In 1936, Prospect Heights emerged. It was a planned community born from the dreams of families seeking affordable homes.
Prospect Heights began in 1935. Two young developers named Carlton Smith and Allen Dawson built the first houses on farmland along Elmhurst Road. These homes were meant for families weary of the Great Depression. The first family moved in during January 1936. By year’s end, six affordable homes stood in the pleasant rural area, soon to be known as Prospect Heights.
The development firm worked with the families. They aimed to create a responsible community. Children could grow up with pride. In 1938, they formed the Prospect Heights Improvement Association or PHIA. For 38 years, it acted as the community’s government. However, it lacked legal authority, as Prospect Heights was an unincorporated area in Cook County. By 1955, nearly 600 homes existed in unincorporated Prospect Heights.
During the 1960s, rapid development brought problems. Local residents lacked control over the growth. The PHIA decided incorporation was the only solution. Over 50% of residents voted to incorporate. On January 31, 1976, exactly 40 years after the first family arrived, the City of Prospect Heights was born.
After incorporation, Prospect Heights continued to grow. It assumed a new character. Besides single-family homes on half-acre lots, Prospect Heights now includes multifamily areas. There are also increasing numbers of businesses and centers of economic development.
Prospect Heights is a city in Cook County. It is a suburb of Chicago. The 2020 census recorded a population of 16,058. Prospect Heights covers a total area of 4.29 square miles. Land makes up 4.26 square miles. Water covers 0.03 square miles.
Local lore says Prospect Heights got its name from neighbors Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights. The east side features commercial ventures and Palwaukee Airport. The west side includes sloughs and houses on large lots with private wells.
In 1830, a thousand-acre tract at Elmhurst and Willow Roads was home to Hiram L. Kennicott’s dairy farm. The farm had two hundred cows. They supplied milk and butter to Chicago markets. Kennicott lived in grand style. His home was nicknamed the Folly. It housed tutors and governesses for his children.
In 1935, developers Carlton Smith and Allen Dawson built the first houses along Elmhurst Road. They built low-cost homes. They were nationally recognized for promoting Federal Housing Administration financing. By the end of 1936, six two-story bungalows stood on large half-acre lots. The homes had unfinished attics for later expansion. By 1945, there were 317 homes in Prospect Heights.
Sales occurred from a garage at Camp McDonald and Elmhurst Roads. The building served as a general store, meeting place, and post office. In 1937, Smith and Dawson built a shopping center at the corner. It was advertised as the Midwest’s first planned drive-in shopping center. The four-corner hub became the town’s center.
Today, Prospect Heights balances its history with modern growth. It continues to evolve with a commitment to its residents and businesses.