Bolingbrook, Illinois

Chicagoland municipality
muni-name = Bolingbrook
nickname = "The Brook"
muni = Village
date = 1965
state = Illinois
county = Will, DuPage, Cook
county2 = DuPage
tcounty = Will
tcounty2 = DuPage
tcounty3 = Will
township = DuPage
township2 = Wheatland
township3 = Lisle
township4 = Plainfield
gov = Council-manager
head_label = Mayor
gov_head = Roger Claar (R)
pop = 69,662 (2005 estimate)
status = up
percent = 70.56
prevyear = 1990
density-km = 1,320.2
density-mi = 3,420.2
white = 64.51
black = 20.41
hispanic = 13.09
asian = 6.38
islander = 0.06
native = 0.23
other = 5.65
zips = 60440, 60490, 60439
acode = 630 and 331, 815
acode2 = 815
area-km = 53.1
area-mi = 20.5
pci = 23,468
geocode = 07133
mhi = 67,852
mnhv = 141,400
mhv = 153,410 (2000)
website = bolingbrook.com

Bolingbrook is a large village in DuPage, Will, and Cook Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2008 special census, the population is 70,834.

Geography

Bolingbrook is located at coor dms|41|41|55|N|88|5|19|W|city (41.698613, -88.088668)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 20.7 square miles (53.7 km²), of which, 20.5 square miles (53.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.16%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 56,321 people, 17,416 households, and 14,246 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,746.5 people per square mile (1,060.2/km²). There were 17,884 housing units at an average density of 872.1/sq mi (336.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 64.51% White, 20.41% African American, 0.23% Native American, 6.38% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.65% from other races, and 2.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.09% of the population.

There were 17,416 households out of which 48.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the village the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $67,852, and the median income for a family was $71,527. Males had a median income of $46,915 versus $33,665 for females. The per capita income for the village was $23,468. About 2.9% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Growth History

Bolingbrook is a relatively new suburb of Chicago, having been incorporated in 1965. The first subdivision in Bolingbrook, known as Westbury, was located immediately west of Route 53.Fact|date=May 2007 Shortly thereafter, a second subdivision, known as Colonial Villiage was built, located on the far east side of Route 53.Fact|date=May 2007 The village continued to grow solidly for the remainder of the 1960s, reaching a population of 7,000 by 1970. The 1970s were the first period of rapid growth in Bolingbrook, during which its population quintupled to reach over 37,000 by 1980. Much of this growth was as much due to mass annexation as well as raw population growth; the population of Bolingbrook by the 1970 census but with its 1980 land boundary was approximately 25,000, further reflecting the vigorous annexation that took place during the 1970s.

During the 1980s, growth in Bolingbrook and Will County slowed considerably as the focus of Chicago area growth in that decade largely shifted to the northern tier of suburbs in Lake and McHenry counties. By 1990, Bolingbrook's population had only increased by about 10% from the previous decade, to about 41,000. The main benefit of this slower growth is that it allowed the village's infrastructure (especially its school district) to catch up with its population. The 1990s ushered in a second wave of strong growth to Bolingbrook, as Will and nearby Kendall counties once again became Chicago's fastest growing region. This second growth wave continued until 2007, when the population peaked at over 75,000. Due to a huge increase in mortgage foreclosures, the population has dropped by more than 5,000.

Law and Government

John J."Jack" Leonard was instrumental in the initial incorporation of the village and served as the village's first mayor. Prior to hiring a full-time police chief he served "double-duty" as both Village President and part-time Police Chief.Fact|date=May 2007At this time, the police "station" was headquartered in a spare bedroom in Leonard's home. The police car was kept in his garage when it was not patrolling. Later the station moved to an old farmhouse on Braircliff Road by Saint Dominic's Church.Fact|date=May 2007 Leonard's wife,Delphine M. Leonard (Hench) served as the village's first police radio operator.Fact|date=May 2007

Eventually, the first police chief, Fred Greening was hired. He was recruited from the detective division of the Detroit Police Department.

The current mayor of Bolingbrook is Roger C. Claar, who has served in that role for nearly two decades.

Transportation

Illinois Route 53 - Bolingbrook Drive, Illinois Route 126

Interstate 55 and Interstate 355

Former U.S U.S. Route 66

Other Major streets include Boughton Road, Weber Road, Veterans Parkway,Remington Boulavard, Janes Avenue, Lily Cache Lane, Schmidt Road, and Briarcliff Road

chools

Most of Bolingbrook lies within the boundaries of Valley View School District 365U and Fountaindale Public Library District, both of which also include nearby Romeoville, Illinois. Other school districts that serve Bolingbrook include: Plainfield School District 202, Indian Prairie School District 204, Naperville School District 203, Woodridge School District 68, and Downers Grove High School District 99. Fact|date=May 2007

"Early history": School District 365U was originally known as District 94. It took its present name when it became the first school district in the United States to implement the 45-15 plan, in which schools were occupied year round with 3/4 of the students in session at any one time. Students went to school for 9 weeks and then had 3 weeks off. Additionally, teachers were optionally allowed to work year-round.

The first school built in Bolingbrook was North View School (now closed). It was located on Braircliff Road, close to Westbury.Fact|date=May 2007

"High Schools": Bolingbrook High School (365U), Plainfield North (202) (students will begin attending Plainfield East(202) as it will open in the 2008-09 school year), Neuqua Valley Naperville (204), Naperville Central (203), and Downers Grove South (99). Romeoville High school also serves as an alternative for some students residing in Valley View 365U. In addition, selected Bolingbrook teens attend the Illinois Math and Science Academy Aurora.

