Willowbrook, DuPage County, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willowbrook
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Village
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| Village of Willowbrook | ||
Willowbrook, Illinois' Welcome Sign on IL-83
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Location of Willowbrook in DuPage County, Illinois.
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| Country |  United States |
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| State | Illinois | |
| County | DuPage | |
| Township | Downers Grove | |
| Incorporated | 1960 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-trustee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.63 sq mi (6.80 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.57 sq mi (6.66 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2) 2.18% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,236 | |
| • Density | 3,590.98/sq mi (1,386.54/km2) | |
| Standard of living | ||
| • Per capita income | $37,715 (median: $56,725) | |
| • Home value | $216,000 (median: $245,800 (2000)) | |
| ZIP code(s) |
60527
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| Area code(s) | 630 and 331 | |
| Geocode | 80645 | |
| FIPS code | 17-81919 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399702 | |
Willowbrook is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the larger Chicagoland region. In 2020, about 9,236 people lived here. Willowbrook is a suburb located southwest of Chicago.
Contents
History of Willowbrook
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Willowbrook started as a part of nearby Darien. It was first known as the Ridgemoor subdivision. The village got its name from a group of willow trees growing along a local creek. This creek flows into the Waterfall Glen.
In 1960, Willowbrook officially became its own village. This meant it could have its own local government. The building of U.S. Route 66 nearby helped the area grow. Many new gas stations and restaurants opened along the road.
One famous restaurant, Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, opened on Route 66 in 1946. It was started by Ervin "Irv" Kolarik. This restaurant became a very important part of the community. It is one of the few original stops left on Route 66 in Illinois. The building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the 1980s, Willowbrook continued to grow. New buildings appeared along IL-83 and I-55. In 1990, a swampy area near Route 83 was cleaned up. It was turned into a nice spot called "Willow Pond." A walking path was built around the pond. In winter, it becomes a popular place for Ice skating.
Geography of Willowbrook
The Village of Willowbrook is located at 41°46′2″N 87°56′57″W / 41.76722°N 87.94917°W. This means it's in a specific spot on the map.
Willowbrook covers about 2.63 square miles (6.80 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.57 square miles (6.66 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.05 square miles (0.14 square kilometers), is water.
The village is about 23 miles (37 km) away from Chicago. It shares its borders with several other suburban villages. These include Hinsdale, Westmont, Clarendon Hills, Burr Ridge, and Darien. Some parts of DuPage County that are not part of any town also border Willowbrook.
Population and People
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 157 | — | |
| 1970 | 1,457 | 828.0% | |
| 1980 | 4,953 | 239.9% | |
| 1990 | 8,598 | 73.6% | |
| 2000 | 8,967 | 4.3% | |
| 2010 | 8,540 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 9,236 | 8.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, the census counted 9,236 people living in Willowbrook. There were 3,916 households, which are groups of people living together. About 2,337 of these were families.
The population density was about 3,517 people per square mile (1,386 per square kilometer). This means a lot of people live in a small area. There were also 4,509 housing units, like houses and apartments.
The people in Willowbrook come from many different backgrounds:
- About 71.77% were White.
- About 14.63% were Asian.
- About 4.48% were African American.
- A smaller number were Native American or Pacific Islander.
- About 6.03% were from two or more races.
- About 7.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
Most households (51.61%) were married couples living together. About 19.0% of households had children under 18. Many households (35.29%) were made up of single individuals. About 14.89% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone.
The average age of people in Willowbrook was 48.8 years. About 15.0% of the population was under 18. About 24.6% were 65 or older.
The average income for a household in Willowbrook was $86,364. For families, it was $117,415. The per capita income (income per person) was $54,805. A small number of families (5.0%) and people (5.4%) lived below the poverty line. This included 4.9% of those under 18 and 9.3% of those 65 or older.
Environmental Concerns
In 2018, health officials looked into cancer rates in the Willowbrook area. They found that the risk of cancer was higher than in nearby towns. This was linked to a company called Sterigenics International, Inc.
Sterigenics used a chemical called Ethylene Oxide. This chemical is known to likely cause cancer. Breathing in high levels of Ethylene Oxide for a long time can cause health problems. These include irritation to eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. It can also affect the brain and nervous system. Studies showed it could increase the risk of certain cancers.
Because of these concerns, Sterigenics announced in September 2019 that they would close their Willowbrook facility. This removed a major source of the chemical in the area.
