Located in the heart of Will County, Illinois, New Lenox is a thriving village with a population of 28,060 as of 2023. Positioned as a southwestern suburb of Chicago and an eastern suburb of Joliet, the village boasts a prime location. New Lenox is home to several excellent schools, including Lincoln-Way West High School, Providence Catholic High School, and Lincoln-Way Central High School, making it an attractive option for families seeking quality education.
New Lenox can be found about 36 miles southwest of Chicago’s city center, situated at the intersection of 41°30′30″N 87°58′14″W. It shares borders with Joliet to the northwest, Ingalls Park to the west, Mokena to the east, Frankfort to the southeast, and Manhattan to the south.
The climate in New Lenox exhibits a wide temperature fluctuation throughout the year, with the mercury dipping to an average low of 21 °F (-6 °C) in January, the coldest month, and peaking at an average high of 73 °F (23 °C) in July, the warmest month. The duration of freezing temperatures lasts for around 137 days, while the thermometer remains above 80 °F (27 °C) for 86 days on average.
New Lenox is recognized for being “The Home of Proud Americans”, showcasing the high standard of living in the area.
In a prediction from 2011, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for projected that New Lenox’s population would reach 90,652 by the year 2030.
The local government of the village is organized under the village form of administration. The village adopts the Council-Trustees/Mayor system, which appoints a village administrator to oversee daily operations and manage the community’s affairs.
New Lenox School District 122 oversees elementary and middle schools, while Lincoln-Way Community High School District manages high schools in New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Manhattan, and parts of Tinley Park and Orland Park. The district consists of three high schools: Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East, and Lincoln-Way West, with Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way West situated in New Lenox and Lincoln-Way East located in Frankfort.
Providence Catholic High School, situated in New Lenox, is a private secondary school affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
Joliet Junior College, the first public community college in the United States, provides students with pre-baccalaureate programs that enable them to seamlessly transfer to a four-year university.
Silver Cross has invested $400 million in a state-of-the-art hospital, strategically located near the intersection of U.S. Route 6 and the new I-355 extension in New Lenox, Illinois. This modern facility replaced their Joliet location on February 26, 2012, and offers a comprehensive range of services, including those formerly provided by Children’s Memorial Hospital, the renowned Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), and the esteemed University of Chicago Medical Center.
New Lenox is conveniently serviced by two Metra commuter rail lines, providing easy access to surrounding towns and cities. The New Lenox Metra Station, situated at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Cedar Road, serves towns along Metra’s Rock Island District Line, running between Joliet Union Station and Chicago’s LaSalle Street Station. Additionally, the Metra Laraway Road Station, located at the intersection of Cedar Road, services towns on Metra’s SouthWest Service Line, connecting Manhattan and Chicago’s Union Station.
New Lenox is situated at the intersection of several prominent roads, making it a hub for transportation. U.S. Route 30 serves as the primary east-west artery through town, while Cedar Road, Gougar Road, and Nelson Road are the major north-south thoroughfares. Additionally, New Lenox is accessible via Interstate 80 and Interstate 355, also known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway, which connects to numerous other major highways and nearby cities, including Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Wheaton, and Bolingbrook.
The deserted airfield of New Lenox-Howell Airport is situated along Laraway Road.
The intersection of I-355, Route 6, was planned for two big projects: Cedar Crossings and Spring Creek Outlets. Cedar Crossings is set to be built on the southwest side of Cedar Road and Route 6, next to Silver Cross Hospital. It is a proposed retail center spanning 970,000 square feet, planned for development by the Zaremba Group. Yet, the progress of Cedar Crossings has been put on hold because of economic challenges.
In 2011, the New Lenox French Market first opened its doors to the public. Running from late spring to October, the market offers a diverse selection of goods, including fresh produce, flowers, herbs, gourmet cheeses, baked goods, and more. The market also hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, such as the annual Proud American Days festival, Kids Fest, and Halloween Parade & Costume Contest, which provide entertainment for both families and children.
The New Lenox Community Park District oversees 40 parks and sports600 acres. In addition, they make use of 14 facilities across New Lenox.
Notable residents of New Lenox, Illinois include B.J. Bello, a linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers; Alex Broadhurst, a former center for the Columbus Blue Jackets; Adam Calhoun, a rapper and songwriter; Karla DeVito, a singer and songwriter; Tony Cingrani, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals; Ned Grabavoy, a former MLS player and current scouting director for the Portland Timbers, who won the 2009 MLS Cup; Sonya Huber, a writer; Renée Kosel, a state Congresswoman representing the 81st legislative district of Illinois; Rob Ninkovich, a retired defensive end and two-time Super Bowl champion for the New England Patriots, who is now an analyst for ESPN; Johan Reinhard, an Andean archaeologist and explorer in residence for National Geographic; Wellington J. Reynolds, a painter and instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago; and Eric Steinbach, a retired NFL football player who played offensive line. Local news is covered by The New Lenox Patriot, a weekly community newspaper.