Villa Park, Illinois
Template:Short description Template:Other uses Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Villa Park is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Situated along the Illinois Prairie Path, Villa Park was originally built as a company town in the early 20th century. The village is located in the area between North Avenue (IL-64) and Roosevelt Road (IL-38), directly east of Kingery Highway (IL-83). It is a western suburb of Chicago. The population as of the 2020 Census was 22,263.
Villa Park is traversed by the Illinois Prairie Path and includes two former Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad stations listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The village was the longtime site of the Ovaltine factory, now converted to residences.
History
Following the construction of two residential subdivisions—Villa Park (1908) and Ardmore (1910) by the real estate firm Ballard & Pottinger—the community incorporated as the Village of Ardmore in 1914. The name was changed to Villa Park in 1917.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Villa Park developed as a western suburb of Chicago served by the electric Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E). The line provided a direct connection between Chicago’s Loop and Wheaton, where it branched toward Aurora and Elgin. Two commercial districts grew around the Villa Avenue and Ardmore Avenue stations. Passenger service on the CA&E ended in 1957 amid declining ridership following completion of the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The railroad’s right-of-way was later converted into the Illinois Prairie Path, a regional hiking and biking trail network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The village was also home to the Ovaltine factory, which operated for much of the twentieth century and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The complex has since been converted into loft apartments.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1986, local Muslim residents founded the Islamic Foundation School, reflecting Villa Park’s growing cultural diversity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Villa Park Public Library underwent a major renovation and expansion beginning in 2017 and completed in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
Villa Park is in eastern DuPage County in the western suburbs of Chicago. It is bordered by Elmhurst to the east, Lombard to the west, Addison to the north, and Oakbrook Terrace to the south. The village’s elevation is approximately Template:Convert above sea level.<ref name=gnis/>
According to the United States Census Bureau, Villa Park has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (99.06%) is land and Template:Convert (0.94%) is water.<ref name="gaz2021">Template:Cite web</ref>
Two regional multi-use trails—the Illinois Prairie Path and the Salt Creek Trail—cross the community along former railroad and greenway corridors (see Parks and recreation).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 2000 | % 2010 | Template:Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 17,820 | 15,639 | 13,950 | 80.72% | 71.40% | 62.66% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 368 | 908 | 995 | 1.67% | 4.15% | 4.47% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 25 | 26 | 32 | 0.11% | 0.12% | 0.14% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 804 | 1,129 | 1,348 | 3.64% | 5.15% | 6.05% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 17 | 14 | 85 | 0.08% | 0.06% | 0.38% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 268 | 293 | 766 | 1.21% | 1.34% | 3.44% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,770 | 3,894 | 5,084 | 12.55% | 17.78% | 22.84% |
| Total | 22,075 | 21,904 | 22,263 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census there were 22,263 people, 8,000 households, and 5,575 families residing in the village. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 8,627 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The village's age distribution was 23.4% under 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% 65 or older; the median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males (104.3 for ages 18 and over). The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.34.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The median income for a household in the village was $79,314, and the median income for a family was $91,250. Males had a median income of $47,722 versus $35,269 for females. The per capita income for the village was $34,529. About 3.9% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
According to the Village of Villa Park’s 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the community’s economy is primarily based on retail, light manufacturing, construction, and professional services. The village benefits from its central DuPage County location and access to major transportation corridors including Interstate 290, I-355, and Illinois Route 83.<ref name="ACFR2023">Template:Cite report</ref>
As of 2023, the ten largest employers in Villa Park were:<ref name="ACFR2023" />
| Rank | Employer | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McMaster-Carr Supply Company | 420 |
| 2 | Inland Paperboard and Packaging | 340 |
| 3 | Clayco Construction | 290 |
| 4 | Commonwealth Edison | 260 |
| 5 | First Student (school transportation) | 200 |
| 6 | Walmart | 175 |
| 7 | Jewel-Osco | 160 |
| 8 | Village of Villa Park | 155 |
| 9 | Villa Park School District 45 | 150 |
| 10 | U-Haul Moving & Storage | 125 |
The village reported an unemployment rate of 3.9% in 2023, consistent with DuPage County’s overall rate and below the Illinois state average of 4.6%.<ref name="ACFR2023" />
Government
Villa Park operates under the council–manager form. Legislative authority is vested in a Village Board consisting of a Village President and six trustees elected at-large to four-year staggered terms. The Board adopts ordinances and the annual budget, appoints advisory commissions, and hires the Village Manager. The Manager oversees day-to-day administration and appoints department heads.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
Education
Villa Park is served by several public school districts. Most of the village is within School District 45, DuPage County, which operates elementary and middle schools including Ardmore, North, Schafer, Stevenson, Westmore, and Jackson Middle School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Portions of the community are also served by Salt Creek School District 48,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lombard School District 44,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Addison School District 4.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
High school students attend DuPage High School District 88, primarily Willowbrook High School in Villa Park and, in some southern areas, Addison Trail High School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Parochial schools include the Islamic Foundation School, established in 1986, and St. Alexander Catholic School. Higher education needs are served by nearby College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transportation
Villa Park has a commuter rail station on Metra’s Union Pacific West Line with service west to Elburn, Illinois and east to downtown Chicago.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pace provides bus service on Routes 301 and 313 connecting Villa Park with Forest Park, Wheaton, and surrounding communities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Villa Park is accessible by major roads including Illinois Route 83, North Avenue (IL-64), and Illinois Route 38, with nearby connections to I-290 and I-355.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The former CA&E Ardmore Avenue and Villa Avenue stations are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Parks and recreation
The Village of Villa Park Parks and Recreation Department manages 18 parks and recreational facilities, including the Iowa Community Center, Jefferson Pool, and the Community Recreation Building.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The department provides year-round programs in athletics, fitness, and community events.
Villa Park is intersected by two major regional trails maintained by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: the Illinois Prairie Path, following the former Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad right-of-way, and the Salt Creek Trail, which links to the larger DuPage County greenway network. The Great Western Trail also passes through the northern part of the village.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
- Nicole Abusharif, criminal convicted of the murder of her domestic partner Rebecca Klein in Villa Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Norma Berger, pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League; lives in Villa Park
- Tom Cullerton, member of the Illinois Senate (2013–2021); resides in Villa Park
- Tino Insana, actor, voice actor, writer, producer; graduated Willowbrook High School, 1966
- John Kennedy, driver with NASCAR; born in Villa Park
- Anita Padilla, reporter for WFLD-TV in Chicago
- Matt Roth, former NFL player
- Bobby Wawak, driver with NASCAR; born in Villa Park
References
External links
Template:Geographic location Template:DuPage County, Illinois Template:Chicagoland