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La Grange, Illinois

La Grange is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States.
Population 16,321

Top Events in La Grange History

1
1830Government
The first settler, Robert Leitch, came to the area in 1830, seven years before the City of Chicago was incorporated.
2
1862Government
It was founded by Franklin Dwight Cossitt, who was born in Granby, Connecticut, and raised in Tennessee, and moved to Chicago in 1862 where he built a successful wholesale groce...
3
1864Government
==== Train service ==== The first rail link to Chicago dates to 1864, established by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.
4
1870History
In 1870, Cossitt purchased several hundred acres of farmland in Lyons Township, along the Chicago-Dixon Road, known today as Ogden Avenue (U.S.
5
1871Disaster
After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed much of that city, thousands of its citizens sought new homes and opportunities far from the city's ills but within a convenient c...
6
1879Government
The village was officially incorporated on June 11, 1879.
7
1894History
Growing to 52 lines in 1894, it increased twofold to 120 by the next year, and surged to 2,346 by 1921 (36 percent of the population at the time).
8
1947History
=== Pet Parade === An annual event known as the Pet Parade has been conducted every year since 1947 and attracts thousands of people from the La Grange area.
9
1948History
There is a long history of Grand Marshals for the parade including Elephants and Donkeys from the Brookfield Zoo (1948), Luci Baines Johnson – Daughter of the President Lyndon B.
10
1956Government
Freshmen and Sophomores go to South Campus, founded in 1956, located in neighboring Western Springs.

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Historical Timeline

1830Government
The first settler, Robert Leitch, came to the area in 1830, seven years before the City of Chicago was incorporated.
1862Government
It was founded by Franklin Dwight Cossitt, who was born in Granby, Connecticut, and raised in Tennessee, and moved to Chicago in 1862 where he built a successful wholesale groce...
1864Government
==== Train service ==== The first rail link to Chicago dates to 1864, established by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.
1870History
In 1870, Cossitt purchased several hundred acres of farmland in Lyons Township, along the Chicago-Dixon Road, known today as Ogden Avenue (U.S.
1871Disaster
After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed much of that city, thousands of its citizens sought new homes and opportunities far from the city's ills but within a convenient c...
1879Government
The village was officially incorporated on June 11, 1879.
1894History
Growing to 52 lines in 1894, it increased twofold to 120 by the next year, and surged to 2,346 by 1921 (36 percent of the population at the time).
1947History
=== Pet Parade === An annual event known as the Pet Parade has been conducted every year since 1947 and attracts thousands of people from the La Grange area.
1948History
There is a long history of Grand Marshals for the parade including Elephants and Donkeys from the Brookfield Zoo (1948), Luci Baines Johnson – Daughter of the President Lyndon B.
1956Government
Freshmen and Sophomores go to South Campus, founded in 1956, located in neighboring Western Springs.
1964Culture
Johnson (1964), and Susan Dey and Danny Bonaduce of "The Partridge Family" (1971).
1967Education
Previously there also was a junior college associated with the high school but due to increasing enrollment, lack of space, and new rules that separated junior colleges from hig...
1968History
The second form of media, WLTL, first aired in 1968 and has been broadcasting music for fifty years.
2020History
As of 2020, La Grange has a total area of 2.52 square miles (6.53 km2), all land.

Did You Know?

1
La Grange is located in the state of Illinois.
2
La Grange has a population of 16,321 residents.
3
The population was 16,321 at the 2020 census.

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A
Aurora
Pop. 180,935
N
Naperville
Pop. 154,969
J
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Pop. 152,579
R
Rockford
Pop. 146,881
E
Elgin
Pop. 115,100

Famous People from La Grange, Illinois

RJ
Richard H. Jeschke
Military Personnel · Born Dec 22, 1894 · Died Dec 15, 1957 (age 62)
HL
Helen Lynd
Sociologist, Social Philosopher · Born Mar 17, 1896 · Died Jan 30, 1982 (age 85)
WO
William O'Brien (police officer)
Police Officer · Born Mar 10, 1944 · Died Mar 3, 2016 (age 71)
TO
Tricia O'Kelley
Actress · Born Sep 26, 1968 · Age 57
LS
Louis J. Sacriste
Civil War Medal Of Honor Recipient · Born Jun 15, 1843 · Died Aug 18, 1904 (age 61)
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