Bolingbrook, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bolingbrook, Illinois
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Downtown Bolingbrook at The Promenade
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| Nickname(s):
The Brook
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| Motto(s):
A place to grow
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Location of Bolingbrook in Will and DuPage Counties, Illinois.
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 Bolingbrook, Illinois
Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| Counties | Will, DuPage |
| Township | DuPage, Wheatland, Plainfield, Lisle, Downers Grove |
| Incorporated | October 6, 1965 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.12 sq mi (65.07 km2) |
| • Land | 24.92 sq mi (64.54 km2) |
| • Water | 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2) 0.87% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 73,922 |
| • Density | 2,966.73/sq mi (1,145.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
60439, 60440, and 60490
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| Area code(s) | 630/331 and 815/779 |
| Geocode | 17-07133 |
| FIPS code | 17-07133 |
Bolingbrook is a lively village in Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It sits in both Will and DuPage counties. This town grew quickly in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, it's one of the biggest villages in Illinois. In 2020, about 73,922 people called Bolingbrook home.
Contents
Where is Bolingbrook Located?
Bolingbrook is about 28 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. It covers an area of about 25 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The village shares its borders with several other communities. These include Woodridge, Romeoville, Plainfield, Naperville, and Darien.
Major Roads in Bolingbrook
Several important roads pass through Bolingbrook. Interstate 55, also known as the Stevenson Expressway, runs through the southern part of the village. It connects Bolingbrook to Chicago and Joliet.
Interstate 355, called the Veterans Memorial Tollway, is on the far east side of the village. Illinois Route 53, known as Bolingbrook Drive, runs north and south through the middle of the village. Other main streets include Boughton Road, Weber Road, and Veterans Parkway.
How Many People Live in Bolingbrook?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 7,651 | — | |
| 1980 | 37,261 | 387.0% | |
| 1990 | 40,843 | 9.6% | |
| 2000 | 56,321 | 37.9% | |
| 2010 | 73,366 | 30.3% | |
| 2020 | 73,922 | 0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Bolingbrook had 73,922 residents. There were 23,165 households and 18,354 families living in the village. The population density was about 2,942 people per square mile.
Many different groups of people live in Bolingbrook. About 40% of the population is White, 19% is African American, and 14% is Asian. About 27% of the people are of Hispanic or Latino background.
Age and Income in Bolingbrook
The village has a young population. About 42% of residents are under 18 years old. The average age in Bolingbrook is 36.6 years.
The median income for a household in Bolingbrook was $92,184. For families, the median income was $102,174. This means that half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less.
A Brief History of Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook became an official village in 1965. Before that, it was mostly farming villages that were not officially part of a town. Most of the buildings you see in Bolingbrook today were built after 1960.
The area where Bolingbrook is located was once part of the Gateway Wetlands. The first small settlement in this area was in 1831. You can still find a very old cemetery, Boardman Cemetery, which holds the remains of some of these early settlers.
How Bolingbrook Grew
Modern Bolingbrook started to grow during the housing boom of the 1950s. The first neighborhoods, like Westbury and Colonial Village, were built then.
The village grew steadily through the 1960s. By 1970, about 7,000 people lived there. The 1970s saw a huge increase in population, growing to over 37,000 by 1980. This growth was partly because the village added more land around it. By 1990, the population had reached about 41,000.
What is Bolingbrook's Economy Like?
Bolingbrook is home to the main offices of many companies. As of 2019, 24 companies have their headquarters here. Some of the biggest include Ulta Beauty, a national cosmetics retailer, and WeatherTech, which makes vehicle floor liners.
Other companies with headquarters in Bolingbrook include ATI Physical Therapy, Stevenson Crane, and the Illinois division of Goya Foods.
Top Employers in Bolingbrook
Many people in Bolingbrook work for large companies and organizations. Here are some of the top employers:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | Amazon | 7,000 |
| 2 | Plainfield School District | 3,104 |
| 3 | Presence St. Joseph Medical Center | 3,023 |
| 4 | Silver Cross Hospital | 2,771 |
| 5 | Valley View School District | 2,492 |
| 6 | Will County Government | 2,200 |
| 7 | WeatherTech | 1,527 |
| 8 | Joliet Junior College | 1,553 |
| 9 | Ozinga Brothers Inc. | 1,500 |
| 10 | West Liberty Foods | 1,244 |
Education in Bolingbrook
Most students in Bolingbrook attend schools within the Valley View School District 365U. This district also serves nearby Romeoville, Illinois. Other school districts that include parts of Bolingbrook are Plainfield School District 202 and Indian Prairie School District 204.
