Nicknamed “The Crossroads of the Nation” for its intersecting highways, Chicago Heights is home to a bustling industrial sector 32 miles south of downtown Chicago. The city’s roots date back to the late 19th century when a series of large-scale manufacturers sought to create an outer-ring industrial suburb. Over the last hundred years, generations of workers have populated the city, many of whom still live and work in the area today. Beyond the plants and production lines, a residential community surrounds the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Illinois Route 1. It’s through community resources and citywide development that Chicago Heights continues to press onward.
Beacon Hill is a South Chicago suburb located within the Chicago Heights community.
Chicago Heights is home to many industrial manufacturing facilities like Solvay.
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Vintage homes priced below the national average
Many homes in Chicago Heights date back to the early 20th century, often having been renovated within the last 20 years. Ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and the occasional American Foursquare line residential streets west of the industrial sector. Closer to the crossroads of Route 30 and Route 1, many historic homes once housed the city’s earliest steelworkers. Today, it’s common to see these properties transformed into duplexes, condos and co-ops. The median price in Chicago Heights is around $175,000, well below the national average and the nearby communities of Matteson and Homewood.
American Foursquare and bungalows line streets in East Side-Cook County in Chicago Heights.
Cape Cod houses can be found around the Beacon Hill neighborhood.
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Thorn Creek’s nature preserves contrast the industrial sector
Vast acres of woodlands and streams contrast the otherwise industrial atmosphere of Chicago Heights. Thorn Creek winds diagonally through the city center, surrounded by 23 miles of trails connecting multiple forest preserves. From Joe Orr Woods to Indian Hill Woods, residents will find hidden entrances to these sprawling woodlands for hiking, bike riding and dog-walking. Additionally, the park district provides opportunities for youth athletic leagues, with practices and games held at Chicago Heights Illinois Baseball Field and other facilities closer to Matteson. Neighborhood green spaces like King Park and Seiter Park offer basketball courts and playgrounds within walking distance of many homes.
Thorn Creek runs right through the Country Club neighborhood and much of Chicago Heights.
Hungry Hill residents keep an active lifestyle biking on miles of trails in Indian Hill Woods.
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From District 170 to Prairie State Community College
Primary students attend Chicago Heights School District 170, which earns a C-minus on Niche. The district partners with organizations like No Kid Hungry and the Parent Academy Workshop Program to ensure that students’ needs are met. This includes complimentary breakfast during the week, free meals throughout the summer and curriculum resources for guardians. Bloom Township High School District 206 earns an overall C-plus on Niche, encompassing Bloom High School and Bloom Trail High School. Many students participate in dual credit programs through Prairie State Community College on Halsted Street. Enrolling around 5,000 students each year, Prairie State was one of the first community colleges in Illinois to guarantee full credit transfers to other in-state universities upon graduation.
Roosevelt Elementary School enrolls over 350 students in the Chicago Heights District 170.
Bloom High School is a diverse public school offering a wide range of activities to students.
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Celebrating Juneteenth with Music in the Park
Chicago Heights is known to host annual events throughout the summer months, including Music in the Park. The series honors holidays like Juneteenth with live music performances and food vendors. Similarly, locals flock to Fiesta Chicago Heights to celebrate Mexican Independence Day each September. A parade marks the start of the two-day festival, complete with traditional Mexican food, music, dancing and art. Many residents head north into Homewood for seasonal events, including holidays and farmer’s markets.
Fiesta Chicago Heights is a Mexican Independence Day Celebration in the West End area.
There are plenty of fresh foods and goods to browse at the Homewood Outdoor Farmers Market.
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An industrial sector east of the crossroads
Just east of the crossroads, manufacturing, automotive and logistics corporations pack the East-Side Chicago Heights neighborhood. The Union Pacific Railroad and Canadian National Railway both pass through the industrial sector, transporting materials from large employers like Ford Motor Company, Behr Paints and Chicago Steel & Iron. Amazon and FedEx also have firms in the city with a large ratio of local employees. Though healthcare is not a major industry in Chicago Heights, the nearest facilities are the Cook County Health Center in Cottage Grove and Franciscan Health Olympia Fields.
Chicago Heights residents are primarily car-dependent and rely on Route 30 and Route 1 to reach surrounding communities. The closest Metra is 211th Street in nearby Olympia Fields, which takes riders an hour north to The Loop. Chicago Heights is equidistant between Chicago Midway International Airport and Gary/Chicago International Airport, each with a 23-mile commute.
Budget-friendly amenities surround the Crossroads of the Nation
Grocers, retailers and local markets are widely available along Route 30 and Route 1. Heading west toward Matteson, residents will find Walmart Supercenter, Food 4 Less and Aldi among a handful of Mexican markets with imported products. Park Place Plaza offers retailers like Target, Home Depot and Kohl’s farther north in Homewood. To the south, Heights Fresh Market and Jewel-Osco each partner with Chicago Heights School District 170 to provide free vaccinations year-round. A majority of restaurants in Chicago Heights are locally owned, serving Mexican, Mediterranean and soul food plates to-go. Those looking for a sit-down experience can check out the city’s various Mexican restaurants, including Taqueria Mis Arandas and Los Primos.
Chicago Heights residents go to Aldi in the Country Club neighborhood for groceries.
For great Mexican fare, head to to Taqueria Mi Arandas in Chicago Heights.
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The Chicago Heights Comprehensive Plan
According to data from the FBI and the Chicago Heights Police Department, the city’s overall crime rate sits above the national average and has increased by 17 percent since 2015.
In 2014, Chicago Heights implemented a comprehensive plan for greater livability and economic growth. Through organizations like the South Cooke Intermediate Service Center and Harold Colbert Jones Memorial Center, residents are afforded healthcare, public benefits, childcare, summer camps and tutoring resources. The plan indicates that demolishing and repurposing vacant buildings throughout Chicago Heights may help promote community development and strong local businesses.
On average, homes in Chicago Heights, IL sell after 43 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Chicago Heights, IL over the last 12 months is $180,100, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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