Downers Grove gets half its name from its founder, Pierce Downer, and the other half from the lush grove of burr oaks that surrounds the city. A native of Vermont, Downer was a farmer who traveled from upstate New York to Illinois and founded Downers Grove in 1832.
Between 1839 and 1846 settlers from the Northeast U.S. and northern Europe built the first homes, two of which are historically significant because they were built by abolitionists and located on the route of the underground railroad. A schoolhouse was also built in 1844.
Like other surrounding towns, Downers Grove benefitted from the extension of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad (now BNSF), which significantly boosted its population. The township has grown over the decades and now boasts a population over 50,000, making it one of the larger suburbs west of Chicago and in DuPage County.
The Downers Grove Historical Society and Museum are great places to start for visitors looking to find out more about the city’s rich history. Visitors can learn about Downers Grove’s historic buildings, landmarks, and homes. Downers Grove is notable for its number of Sears Catalog homes, which were built from kits offered by Sears between 1908 and 1940. The historical society offers a guide for those who want to conduct a walking or driving tour to view the outside of the homes.
Because of its size, location, and accessibility to downtown and other areas in the region, Downers Grove is an impressive choice for potential homebuyers looking to settle in a community close to Chicago that provides many of the amenities the big city provides.
The township includes more than 60 subdivisions and neighborhoods with a host of choices for those looking to relocate and buy a home. Homes for sale can be found in a broad range of prices and sizes, including walking distance from downtown and as far south as 75th Street, bordering Woodridge and Darien.
The busy Ogden corridor cuts through the township just north of downtown, and Illinois Toll Roads 88 and 355 are nearby, providing easy access to the Chicago Metropolitan area. The BNSF Railway and its station downtown offers commuters and big city lovers trains to downtown Chicago, including express trains that zip to Chicago’s city center in less than 30 minutes.
Downers Grove Grade School District 58 operates 14 elementary schools in the township, and School District 99 runs the highly regarded Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South High Schools, both of which have excellent facilities. Their athletic programs are some of the best in the western suburbs.
Downtown Downers Grove is one of the most vibrant in the area. A host of restaurant choices offering a wide variety of cuisine, and shops of every kind dot the downtown landscape. Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant features a great selection of beers along with live music and a Barrelman’s Room where revelers can sip barrel-aged spirits. Capri of Downers Grove is an elegant spot for Italian classics, and Wasabi serves fresh sushi. The downtown Starbucks offers remote employees an office away from home, and sports fans might want to pop into Another Round Bar & Grill for a burger and watch their favorite teams.
Plenty of entertainment options are available in Downers Grove, including movies at the historic Tivoli Theatre. Built in 1928, the now fully restored theater was just the second in the United States to show movies with sound. (Fun fact: The horror film The Curse of Downers Grove, starring Tom Arnold, was filmed on location in town).
The highly popular Downtown Downers Grove Market runs every Saturday from late Spring to early Fall and features more than 60 vendors selling everything from fresh produce to soap to sausages. The market supports the Indian Boundary YMCA. Other things to do in Downers Grove include the Downers Grove Park District’s Summer Concert Series, which takes place every Tuesday in Fishel Park, and Moose Lodge Cruise Nights, a classic car show that runs on Friday nights on Main Street throughout the summer.
The Downers Grove Park District operates one of the biggest and best districts in the region. A full range of activities are on offer for adults and kids of all ages—a fitness center and fitness classes, summer camps, swimming and swim classes, nature classes, children’s sports leagues, ice skating and other winter sports, and a host of other options for families in Downers Grove to stay active.
In total, for potential homebuyers seeking a place to plant roots that encompasses all of the best a community can offer, Downers Grove should most certainly be on their list of places to explore.
