Did you know that Park Ridge was once called Pennyville? That’s right. This charming Chicago suburb nestled on a ridge owes its unusual early name to George Penny a businessman who established a brickyard here in 1854. Park Ridge’s clay-rich soil made it a vital brick-making center for the burgeoning city of Chicago. Think of the countless buildings that rose thanks to the bricks made right here.
Park Ridge’s history stretches back even further than Pennyville. Long before the brickyards the Potawatomi people called this land home. Their presence shaped this land before the arrival of Yankee settlers from New England and New York in the 1830s. They established farms and named this area Maine Township reflecting their eastern roots.
The arrival of the railroad significantly boosted Park Ridge’s growth. The Chicago St Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad later the Chicago & North Western spurred development. Penny cleverly built his own station ensuring that the trains stopped near his brickyard. This strategic move transformed Pennyville into a thriving community that would later be known as Brickton.
Park Ridge experienced a major building boom in the 1910s and 1920s. City dwellers sought the quiet charm of the area and the convenient access to Chicago’s city center via the commuter trains. Its population exploded from just 2009 people in 1910 to over 10000 just twenty years later. Anticipating potential annexation by Chicago the village reorganized and officially became the city of Park Ridge in 1910. This period marked the construction of landmarks like Maine East High School and the iconic Pickwick Theatre.
The Great Depression temporarily slowed Park Ridge’s growth. However the World War II era brought a need for housing for war-industry workers fueling another small building boom. Post-war suburbanization dramatically increased Park Ridge’s population. This led to an explosive growth from 16602 residents in 1950 to over 42000 in 1970. The construction of O’Hare Airport nearby significantly boosted the expansion of the city.
Today Park Ridge stands as a prosperous upper-middle-class residential suburb. While its population remains predominantly white it now includes a substantial Polish Roman Catholic community. Its rich history is evident in its architecture its vibrant downtown and its strong sense of community. Park Ridge continues to evolve while preserving its unique character and identity. You can feel the history here the blend of old and new the legacy of those who came before and the vibrancy of today’s residents. And of course no trip to Park Ridge is complete without a visit to the Pickwick Theatre an art deco masterpiece that has graced Park Ridge for nearly a century.