LA GRANGE, IL - With expansion of Chicago metropolitan area many real estate developers were buying land along the newly built Burlington & Quincy railroad through western Cook County and one of them was Franklin Dwight Cossitt, who had successful wholesale grocery business. He purchased 600 acre of farmland and named it La Grange ("barn" in French) , after his cotton farm in Tennessee that he once owned. He wanted to build ideal suburban village and started planting trees, laying out streets and building quality homes. After Chicago Great Fire of 1871 thousand of citizens sought the opportunity to move out of increasingly congested city and 1879 Village of La Grange was incorporated.
La Grange is accessible from every direction: located on Route 12/20/45 or La Grange Rd, which is the main street, Route 34 (Ogden Avenue) and close to Interstates 290 and 55 and Tollway 294. Public transportation is provided by Metra train and Pace bus. It takes only 20 minutes from downtown Chicago to La Grange by train and 35 minutes by car.
La Grange maintains the image of mature community that offers diverse selection of housing that range from $300,000 to $1,300.000. Victorian, Queen Anne, and Prairie style homes are well preserved and maintain their architectural details through sensitive restoration. Median household income is significantly above state average.
La Grange has also established business district, newly built library and excellent schools. Smaller businesses in the center of town provide quality merchandise. Row of restaurants attracts lots of people, which make this town very alive in the evening and during a weekend. Quality restaurants are especially known for Italian and pizza fare, but also ethnic and international cuisine. There is on-street parking and newly built public parking building that can support additional guests coming for different public activities like Fine Arts Festival, annual Pet Parade, Christmas and Halloween walk, historic housewalks.
Excellent educational system is supported by nationally ranked Lyons Township High School that is showing excellent results in state tests and serves over 2800 students.
If you want to live close to downtown Chicago, in mature community with beautiful houses and great school district, area with quality restaurants and close to shopping centers, village that organizes different public activities throughout the year, La Grange is just ideal place for you.
