A village of about 74,000 at the junction of I-55 and I-355, with a busy park district, an open-air shopping center and a busy calendar of village festivals.
01 — At a Glance
Bolingbrook is a village about 28 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, right where Interstates 55 and 355 come together. The 2020 census counted 73,922 residents, and the village covers about 25 square miles. Nearly everything here was built after 1960. The first homes went up in 1961, and the village incorporated on October 6, 1965. Its ZIP codes are 60440 and 60490, plus part of 60439.
Source: Wikipedia: Bolingbrook, Illinois · Village of Bolingbrook: History
02 — History
Bolingbrook’s story starts in the farm fields north of old Route 66, where a builder laid out a subdivision in 1960. The families who moved in turned it into a village, then built its parks, schools and library one referendum at a time.
1960
Dover Construction Company laid out “Bolingbrook Subdivision” beside Route 53. The first model homes went up on Rocklyn Court in 1961, priced at $10,000 with as little as $200 down.
Source: Bolingbrook Historic Preservation Commission: Timeline · Village of Bolingbrook: History
1965
After a first try at incorporation failed in 1963, more than 1,300 residents voted in 1965 and the subdivision became the Village of Bolingbrook. It became official on October 6, 1965, with Jack Leonard as the first Village President.
Source: Patch: Bolingbrook’s Road to Incorporation · Bolingbrook Historic Preservation Commission: Timeline
1970
Residents created the Bolingbrook Park District by referendum in 1970. Its first building was a small white farmhouse.
Source: Bolingbrook Park District: Our History · Bolingbrook Historic Preservation Commission: Timeline
1974
The village’s own high school opened in 1974. A new Bolingbrook High School opened in 2004, and the original building became Brooks Middle School.
Source: Bolingbrook Historic Preservation Commission: Timeline
1982
The Bolingbrook Aquatic Center opened in 1982 as the first indoor wave pool in the United States.
Source: Bolingbrook Historic Preservation Commission: Timeline · Wikipedia: Bolingbrook, Illinois
2007
The open-air Promenade Bolingbrook opened in 2007 along I-355, and the new Fountaindale Public Library followed in 2011.
Source: Bolingbrook Historic Preservation Commission: Timeline
The modern village began in the early 1960s, when Dover Construction Company laid out its first housing tract in the farm fields north of old U.S. 66 and beside Route 53. Many of the first families thought they were moving to “Westbury,” which turned out to be only the first unit of what Dover had recorded as Bolingbrook Subdivision. Advertisements featuring a distinguished British butler named Mr. Dover drew young families out the Stevenson Expressway to the model homes on Rocklyn Court.
Homes sold for $10,000 with as little as $200 down. The first families moved onto Avondale Court, west of Route 53 and north of Briarcliff Road. Two more Dover areas followed east of Route 53: Colonial Village, which became home to the first churches, parks, fire station and Village Hall, and King’s Park. All three tracts sold between 1961 and 1965.
The first attempt at incorporation, in 1963, was voted down by a three-to-one margin. Two years later more than 1,300 residents turned out, and Bolingbrook Subdivision became the Village of Bolingbrook. The vote became official on October 6, 1965, and Jack Leonard became the first Village President. The new village had about 5,300 residents in 1,200 homes.
The firsts came quickly. North View, the first elementary school, opened in 1964, along with the first grocery store and fire station. Residents created a library district by referendum in 1969 and the park district in 1970. Bolingbrook High School opened in 1974, and the library opened its doors in 1975.
The schools grew so fast that in 1970 the district started a year-round 45-15 calendar. Valley View School District 365U formed in 1972, and the “365” in its name is a nod to those year-round days.
The population went from about 7,000 in 1970 to more than 37,000 by 1980. The park district opened Boughton Ridge Golf Course in 1981 and opened the country’s first indoor wave pool in 1982. Bolingbrook got its own ZIP code, 60440, in the 1990s.
Bolingbrook Golf Club opened in 2002. Promenade Bolingbrook and Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital opened in 2007, and the new Fountaindale Public Library opened in 2011. The Bolingbrook Historical Museum keeps the village’s story in the original Village Hall on East Briarcliff Road, open the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
Source: Village of Bolingbrook: History · Bolingbrook Historic Preservation Commission: Timeline · Patch: Bolingbrook’s Road to Incorporation · Valley View School District: Our District · Bolingbrook Historical Museum · Wikipedia: Bolingbrook, Illinois
03 — Shopping & Dining
Much of Bolingbrook’s shopping and dining is at the Promenade Bolingbrook, an open-air center on Boughton Road with more than 60 shops and restaurants. A few local favorites sit along Bolingbrook Drive and at the golf courses.
Brazilian churrascaria
A Brazilian steakhouse at the Promenade, with private group dining for celebrations and events.
639 E. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteNeapolitan pizza & small plates
Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, small plates, fresh mozzarella, craft beer and wine. The Bolingbrook location is now open at the Promenade.
619 E. Boughton Rd., Unit A, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteMexican & Latin cuisine
Mexican and Latin dishes in a festive dining room. Live mariachi plays the second Thursday of the month.