"Middle Schools": In Valley View 365U - Brooks (located in the former Bolingbrook High School building and home of the district's ESL [English as a Second Language] program), Jane Addams, and Hubert H. Humphrey. In Indian Prairie 204 (Naperville) - Gregory. In Naperville CUSD 203 - Madison. In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 - Kennedy (Plainfield). In Woodridge Elementary School District 68 - Jefferson (Woodridge).

"Elementary Schools": In Valley View 365U - Bernard J. Ward (formerly a middle school), Independence, Jamie McGee, John R. Tibbott, Jonas E. Salk, Pioneer, Oak View, and Wood View. In Indian Prairie 204 - Bulita. In Naperville 203 - River Woods. In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 - Liberty. In Woodridge Elementary School District 68 - John L. Sipley.

"Alternative Schools": In Valley View 365U Phoenix Experierence [also housed in the Brooks Middle School building.]

"Catholic Schools": St. Dominic School (serving grades PK - 8). Parochial grade school students may go on to Catholic high schools in proximinity to Bolingbrook such as Benet Academy Lisle, Joliet Catholic Academy Joliet, and Mount Assisi Academy - Girls Lemont.

Notable Companies located in Bolingbrook

*Swedish retailer IKEA opened its second location in Illinois here on September 28, 2005.Fact|date=May 2007

*An outdoor mall, The Promenade Bolingbrook, opened on April 26, 2007 at the intersection of Boughton Road and Interstate 355. Anchor tenants include Bass Pro Shops and Macy's. [http://www.thepromenadebolingbrook.com/]

*Military contractor which specializes in advanced night vision technologies, EPIR Technologies Inc., opened in the village in 2000. Fact|date=May 2007

*ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance INC, a large U.S. retailer is based out of Bolingbrook.

Recreation

Bolingbrook Park District

The Bolingbrook Park District was created in 1970, after approved by referendum. In 1974, the Park District built its first new building, the Deatheredge/Drdake Center, constructed only with volunteer labor. In the following three decades the Bolingbrook Park District has grown to include numerous woodlands and parks, several community centers, the Pelican Harbor Indoor/Outdoor Aquatic Complex (recognized for its excellence by Chicago Magazine in April 2004), and the Bolingbrook Recreation and Aquatic Complex (BRAC). Most recently, the Bolingbrook Park District was one of the four finalists for the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park Management, Facilities, and Programs.

Golf

Bolingbrook is home to the Boughton Ridge Golf Course, a 9-hole course owned by the Bolingbrook Park District. In addition, the Bolingbrook Golf Club, a municipal facility which includes an 18-hole course, is located in the village. Other Golf Courses within proximinity of Bolingbrook include: Naperbrook GC, Tamarack GC, Wedgewood GC, and Links at Carillon (all in Plainfield), White Eagle GC, and Springbrook GC in Naperville, Village Greens of Woodridge, and Seven Bridges GC in Woodridge, River Bend GC in Lisle, Carriage Greens GC and RCC in Darien, Cog Hill GC in Lemont, and Mistwood GC in Romeoville. Fact|date=December 2007

Aviation

Clow International Airport is a small airport off of Boughton-Weber with an estimated convert|3600|ft|m|sing=on runway. Clow is a public (non-commercial) airport, owned by the Village and operated under a contract with a management company. In 1989, the airport was named the "best privately-owned, public use airport in Illinois." Currently, there are 70,000 take-offs and landings at the airport annually.A WGN-TV helicopter is stationed at Clow Airport, and the airport also serves as a base station for Air Angels Aeromedical transport.

Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolingbrook: The Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolinbrook was formed in 2004. The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and is located in a remodeled hangar at Clow International Airport.

Notable Residents

*Jaslene Gonzalez, Puerto Rican model, the winner of Cycle 8 of "America's Next Top Model".

*Steve Jaros, PBA bowler, Major Champion

*Drew Peterson, former Bolingbrook, Illinois police sergeant who has received national attention for being a suspect in a police investigation following the disappearance of his fourth wife. [http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=7338053 "Authorities call cop a suspect in wife's disappearance."] Associated Press. 9 November 2007.]

Other

Part of the area where Bolingbrook lies today was originally known as "Barber's Corners", and before that, "Welco". Fact|date=May 2007

Early versions of the Rand McNally atlas had a typo that showed Bolingbrook as "Colonial Village".Fact|date=May 2007

Bolingbrook was briefly referenced by Nicolas Cage's character in the 2005 movie "The Weather Man".Fact|date=May 2007

Old Chicago Amusement Park operated here between 1975 and 1980. Fact|date=May 2007

In Money Magazine's August 2008 Edition of "America's Top 100 Places to Live"," Bolingbrook has been placed as #32.

References

Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Bolingbrook
North =

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External links

* [http://www.clowairport.com/ website] of Clow Airport
* [http://www.bolingbrookgolfclub.com/view.asp?id=194&page=4737/ website] of the Bolingbrook Golf Club
* [http://www.illinoisaeromuseum.com/ website] of the Illinois Aviation Museum
* [http://www.bolingbrookparks.org/ website] of the Bolingbrook Park District
* [http://www.fountaindale.lib.il.us/ website] of the Fountaindale Public Library