Bolingbrook, Illinois

Bolingbrook is a large village in Will and DuPage Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 US Census, the population is 73,366. It is the 17th largest incorporated place in Illinois.

Geography
Bolingbrook is located at 41.69861°N, -88.08861°W (41.698613, -88.088668).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total of 4,823 African Americans.

Demographics
As of the census 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 per square mile (336.7/km²).

The racial makeup of the village in 2010 was 54.27% White, 20.44% African American, 0.3% Native American, 11.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.5% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.40% 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 (these figures had risen to $76,392 and $82,462 respectively as of a 2007 estimate ). 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 non-indigenous settlement in what is now Bolingbrook occurred in the 1830s, but the informal farming villages remained unincorporated for over 130 years. The tiny Boardman Cemetery, in what is now the Heritage Creek subdivision, contains the remains of some of these early residents.

Modern Bolingbrook has its roots in the housing boom of the 1950s. The first subdivision in Bolingbrook, known as Westbury, was located immediately west of Route 53. A second subdivision, known as Colonial Village, followed, located on the far east side of Route 53. The village continued to grow steadily 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. At 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. Leonard's wife, Delphine M. Leonard (Hench) served as the village's first police radio operator.

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 Republican Roger C. Claar, who has served in that role for nearly two decades. Claar has recently come under scruitiny for his lavish lifestyle funded by his campaign fund.

Schools
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.

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 located at 151 E. Briarcliff Rd., Bolingbrook, IL (now closed).

High Schools: Bolingbrook High School (365U), Plainfield North and Plainfield East (202), Neuqua Valley High School, 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 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 - Builta. 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 in Lisle, Joliet Catholic Academy in Joliet, and Mount Assisi Academy (Girls) in Lemont.

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.

Aviation
Clow International Airport is a small airport off of Boughton-Weber with an estimated 3362 ft 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. The airport previously served as a base station for Air Angels Aeromedical Transport prior to the company closing its doors in early 2009. It also provides flight training and airplane charters through A & M Aviation, aircraft maintenance through A & M Maintenance, and has an EAA chapter that provides free Young Eagles flights for children.

The Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolingbrook was formed in 2004. The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and is located in a remodeled hangar at Clow International Airport, currently donated by the Village of Bolingbrook.

Notable residents

 * 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.


 * Bobby Abrams, guitarist and vocalist formerly of The Buckinghams.

Other
Part of the area where Bolingbrook lies today was originally known as "Barber's Corners", and before that, "Welco".

Early versions of the Rand McNally atlas had a typo that showed Bolingbrook as "Colonial Village".

Bolingbrook was briefly referenced by Nicolas Cage's character in the 2005 movie "The Weather Man".

Old Chicago Amusement Park operated here between 1975 and 1980.

In Money Magazine's August 2010 Edition of "America's Top 100 Places to Live," Bolingbrook has been placed as #43. In its 2008 edition, it was placed at #32.

Sister cities

 * 🇵🇭 San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines