A sprawling suburb southwest of Chicago. That’s Palos Heights. Incorporated in 1959 after four attempts. Palos Heights started small. Its early history is a bit hazy. An 1851 map shows no houses. A swampy area hampered early development. The Calumet Sag Channel runs through Palos Heights today.
By the 1860s German and Irish families farmed the flatter land. They used the hills for grazing. Harlem Avenue already existed. It divided the area into woodlots. These provided lumber and fuel. Ridgeland Avenue and 76th Avenue were also present. A blacksmith shop was the only business. The nearest train station was in Palos Park.
A school district finally formed in 1901. Dutch farmers also settled in Palos Heights. Farming continued. The Southwest Highway’s completion in 1928 changed things. A real estate developer created Harlem Heights. It offered quarter-acre homesites. These included trees grapevines and even chicken eggs. Racial covenants unfortunately restricted property ownership. Businesses opened along Harlem Avenue.
In 1937 residents created the Palos Heights Community Club. This group pushed for a school and fire department. Palos Heights got its own post office in 1939. Subdivisions continued through the 1940s and 1950s. Trinity Christian College was founded in 1959 the same year Palos Heights became a city.
The last farmland was sold in 1965. Palos Community Hospital opened in 1972. It’s the city’s largest employer. Palos Heights boasts no industry. It’s governed by a mayor and eight aldermen. The city built its first train station later. Palos Heights is known for its tree-lined streets beautiful parks and excellent schools. Hot humid summers and cold snowy winters are typical. It’s a city with a blend of old and new a history rich in agricultural roots and modern suburban growth.