Suburbs that are obscure or little-known (Chicago, Naperville: hotels, warehouses, residential)

[MillennialUrbanist]

Originally Posted by CCrest182

Two more additional entries; Hodgkins and Burnham.

Hodgkins is kind of famous because of its massive UPS facility. Burnham is indeed obscure, though.

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by CCrest182

Two more additional entries; Hodgkins and Burnham

Also, not an individual city, but there's an area on the far south side called "Arizona", I had no idea existed.

Yeah, I just learned about Arizona like a week or two ago.

[pvande55]

Anyone mention Bull Valley? Near Crystal Lake. Has a rural atmosphere, with horses. But I understand bulls are not allowed.

[Dr. Blish]

Originally Posted by CCrest182

Wayne, Glenwood, and Forest View are pretty darn obscure. If none of these sound obscure, then you must be an expert on the area at large. To an out of towner though, none of these are likely to ring a bell. I also didn't know about Crest Hill personally until I got a job out that way a while back. The only towns I knew of in that area were Joliet, Romeoville, and Lockport.

I know the overall area fairly well, have lived here my whole life, and before this thread I had never heard of Wayne before.

For the Joliet area, how about Rockdale? It’s the area along Larkin Ave directly south of I-80. Personally, I have never heard of Wayne or Forest View. As a south suburbanite, Glenwood, Phoenix, Dixmoor and Burnham are all places that I am familiar with. In fact, I would nominate Lynwood over Glenwood.

Posen, Merrionette Park and Hometown anyone?

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by Dr. Blish

For the Joliet area, how about Rockdale? It’s the area along Larkin Ave directly south of I-80. Personally, I have never heard of Wayne or Forest View. As a south suburbanite, Glenwood, Phoenix, Dixmoor and Burnham are all places that I am familiar with. In fact, I would nominate Lynwood over Glenwood.

Posen, Merrionette Park and Hometown anyone?

Wow, I thought Rockdale was just a part of Joliet, but it is indeed its own village. Great find there.

Hometown is another good one.

[guidoLaMoto]

Lisle-- you drive thru it on the way from Downers to Naperville. Its Four Lakes complex was the VD capital of the world in the 70s


Burbank- just south of Midway AP and Clearing District


Bridgeview- 2nd largest ArabAmerican pop in US


Summit- frequent haunt of Babe Ruth when the Yankees were in town; Not much else has happened there since then; usually hyphenated with Argo, which is basically the Corn Products Research Institute & the Argo CornStarch plant


Willow Springs IL, aka SpeedTrap IL or to locals, "The Town That Time Forgot"; home to The Grove, voted annually as the best biker bar in Chicago; patrons still smoke at the bar; even the cops are afraid to go there. I remember the first time I went there. I thought I had stepped onto a pirate ship. Also home to Resurrection Mary, world famous ghost.


And how about Highwood, tucked in between Highland Pk & Lake Forest, once called "The Toughest Town in the US" by Calvin Coolidge. When Fort Sheridan was open, the town consisted of one small grocery store, one gas station, one church (St James) and about 50 saloons (real easy to sell charity drawing tickets as a kid).

[Master Jay]

guidoLamoto, good day. Highwood???? I've been there for some great Italian food. I'm not sure how obscure it is, especially being on a main road, Green Bay. But I sure do like that town. Authentic Italian for a day this Milwaukee guy doesn't want to quite go all the way to Chicago. Ha se e a good one.

[MillennialUrbanist]

Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto

Lisle...

Burbank...

Bridgeview...

Summit...

Willow Springs...

And how about Highwood...

Lisle is far from obscure. Although, it does get overshadowed by its neighbor Naperville. The famous Morton Arboretum and many corporate headquarters are all based in Lisle. Which puts it on the map.

Burbank is obscure. I don't know of famous landmarks or destinations there.

Bridgeview is obscure, although the soccer fans who go to Toyota Park would disagree.

Summit. Where's that?

Willow Springs is far from obscure too. The Resurrection Cemetery and the infamous Resurrection Mary are based there. The historic Willowbrook Ballroom also made Willow Springs famous, until it burned down in October 2016.

Highwood is semi-obscure. People know about it, but mostly as a counterpoint to its better-known, wealthier neighbor Highland Park.

[damba]

Those are really only ‘obscure’ to people quite unfamiliar with maps or perhaps in a retirement home/never travelled far from their neighborhood/homes.

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto

Lisle-- you drive thru it on the way from Downers to Naperville. Its Four Lakes complex was the VD capital of the world in the 70s


Burbank- just south of Midway AP and Clearing District


Bridgeview- 2nd largest ArabAmerican pop in US


Summit- frequent haunt of Babe Ruth when the Yankees were in town; Not much else has happened there since then; usually hyphenated with Argo, which is basically the Corn Products Research Institute & the Argo CornStarch plant


Willow Springs IL, aka SpeedTrap IL or to locals, "The Town That Time Forgot"; home to The Grove, voted annually as the best biker bar in Chicago; patrons still smoke at the bar; even the cops are afraid to go there. I remember the first time I went there. I thought I had stepped onto a pirate ship. Also home to Resurrection Mary, world famous ghost.


And how about Highwood, tucked in between Highland Pk & Lake Forest, once called "The Toughest Town in the US" by Calvin Coolidge. When Fort Sheridan was open, the town consisted of one small grocery store, one gas station, one church (St James) and about 50 saloons (real easy to sell charity drawing tickets as a kid).

I don't think Lisle, Bridgeview, Burbank or Summit are remotely close to this category.