641 E. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteBurgers & hand-cut steaks
Twenty gourmet burgers, hand-cut steaks and comfort classics made with locally sourced produce.
623 E. Boughton Rd., Suite 110, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteAmerican, overlooking the course
The park district’s restaurant and bar at Boughton Ridge Golf Course, open year-round, with seasonal table service on the terrace.
335 E. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteGreek & American
A family-run spot with hand-stacked gyros made fresh every day, traditional Greek plates, ribs and burgers, plus a drive-thru.
188 S. Bolingbrook Dr., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteOpen-air shopping & entertainment
More than 60 shops and restaurants along I-355, anchored by Star Cinema Grill, Macy’s, DSW, H&M, Barnes & Noble and Bass Pro Shops. It’s pet friendly, too.
631 E. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteFishing, boating & camping
An outdoor store the size of nearly five football fields, with a big fish tank, boats, camping gear and outdoor wear for the whole family.
Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteBooks, café & vinyl
Books, toys and games, vinyl and a café, plus weekly storytimes for kids.
631 E. Boughton Rd., Suite 100, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteApparel, jewelry & home
One of the Promenade’s anchors, with apparel, jewelry, cosmetics and home furnishings.
Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteWine, spirits & beer
One of the oldest family-owned companies in Illinois, with a deep selection of wine, spirits and beer.
Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit WebsiteHandmade soaps & candles
Colorful bath scrubs, soaps and candles, all made from scratch, plus make-your-own classes.
Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Visit Website04 — Education
Most of Bolingbrook is in Valley View School District 365U, home to Bolingbrook High School. Some neighborhoods are served by Indian Prairie District 204, Plainfield District 202, Naperville District 203 or the Woodridge and Downers Grove districts, so check the address of any home you’re considering.
Boundaries follow the address. Confirm school assignment for each address with the district before you buy.
Search HomesPublic · PreK–12
Serves nearly all of Bolingbrook and Romeoville, with about 14,500 students in 21 schools and facilities. All-day kindergarten comes at no tuition charge.
Public · Grades 9–12
Home of the Raiders, with a full calendar of athletics, clubs, music and theatre. The current campus opened in 2004.
Public · PreK–12
Serves part of Bolingbrook. Students there attend Neuqua Valley High School.
Public · PreK–12
Serves part of Bolingbrook, where students attend Plainfield North or Plainfield East High School.
Public · PreK–12
Serves a small part of Bolingbrook. Students there attend Naperville Central High School.
Community Learning
A library on Briarcliff Road that opened its current building in 2011, with storytimes, a bookmobile, meeting rooms and tech help.
05 — Lifestyle
The annual Village Picnic opens the summer, iFest brings the world’s cultures to the Festival Grounds, and Jubilee weekend closes out the season in September. Here’s where people spend their time.
The park district’s indoor/outdoor aquatic park, open year-round, with four speed slides, a lazy river, a diving well and a zero-depth pool for little ones.
Facility DetailsAn 18-hole championship course by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest, with seven lakes, an island green and The Nest Bar & Grill.
Club WebsiteThe Bolingbrook Park District maintains 50 parks and facilities across 1,107 acres, with greenways, bike paths, skate parks and a spray pad in Central Park.
Park DetailsA free afternoon at Village Town Center with local organizations, family activities and a hot dog eating contest. It’s an annual village tradition that opens the summer.
Event DetailsA one-day International Festival of Cultures, with international food, live cultural performances and handmade goods, at the Festival Grounds on Briarcliff Road.
Event DetailsJubilee, the village’s annual September festival, brings live music, food and the Pathways Parade from Bolingbrook High School to Village Hall. The Special Events Commission also hosts the Festival of Lights Winter Walk.
Event DetailsRecreational soccer, Raiders travel teams, camps and clinics, plus a referee program for young players.
Club WebsiteBaseball for players 9 and up, with home games at Indian Boundary Park and Wipfler Park on lighted fields with grass infields.
League WebsiteEight volunteer youth sports groups, from tee-ball and football to basketball, softball and cricket, coordinated with the park district.
Program DetailsThe village’s local history museum, in the original Village Hall at 444 E. Briarcliff Rd., with photographs and artifacts from Bolingbrook’s story. It’s open the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m., and to groups on request.
Museum DetailsA volunteer-run museum in a hangar at Clow International Airport, open on weekends. Its Haunted Hangar is a fall tradition.
Museum WebsiteTraveling exhibitions and art events at the Promenade, with free admission during open hours.
Museum WebsiteWeekday rush-hour express buses from the Old Chicago Park-n-Ride to the Illinois Medical District and Union Station, running on the I-55 shoulder.
Route DetailsWeekday rush-hour express service from the Canterbury Park-n-Ride to the Loop, Streeterville and River North.
Route DetailsThe nearest Metra stop, on the Heritage Corridor Line to Union Station at 899 E. Romeo Road. Trains run weekdays in rush hours.
Station DetailsPrivate Client Representation