Located 24 miles west of downtown Chicago, Glen Ellyn is a thriving village in DuPage County, Illinois, with a population of 28,846 according to the 2020 Census.
Before the onset of World War I, the Glen Oak Country Club had already established itself as a premier recreational destination for the neighboring communities of Oak Park and Glen Ellyn. Further solidifying its place in the region, the first Glenbard high school was constructed in 1922.
Glen Ellyn is a suburban village located approximately 24 miles (39 km) to the west of downtown Chicago.
Based on the census data from 2021, Glen Ellyn covers an area of 7.01 square miles (18.16 km2), with 6.85 square miles (17.74 km2) (equivalent to 97.70%) being land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) (equivalent to 2.30%) being water.
The leading employers in the city include the College of DuPage with 3837 employees, School District 41 with 549 employees, School District 87 with 485 employees, Village of Glen Ellyn with 460 employees, and Duly Health and Care with 275 employees.
The Metra Union Pacific West Line stops at the Glen Ellyn station, situated at 551 Crescent Blvd, just a short walk from the bustling downtown area. From there, riders can easily access the eastern terminus of the line, Ogilvie Transportation Center, located 22.4 miles (36.0 km) away.
In 1919, the Glen Ellyn Park District was created as a government agency to serve the local community by providing various recreational activities, including sports, dance, childcare, and more. The facility is open all year round and offers over 700 programs, divided into three seasons: Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer. The park district maintains 30 parks for both recreational use and programmed events, such as youth football and softball, for the community’s enjoyment.
Glen Ellyn is where the fictional character Joe Patroni, the TWA engineer from the novel Airport and portrayed by George Kennedy in the four films of the Airport series, resides.
The primary location of College of DuPage can be found in Glen Ellyn. Notable individuals who have attended the college include the comedian John Belushi and his actor sibling James Belushi.
The public schools in Glen Ellyn are divided into primary schools within Glen Ellyn School District 41 and Community Consolidated School District 89. The high schools in the area are part of Glenbard Township High School District 87, which combines the names of Glen Ellyn and Lombard, a neighboring village located to the east of Glen Ellyn.
High schools in the area include Glenbard West High School and Glenbard South High School, while middle schools consist of Glen Crest Middle School and Hadley Junior High School.
The list includes several elementary schools: Abraham Lincoln, Arbor View, Benjamin Franklin, Churchill, Forest Glen, Park View, and Westfield.
The list includes Montessori Academy of Glen Ellyn, Phillip J. Rock Center and School, St. James the Apostle Catholic School, St. Petronille Catholic School, and Maryknoll Montessori School, all of which are private educational institutions.
Renowned individuals
Glen Ellyn, Illinois’s distinguished personalities