Why do so many suburbs have similar names or parts of names? (Chicago: live, food)

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

I wouldn't necessarily say they "changed names". Those particular communities have been around for a very, very long time. And in the early days of railroad suburbs, people even then, for those with the means to live in the early railroad suburbs would be attracted to names given by land speculators who promoted the natural beauty of Riverside, River Forest, Oak Brook, Northbrook, etc.

Yes some villages actually changed names
Village of Tinley Park (http://www.tinleypark.org/government/history/history.htm - broken link)

Orland Park was originally Sedgewick
Melrose park was originally just Melrose
Wood Dale changed from Wooddale
dare i say it but east chicago hts is now ford heights
Crete was originally called hubbards woods

even in Indiana East Gary is now Lake Station


Yes the vast majority have the original names and were named for the reasons you mentioned
Villages like Frankfort with a heavy population of germans named their town after Frankfort Germany
Bremen township in Cook county Illinois is the same German.

[urza216]

haha.. Sunny and Cloudy Days, I IMMEDATELY thought of Ford Heights after reading your comment..

[urza216]

East Chicago Heights does sound similar to South Chicago Heights and Chicago Heights though.. What's sad is the village was renamed after something that isn't even in town. The Ford plant is adjcent to Ford Heights in Chicago Heights. The Ford plant isn't even in the village limits of Ford Heights.

And yeah, Forest Park does sound similar to Park Forest. It's annoying how even south siders in the city get it confused with west suburban Forest Park. No, I said I was from PARK FOREST.. lol

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by SJaye

Most of the River ones are on a River; Riverside, Riverwoods on the Des Plaines, Fox River Grove on the Fox. There are a TON of burbs with Park and Grove in their name. Those ones don't exactly scream nature to me either, as a park is usually a place built by a city or town. I also don't get the ones with Hills in their name (Barrington Hills, Palos Hills). Is there anything in those towns that can really be considered Hills?

I think Palos lies on the Tinley moraine and it does have some ravines in that area.

If your driving on 294 south just past the UPS facility you can see the moraine
or at least what i thought was the moraine.

[urza216]

Is that where Morraine Valley in Palos got its name? lol

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by urza216

East Chicago Heights does sound similar to South Chicago Heights and Chicago Heights though.. What's sad is the village was renamed after something that isn't even in town. The Ford plant is adjcent to Ford Heights in Chicago Heights. The Ford plant isn't even in the village limits of Ford Heights.

And yeah, Forest Park does sound similar to Park Forest. It's annoying how even south siders in the city get it confused with west suburban Forest Park. No, I said I was from PARK FOREST.. lol

It gets carzy like that in Barrington, with South Barrington, North Barrington, Lake Barrington, Port Barrington, Barrington Hills

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by urza216

Is that where Morraine Valley in Palos got its name? lol

Now that you mention - that would make sense
assuming you knew ridge road follows what used to be the shore of lake michigan
thousands of years ago

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

It gets carzy like that in Barrington, with South Barrington, North Barrington, Lake Barrington, Port Barrington, Barrington Hills

That is a little crazy

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by 5Lakes

In Cleveland the suburbs that contain "Heights" in their name are typically at noticeably higher elevations than the neighboring communities, so it makes more sense there.

Same thing in the Chicago area. The suburbs have more topography than people think. Harwood Hts, Chicago Hts, Arlington Hts, etc. absolutely are a little higher in elevation than nearby areas. If you pay attention the the rise in the local streets you notice it.

People who spend almost all the time in the heart of Chicago, don't realize that there is more hilliness in outlying Chicagoland because theres little reason to go there.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by SJaye

Most of the River ones are on a River; Riverside, Riverwoods on the Des Plaines, Fox River Grove on the Fox. There are a TON of burbs with Park and Grove in their name. Those ones don't exactly scream nature to me either, as a park is usually a place built by a city or town. I also don't get the ones with Hills in their name (Barrington Hills, Palos Hills). Is there anything in those towns that can really be considered Hills?

Yes, places with park in their name do indeed feel more urban because a park is landscaped, than those with "woods or "River", and Riverwoods in Lake County is indeed "in the woods". The house lots are entirely enveloped by natural forest.

And Barrington Hills and Palos Hills absolutely do have hills.

If you don't believe me drive down Dundee or Algonquin Rds west of Route 59 toward well . . . old town Dundee or Algonquin.

In the Palos area go to where the tobbagan slides used to be on 83, or drive down Archer.

Again, the suburbs have more elevation change and topography than the city. But those area can easily be overlooked by those in the city, since theres little to no reason for there to go there or be aware of those areas.