Former “Goat Village” is now an “Island Within a City”
Once called “Goat Village” due to the sprawling goat farm at its eastern border, Norridge is now better known as the “Island Within a City.” Despite its proximity to Chicago, the village has managed to preserve a separate identity. In 1948, Norridge’s local improvement association protested the Windy City’s attempts to annex, and subdivisions, public work projects and shopping centers blossomed throughout the ‘50s. These days, there are far more people than there are animals, and farmland has been replaced by big-box retailers along Harlem Avenue. “We’re mostly known for the Harlem Irving Plaza — we call it The HIP,” says Kathy Gaseor, a local and executive assistant to the village board in Norridge. “Most people when you say ‘Norridge’ will think of the Harlem Irving Plaza,” she adds, pointing to the success of the large-scale shopping mall. In Norridge, brick-sided ranch-styles, cottages and bungalows are an ever-present reminder of the village’s mid-century economic boom. On the outskirts of these large-scale housing developments, residents can still find peace and quiet in the Schiller Woods, part of the Cook County Forest Preserves. Families picnic beside the Des Plaines River, where the calls of chirping birds blend with the sound of planes taking off from Chicago O’Hare nearby.
Mid-century brick homes and condo units in high-rises
In Norridge, prospective buyers will find a mix of bungalows and ranch-style homes dating back to the mid-20th century. “People came to Norridge in the 1950s, and they never left,” says Gaseor. “Kids that grew up here are buying their parents' homes and raising their own families here. It’s a multigenerational area.” Most houses are under 2,000 square feet and range from the mid-$300,000s to the mid-$400,000s. Garages sit behind houses and face into alleyways, but parking in the street isn’t uncommon. There are also ‘90s-era high-rise condominiums where two-bedroom units sell for under $300,000 and the occasional 3,000-square-foot traditional home where price tags surpass $600,000.
Homestyle in Norridge.
Homestyle in Norridge.
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Innovative mathematics at Ridgewood Community High School
Depending on their address within the village, children living in Norridge can attend J Leigh Elementary, which serves grades pre-kindergarten through four and earned an A from the educational review site, Niche. There’s also the B-plus-rated Pennoyer Elementary for grades pre-kindergarten through eight, and Ridgewood Community High School, which also received a B-plus. Ridgewood is known for its innovative programs like “Geometry in Construction,” where students learn mathematical concepts through the construction process. Community contractors, carpenters and electricians lend their guidance on community build days. Similarly, Algebra 2 in Business encourages students to learn through business-related projects rather than textbooks.
Ridgewood Community High School is well rated public school in Norridge, IL.
John V Leigh School is a highly rated public school in Norridge, IL serving grades PK and K-4.
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Shopping along Irving Park Road since the 1930s and The HIP
In the early 1930s, commercial development began along Irving Park Road in Norridge — to this day, the street remains a major shopping and dining destination. “When people think of Norridge, along with the HIP, they think of Edelweiss,” says Gaseor. It’s an authentic German-American restaurant that serves up everything from sauerkraut croquettes to schnitzel sandwiches. There’s also Raffi’s Locale, where diners will find a cozy atmosphere and a menu of scratch-made pasta dishes. Nearby, Bob-O’s Hot Dogs was voted “Best Italian Beef Italian Beef in Chicago.” The HIP, meanwhile, is home to more than 120 stores and restaurants including Target, Forever21 and McDonald’s. Pick up groceries at Amazon Fresh nearby or head to Jewel-Osco on the other off Cumberland Avenue.
Shopping center in Norridge.
Edelweiss is a popular spot in Norridge for German food and drinks.
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“Magic” fountains, hockey rinks and annual festivals
The Schiller Woods border Norridge to the west. Visitors can explore miles of unpaved walking trails, looking up to spot great horned owls, winter wrens and Cooper’s hawks. There’s also a model airplane flying field, a serpent mound and even a “magic” drinking fountain where some Chicagoans like to fill up their water bottles due to its alleged healing properties. Or visit Norridge Park District, which has a community pool popular during the summer months, a hockey rink, basketball courts, a playground and more. The park also hosts the “Island in the City” festival in July; locals ride the Ferris wheel (an invention original to the 1897 Chicago World’s Fair), listen to live music and sample from food trucks. To the north, the Oriole Park Branch of the Chicago Public Library borders baseball fields, tennis courts and playgrounds.
Schiller Woods is a great place to relax on a nice day if you live in Norridge.
Santa send-offs, rainy day movies and museums celebrating famous locals
Along with the “Island in the City” celebration in July, there’s also the Santa Send-Off Parade towards the end of December. “It was developed during the COVID shutdown,” explains Gaseor. “Santa rides on the back of one of our Public Works snow plows and we sent him on a grand send-off back to the North Pole. Parents bundle their kids up, and they’re all standing along the street waving goodbye.” Mr. Claus is welcomed to the village at the annual post-Thanksgiving tree lighting ceremony.
On rainy days, residents can head to a movie at the local AMC or visit the Trailside Museum of Natural History to the south in River Forest, which is housed in a Victorian Mansion. Nearby, tour the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio or the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum. Of course, there are always more opportunities in Downtown Chicago 15 miles east towards Lake Michigan.
O’Hare airport, the Chicago “L” and access to medical care
Norridge is serviced by the Chicago Area Transit Authority, and residents can take the blue line “L” into downtown Chicago, escaping the inevitable Interstate 90 traffic. The train originates from O’Hare International Airport, which offers nearly 215 non-stop flight options. According to Gaseor, residents have come to expect the constant sound of planes taking off and landing. “We’re trying to get the city of Chicago to give us the money to soundproof our windows and doors,” she says. “When you leave your windows open in the spring and summer and fall it can even be hard to hold a conversation.”
Residents can seek medical care at nearby facilities like Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Edward Hines Junior Hospital or the Loyola University Medical Center, which has 547 licensed beds, a level I trauma center, a burn center and a transplant center.
The CTA Blue Line is nearby for residents of Norridge to commute.
Residents of Norridge can commute through the nearby Interstate 90.
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Landmarks: burial grounds and St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church
Norridge is also known for being the final resting place for famous (and infamous) Chicagoans like Shel Silverstein and Jack Ruby. Westlaw Cemetery, Acacia Park Cemetery and Irving Park Cemetery lie in the southernmost part of the village, intersected by Irving Park Road. With its 13 golden domes, St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church towers above Norridge. It’s been one of the village’s most recognizable landmarks since it was completed in the late 1970s.
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