The Village of Flossmoor will celebrate the centennial of its incorporation in 2024.
“Today’s residents choose to live in Flossmoor for its beautiful homes and neighborhoods, its award-winning schools and parks, its easy access to Chicago, and its diverse and inclusive community spirit,” village officials said in a news release. “Back in the year of its founding — 1924 — many residents came to the area and stayed for its golf courses, affordable land and its Illinois Central (IC) Railroad access.”
The IC (today’s Metra Electric line) was a dominant factor in the development of Flossmoor.
In the late 1880s, decades after local Native Americans were forced to relocate west of the Mississippi River, the railroad acquired 160 acres of land north of Flossmoor Road (then called Illinois Street) and west of Western Avenue. Several years later, the land was subdivided and on it were built the six earliest houses in Flossmoor, many by German immigrants.
In 1899, the Flossmoor Country Club (then known as the Homewood Country Club) was founded, which led to excursion trips by Chicagoans on the IC to Flossmoor that entitled passengers to a free lunch in the hopes they would choose to stay in the area.
Many did, and when the area was incorporated into the Village of Flossmoor on June 20, 1924, the recorded population was 265.
By the end of World War II, the recorded population was 1,270. Today, with an area of approximately three-square miles, Flossmoor’s population stands at approximately 9,700 residents.
These residents live in neighborhoods filled with architectural diversity. Early homes built in Flossmoor featured Tudor, four-square and even Spanish-revival styles.
In older sections of the village, a trained eye can pick out homes by famous architects, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Purcell & Elmslie and Keck & Keck.
As the village grew and styles changed, sprawling mid-century ranches and contemporary homes — including condos and townhomes — were built.
Residents themselves are a diverse, welcoming mix, dedicated to being connected to each other through events, schools and civic involvement. Flossmoor offers unique, invigorating volunteer efforts through its Public Art Commission, Green Commission and Community Relations Commission.
In 2022, for example, more than 500 volunteers worked together to plant 300 trees in parkways and parks in a single day in its Plant the Gem event, named a finalist in the 2023 Governor’s Hometown Awards Program.
The village has hosted more than 1,000 runners at the Hidden Gem Half Marathon — largely a volunteer effort — for four years and counting.
Flossmoor residents and visitors enjoy unique shopping, dining, golf courses, recreation, community events, beautiful parks — including a robust public sculpture program.
The village has plans to celebrate its 100th birthday all year long in 2024 through a variety of activities, micro-events and larger events, including three new community happenings:
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame on Thursday, June 20 — Enjoy an old-fashioned baseball and softball game featuring players from Flossmoor Baseball & Softball at Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s Varsity Field.
- Kegs & Eggs on Saturday, Sept. 7 — This post-race celebration with live music and refreshments will immediately follow the 5th Hidden Gem Half-Marathon in downtown Flossmoor.
- OAKtoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 5 — Flossmoor’s new signature event will combine education, environmentalism and fun with nature-themed children’s activities during the day, an informative tree walk in the afternoon and an Oktoberfest-style party in the evening at the village’s south Metra lot.
For more information on centennial happenings in Flossmoor or to learn more about Flossmoor’s history, visit www.flossmoor.org/Centennial or email [email protected].