Subscribe to Main Streets on YouTubeElmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst, Illinois is a western Chicago suburb built on movement—rail lines, highways, and proximity to O’Hare all converge here.
Elmhurst, Illinois continues to grow from those roots, balancing access, history, and a strong local business culture.
John McGivern traces how location shaped the city, from its early days as Cottage Hill to a railroad-driven suburb where residents can still reach downtown Chicago in about 22 minutes. The influence of German and English settlers remains in the name itself, while Elmhurst University reflects that long-standing foundation.
Downtown, the rhythm of daily life runs alongside active tracks, with more than 100 trains passing through each day. Businesses lean into community ties—a bakery that grew from backyard sales into a locally funded storefront, and a coffee company building direct relationships with farmers in Costa Rica.
Elmhurst’s infrastructure tells another story. A former limestone quarry now holds billions of gallons of stormwater to help manage regional flooding along Salt Creek. Nearby, the Illinois Prairie Path—one of the first rail-to-trail projects in the country—connects past and present through public space.
From historic sites like the Churchville Schoolhouse to modern gathering places, Elmhurst remains a place people return to, shaped as much by connection as by community.
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