Welcome to Countryside, Illinois: a city so appealing that the Marx Brothers bought a chicken farm here in 1917. While it turned out that the Brothers had no talent for farming, they certainly enjoyed the area.
Countryside is located in Cook County, just a 24-minute drive from Chicago
Welcome to Countryside, Illinois: a city so appealing that the Marx Brothers bought a chicken farm here in 1917. While it turned out that the Brothers had no talent for farming, they certainly enjoyed the area.
Countryside is located in Cook County, just a 24-minute drive from Chicago. It was first incorporated as a city in 1950, and could be described as a satellite for Illinois's biggest city. Countryside had a population of 5,895 residents at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, and it covers approximately 2.88 square miles of land.
If you are looking for rental housing in Countryside, it is best to start looking well ahead of time. Although over half of the homes in the city are houses, house rentals could be difficult to come by as most of the houses are owner-occupied. Almost 40 percent of the city's residences are apartments, and most of those are occupied by renters. They are scattered around somewhat, so it is unlikely you will find an apartment complex in Countryside, but there are charming individual buildings all over the city.
Those looking to purchase a dwelling will find that prices are reasonable. If you are searching for a three-bedroom place, then there are a lot of options, but those in the market for one bedroom apartments will need to put in some extra effort. If you are aware of what you want and do your research, you will find a home that suits you.
Countryside is a small community, so there aren't specific neighborhoods to consider when choosing a place to live. There are a number of quaint amenities nearby that offer an aura of small-town living.
Joliet Road: If you like to travel, you may prefer to live near Joliet Road in the southeast for easy transit through the city and into neighboring villages.
West Countryside: The west side of Countryside is also close to Interstate 294 if you are considering going long distances, and Chicago is best accessed via Interstate 55 in the east of town.
The easiest way to get around Countryside is by car or on foot. If you are a fan of public transport, the nearest Amtrak station is in La Grange. Countryside is also served by three Pace bus lines that run all the way to Chicago. As it's a small place, you may enjoy cycling to get around the local area. The police department runs a safe cycling initiative for children and adults: more information is available on the city website.
Countryside is very community-oriented, as evidenced by its charming website and seasonal newsletter. Citizens of this little city have access to some great eateries, including the Outriggers Flame restaurant on Joliet Road and Andy's Frozen Custard on La Grange Road. You can also fulfill all your shopping desires at Countryside Shopping Center, a popular plaza that attracts visitors from all around the area. It has plenty of major retailers as well as great places to eat, and is continually being updated to stay in touch with the 21st century. Other enjoyable activities include driving a mere 15 minutes to Brookfield Zoo, working on your handicap at Flagg Creek Golf Course, and cheering at football games in Chicago less than half an hour away.
