Coal City, IL

7 Apartments for Rent

The tiny village of Coal City, IL, enjoyed the 15 minutes of fame it gleaned from being mentioned in the comedy film, The Blues Brothers. In the movie, Elwood Blues explains that his brother Jake served time in prison for holding up a gas station, to pay for the room service he ordered during a job he performed in Coal City.

This lovely village is nestled in Grundy County, Illinois, and is inhabited by nearly 6,000 people according to the most recent census numbers. Coal City is about five square miles in size and is sandwiched between Braceville and Felix Townships. It's no surprise that this vibrant village got its name from the coal mines that are located in the area.

Moving to Coal City

Prior to relocating to Coal City, it's wise to use an online apartment locator to find places for rent in the area. It's much easier to search for apartment rentals or townhouses for rent from the comfort of an office or home than to have to use local newspapers to search for places to live in Coal City. There are a variety of places for rent in this wonderful area. Finding an apartment for rent or rental homes in the area shouldn't be too taxing. Also, before moving to the area, renters should ensure that copies of identification and social security cards are readily available and not packed away. A potential landlord will require access to this information, most likely to perform a credit check. Late summer and early fall are always ideal times to move to this area. It's much cooler during these times, and should make moving large items and heavy furniture a little less exhausting.

Neighborhoods in Coal City

There are only two major neighborhoods in the area. This isn't surprising, since the area is only five square miles in size. However, it is surprising that this tiny village houses four different zip codes.

Central City: This is the smaller of the two neighborhoods. Local restaurants like The Polka-Dot Drive-In and R-Place Family Eatery are segregated from residential areas, with the exception of some of the larger apartment complexes.

Village Center: Village Center is the larger of the two neighborhoods. Area businesses such as the National Fireproofing Company and Mc Luckie Oil Company are located within the same area as residential units.

Living in Coal City

There has been a continuous influx of people relocating to this tiny area. People seem to be flocking to this village because of the friendly neighbors and convenient location to the cultural interests that beckon from downtown Chicago. The village is located just south of I-80 alongside the corridor of I-55. The area is located just outside the western suburbs near regional shopping areas such as Oakbrook and Bolingbrook. Of course, the biggest draw for most residents is small-town living in such close proximity to the Chicago metropolitan area. Public transit options abound, and many in-town locations are within walking distance of local residences.

Coal City is close to several lakes, located at the northern border of the village. This is another one of the perks that send people flocking to this tiny, but active area. The village is also conveniently located closely to the Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers, which supply additional opportunities for outdoor enjoyment, including horseback riding.

Annual celebrations such as Oktoberfest are quite popular with area residents. The downtown area closes to traffic, and the streets become deluged with food vendors and arts and crafts, all centered on celebrating the passing of summer into fall.

There are plenty of sights to see and outdoor activities to keep residents busy. Since the city is so closely situated to a major metropolitan area, residents can have the best of both worlds -- a small-town location with big-city culture.