illinois and Lisle, Illinois, are also home to major shopping centers, including the Oakbrook Center and the Yorktown Center.

Transportation and Infrastructure

The suburbs of Chicago have a well-developed transportation network, with several major highways, including the Kennedy Expressway, the Eisenhower Expressway, and the Tri-State Tollway, as well as a comprehensive public transportation system, including the Metra commuter rail network and the Pace Bus system. Many suburbs, such as Rosemont, Illinois and Schiller Park, Illinois, are also home to major transportation hubs, including O'Hare International Airport and the Chicago Executive Airport. The suburbs are also served by several major rail lines, including the BNSF Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad, with major facilities like the BNSF Railway's Chicago Division and the Union Pacific Railroad's Proviso Yard.

Notable Suburbs

Some notable suburbs of Chicago include Evanston, Illinois, home to Northwestern University and the Evanston Public Library; Oak Park, Illinois, a hub for arts and culture with the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio and the Oak Park Festival Theatre; and Naperville, Illinois, a major commercial center with the Naperville Riverwalk and the Downtown Naperville area. Other notable suburbs include Schaumburg, Illinois, home to the Woodfield Mall and the Schaumburg Convention Center; Arlington Heights, Illinois, with the Arlington Park racetrack and the Arlington Heights Memorial Library; and Des Plaines, Illinois, with the Rivers Casino Des Plaines and the Des Plaines Public Library. Many suburbs, such as Glen Ellyn, Illinois and Wheaton, Illinois, are also home to major cultural institutions, including the McAninch Arts Center and the Wheaton College.