Villa Park, located in DuPage County, Illinois, is a village with a population of 21,113 according to the 2020 Census. Situated within the Chicago metropolitan area, it is a western suburb of the city.
In 1908, the real estate company Ballard & Pottinger began development on a subdivision called Villa Park, followed by another subdivision called Ardmore in 1910. As the two communities grew, they eventually merged in 1914, forming the incorporated town of Villa Park with a population of 300 residents.
Villa Park operates under a manager-council system of government. The village manager oversees the town’s daily activities and is chosen by the Village Board of Trustees. The Village Board, led by the Village President and consisting of six trustees, governs the village. The six trustees and the village clerk are elected every two years in a staggered manner to ensure continuity in leadership.
Villa Park boasts a total area of 4.77 square miles, as per the 2021 census gazetteer files. Out of this, an impressive 4.72 square miles (99.06%) is composed of land, while a mere 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) (0.94%) is made up of water.
As per the 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of Villa Park, the leading employers in the city are as follows:
1. Mc Afee, LLC – 417 employees
2. Clayco, Inc – 412 employees
3. Commonwealth Edison Group – 301 employees
4. Village of Villa Park – 225 employees
5. First Student – 191 employees
Villa Park offers transportation through its commuter railroad station on Metra’s Union Pacific West Line, providing service from west to Elburn, Illinois, and east to downtown Chicago. Both the Ardmore Avenue Train Station and the Villa Avenue Train Station are recognized as national historical sites. The Ardmore Avenue Train Station now houses the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce, while the Villa Avenue Train Station is the location of the Villa Park Historical Museum. Unfortunately, there have been multiple incidents of train-pedestrian fatalities in Villa Park.
The former train stations are situated along the Illinois Prairie Path, a well-known bicycle route that connects Chicago’s Western Suburbs and is favored by both cyclists and pedestrians during the summer months. In the winter, the path is ideal for cross-country skiing. Additionally, the Salt Creek Trail and Great Western Trail are easily accessible in the area.
Villa Park residents can access Forest Park, Wheaton, and other destinations via Pace bus services on Routes 301 and 313.
Prominent individuals in Villa Park include Nicole Abusharif, who was found guilty of the murder of her partner Rebecca Klein, Norma Berger, a pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Tom Cullerton, a member of the Illinois Senate, Tino Insana, an actor and writer, John Kennedy, a NASCAR driver, Anita Padilla, a reporter for WFLD-TV, Matt Roth, a retired NFL player, and Bobby Wawak, another NASCAR driver who hails from Villa Park.