History of Westchester

Celebrating 100 Years of Westchester: 1925–2025

Westchester, located in Cook County, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop, has a rich history that reflects its transformation from farmland to a distinctive suburban community. In the mid-19th century, German farmers settled in the area, leaving behind a few old farmhouses and streets named after them. These remnants hint at the nearly 150-year history of farming that preceded the Vllage's development.

The name "Westchester," along with the predominantly English street names and several homes built in the 1920s, reflects the vision of its founders. Utilities tycoon Samuel Insull, a native of London, purchased approximately 2,200 acres of farmland in 1924, envisioning a model English-style town. The planned extension of the Garfield Park rapid transit line from Chicago made this location ideal for suburban development.

On October 3, 1925, residents voted to incorporate the community, and Westchester was officially incorporated on December 16, 1925. Developers George Nixon and William Zelosky acquired significant portions of the land, investing in infrastructure such as paved streets, sidewalks, sewers, street lamps, and water mains, as well as the planting of parkway trees. The distinct English-style architecture, featuring brick, stucco, and hand-hewn timbers, set Westchester apart from many other suburbs. The rapid transit line, completed to 12th Street (Roosevelt Road) in 1926 and to 22nd Street (Cermak Road) in 1930, enabled prospective buyers to view properties in the burgeoning Village.

However, the Great Depression brought construction to a halt in the 1930s, with many properties tied up in contract and tax delinquencies. After World War II, Westchester began to clear these delinquent properties, and the postwar housing boom between 1950 and 1960 spurred a dramatic population increase from 4,308 to 18,092 residents. The few English-style homes built before the Depression were soon surrounded by Georgians, ranches, and split-levels. As the rapid transit line was removed and expressways such as the Eisenhower Expressway and Tri-State Tollway reshaped transportation in the 1950s, Westchester’s location became increasingly advantageous.
In the 1980s, some of the village's remaining farmland was developed into the Westbrook Corporate Center, a cluster of five 10-story office buildings near Cermak Road and Wolf Road, expanding the Village's commercial tax base. Residential development in the 1990s consumed nearly all remaining open land, except for the 85-acre Wolf Road Prairie. Preserved largely through the efforts of the Save the Prairie Society, active since 1975, this Illinois State Nature Preserve remains a rare remnant of the prairies that once covered much of Illinois.

As Westchester approaches its centennial in 2025, the Village reflects on a history marked by visionary planning, resilience through challenges, a commitment to preserving its natural heritage, and unwavering community spirit. Throughout the centennial year, residents can look forward to events and stories celebrating the journey that brought us to this milestone.

Photo Credit: https://www.fhproject.org/