Oak Lawn is a city of about 56,000 people (2016) in South Suburbs (Illinois), Chicagoland.

Understand

Oak Lawn downtown

History

In August 1835, James B. Campbell purchased the land stretching between Cicero Avenue and Central Avenue from 95th Street to 103rd Street. It is unclear what Campbell's intentions with the area were, but by 1840, he had lost a court battle with the Illinois State Bank and his land was sold in a public auction. John Simpson, a prominent figure in early Oak Lawn history, bought the northern half of the property in 1842. By 1859, the government of Worth Township paid for the construction of Black Oak Grove Road, an early name for 95th Street. Black Oak Grove is also the earliest known name of the area that would become Oak Lawn. It was later shortened to Black Oak or Black Oaks, but in 1882, the post office, train depot and surrounding community became known simply as Oak Lawn. Over the next two decades, the area grew in population as more homes were built and local business sprang into being.

In 1909, Oak Lawn was incorporated as a village. The following years saw major improvements to local infrastructure and government services, such as the introduction of the police magistrate and village marshal, along with the building of a village hall and jailhouse. Electric lights were brought to 95th Street in 1911, the volunteer fire department began in 1923, Oak Lawn's first bank opened in 1925, and the Community High School District was formed. The population had grown to 2,045 by 1930, and civic improvements were steadily made over the next decade.

After World War II, with veterans returning home and taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, Oak Lawn experienced a major population boom. By 1960, there were nearly 20,000 residents in Oak Lawn.

On April 21, 1967, a tornado touched down in Oak Lawn that is recorded as one of the worst to strike an urban area. Roughly 900 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and over 30 people were killed.

The town was rebuilt in the coming years, and witnessed further population growth, peaking at 63,500 between 1973 and 1976. However, there was a decrease in residents in the 1980s, and an aging population led to the closure of several schools. In response, the village began a process of redevelopment to counteract the decrease. This redevelopment has focused primarily on businesses and structures in the core area of Oak Lawn, around 95th Street between Cicero Avenue and Central Avenue.

Get in

Oak Lawn station on Metra's SouthWest Service commuter train is about 15 miles (24 km) away from Chicago's Union Station, the northern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Oak Lawn is in zone D.

Trains operate between Chicago Union Station to the north, and Orland Park and Manhattan to the south.

Get around

Pace buses operate from the Oak Lawn Metra station:

• 381 95th Street
• 395 95th/Dan Ryan CTA Station/UPS Hodgkins (weekday UPS shifts only)
• 774 Palos Heights/Oak Lawn - Guaranteed Rate Field Express

Do

• Oak Lawn maintains an expansive park system. From small corner play lots to the 38-acre (150,000 m²) Centennial Park, there are over 300 acres (1.2 k) of parks, recreational facilities and open land. These include playgrounds, walking paths, baseball fields, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, plus outdoor swimming pools, an indoor ice arena, two fitness centers, and an 18-hole golf course.

• The 18-hole Stony Creek Golf Course features 5,004 yards (4,576 m) of golf from the longest tees for a par of 65. Designed by Carl Getz, the golf course opened in 1982. The facility features include a miniature-golf course, banquet facilities, pro shop, bocce courts, horseshoe pits, PGA instruction, and a 44-station driving range.

Go next

Routes through Oak Lawn