|
The Palos Area
Located only a 35-45 minute drive from the culture offered by downtown Chicago or the businesses center of Oak Brook, Palos is ideally situated. On its northern border you’ll travel through the largest concentration of pristine Forest Preserves to be found in the entire Metropolitan southwest suburban area. It runs roughly 7 miles in breadth and width and consists of about 10,700 acres of rolling woods and natural prairie. It is not uncommon to find homes for sale that are nestled next to these woods.
Character filled hill terrain was created where Palos Township now exists by the terminus of glacier ice and a moraine was formed by the leftover glacial debris. The wooded hills that remained where favorite Indian hunting grounds for the Osage, Mississippians, Soux, Pottawatomie, and later the Black Hawk as well as other tribes that were resident in the area.
Consisting of three Palos communities (Palos Park, Palos Hills and Palos Heights) the areas were first settled in the mid 1830’s after Black Hawk’s defeat in 1832. It was a logging area producing oak timbers that were used as planking for early Chicago streets. Many of the original settlers were also Irish immigrants who were workers on the Cal Sag Canal built in 1838. By the late 19th century a train route through the Palos area brought tourists from downtown Chicago. By the 1920’s and ‘30’s Palos Park became known as a “country get-away for the Chicago elite and acquired a reputation as something of an art colony. By the late 1930’s much of neighboring Palos Heights was promoted by a developer who advertised “farmettes” on 1/3 acre lots with sections of each back yard set aside for a cow, goat, sheep, or chickens. Palos Park lot sizes typically range from ½ to one acre with current zoning requiring a full acre to obtain a building permit.
All of the Palos’ are now almost fully developed and have become thriving modern communities. Palos Park has recently lured individuals and builders who are attracted by the very scenic wooded properties to purchase some of the older smaller homes in town for demolition and construction of new country estates. Palos Heights is a diverse area with many 1/3 acre partly wooded sites and ¼ acre lots. Many of its older homes are now being torn down or remodeled. Palos Hills, with a large mix of townhomes and condominiums in addition to its wide range of choice in single family homes is the closest to expressway access leading to downtown Chicago.
Immediately south of the Palos area is Orland Park, until somewhat recently, known as a farm community with more flat tillable terrain. A community of about 36,000 people, it features a regional shopping mall, a very advanced park district and a very wide range of housing from modest to very upscale. In recent years the Orland area has been one of the fastest growing communities in the United States.
The southwestern Chicago suburban area is locally known for its somewhat lower traffic congestion, excellent school and the perception that real estate is a “better value” than in many of the other Metropolitan areas. It is an area where any lifestyle can be easily satisfied. And if you prefer, there’s more fast paced high powered urban areas as well. But beware! You may never whish to leave! The family at Prudential L.T. Blount REALTORS® can help you find your dream, whatever it is…just contact us!
Please register for free updates or for a home evaluation.
Get started
|