Early School History
Valley View School District 365U was once known as District 94. It was one of the first school districts in the United States to use a "45-15 plan." This meant schools were open all year, with students attending for 9 weeks and then having 3 weeks off. This allowed teachers to work year-round if they chose.
The first school built in Bolingbrook was North View School. It was located at 151 E. Briarcliff Rd.
High Schools Serving Bolingbrook
Students in Bolingbrook attend several high schools, depending on their location:
- Bolingbrook High School (Valley View 365U)
- Plainfield North and Plainfield East (Plainfield 202)
- Neuqua Valley High School (Indian Prairie 204)
- Naperville Central (Naperville 203)
- Downers Grove South (Downers Grove 99)
- Romeoville High School is also an option for some students in Valley View 365U.
Middle Schools in Bolingbrook
- In Valley View 365U:
- Brooks (this building used to be Bolingbrook High School)
- Jane Addams
- 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 Bolingbrook
- In Valley View 365U:
- Bernard J. Ward
- Independence
- Jamie McGee
- John R. Tibbott
- Jonas E. Salk
- Pioneer
- Oak View
- Wood View
- In Indian Prairie 204:
- Builta
- In Naperville 203:
- River Woods
- In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202:
- Liberty
- Elizabeth Eichelberger
- In Woodridge Elementary School District 68:
- John L. Sipley
- William F. Murphy
Private Schools in Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook has a few private schools:
- Catholic schools:
- St. Dominic School (for grades PK-8)
- Islamic schools:
- Furqaan Academy (for grades PK-12)
- Sport Academy:
- Oakbrook Polo Academy
Parks and Recreation in Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook has many places for fun and outdoor activities.
Bolingbrook Park District
The Bolingbrook Park District was created in 1970. It manages many parks and community centers. It also runs the Pelican Harbor Indoor/Outdoor Aquatic Complex and the Bolingbrook Recreation and Aquatic Complex (BRAC). The Park District has even been recognized nationally for its excellent parks and programs.
In 1982, the Park District opened the first indoor wave pool in the United States. This pool was later changed into an ice skating arena.
The Hidden Oaks Nature Center opened in 2009. It sits on 80 acres of woodland and river habitat. The Nature Center is built from recycled materials and is used for nature programs and summer camps. You might see coyotes, deer, and great horned owls there.
Golf Courses
Bolingbrook is a great place for golf. The Boughton Ridge Golf Course is a 9-hole course owned by the Park District. The Bolingbrook Golf Club is a larger, 18-hole course. There are also several other golf courses nearby in towns like Plainfield and Naperville.
Clow International Airport
Clow International Airport is a small public airport in Bolingbrook. It has a runway that is about 3,362 feet long. The airport is owned by the Village of Bolingbrook. It was named the "best privately owned, public use airport in Illinois" in 1989. About 70,000 take-offs and landings happen here each year.
A WGN-TV helicopter is based at Clow Airport. The airport also offers flight training and airplane charters. The Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolingbrook was formed in 2004 and is located in a remodeled hangar at the airport.
Famous People from Bolingbrook
Many notable people have connections to Bolingbrook:
- Mustafa Ali, a WWE wrestler who was born in Bolingbrook.
- Kenneth Boatright, a football player who grew up in Bolingbrook.
- Ronnie Bull, a retired Bears football player who lives in Bolingbrook.
- Troy Doris, an Olympian triple jumper.
- J. J. Furmaniak, a professional baseball player who grew up in Bolingbrook.
- Jerry Harris, a cheerleader from the TV show Cheer, raised in Bolingbrook.
- Anthony Herron, a former professional football player and now a broadcast analyst.
- Ben Moore, a basketball player.
- Steve Williams, a football player who grew up in Bolingbrook.
Sister Cities
Bolingbrook has sister city relationships with three cities around the world:
Images for kids
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Interstate 55 shield
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Interstate 355 shield
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Historic US 66 shield
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Illinois Route 53 shield
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Illinois Route 126 shield
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See also
In Spanish: Bolingbrook para niños
