La Grange

Village Hall
53 South LaGrange Road
LaGrange, IL 60525
Phone (708) 579-2300
Fax: (708) 579-0980

www.villageofLagrange.com

www.ahhhlagrange.com

The Park District of La Grange

LaGrange Business Association

LaGrange Public Library

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., M - F

• Population: 15,426
• Avg. Home Value: $291,078
• Avg. Income: $91,545
• Median Age: 38.9
• Avg. Rent: $727

Recreation Facilities: 1 Community Center, 10 Parks, 10 Playing Fields, 15 Tennis Courts, 8 Playgrounds, 3 Tot Lots, 1 Golf Course, 1 Outdoor Pool, 1 Ice Rink.

Education

Special Education

LaGrange Area Department of Special Education (LADSE)
1301 West Cossitt Avenue, LaGrange
354-5730

Helping Hand - Administration
9649 West 55th Street, Countryside
352-3580

Community College

College of DuPage
425 22nd Street
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599 630-942-2800

Westmont Center
650 Pasquinelli Drive, Westmont
(630) 655-2910

Robert Morris College
1804 Centre Point Circle, Naperville
(630) 577-8739

History

The Village of LaGrange, incorporated in 1879, consisted of log cabins, farms and a few commercial enterprises in its early settlement days. Today, the Village is characterized as a residential community with over 600 supporting commercial and industrial establishments.

The development of LaGrange was hard fought. In its early growth, the President of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad did not think it would pay to extend a line from Aurora to Chicago. Growth of trade and pleas by settlers finally brought the railroad to the area in the early 1860's. The first railroad station was called Hazel Glen. Located a few blocks west of Brainard Avenue, it did not attract much more than milk trains. The Burlington began a regular commuter service in the 1870's, and by 1876 ten trains were running daily between Chicago and Aurora.

F.D. Cossitt, the founder of the community and a former cotton planter from LaGrange, Tennessee, put hard work, planning and imagination into developing the community - setting aside land for schools and churches. LaGrange, Illinois, is named after Cossitt's hometown in Tennessee. Today the Village's historic district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and contains many restored Victorian, Queen Anne and Prairie School style homes. Home of the Annual Pet Parade since 1947, LaGrange attracts thousands of visitors on an annual basis.

For more information on LaGrange see their website at: http://www.villageoflagrange.com

The Village Manager's Office oversees daily operations and initiates measures to improve services. The Village's annual budget is part of a five-year operating and capital improvements financial plan. The Village's fiscal year begins on May 1 of each year. Monies to support services provided by the Village come from a variety of sources, with the three most important being property tax, user fees and sales tax. The three largest Village expenditures from all funds are personnel, capital outlay and supplies/contractual services.

Departments

Department of Community Development
(708) 579-2319
The Community Development Department provides planning, review, inspection services, and staff support to the Village Board of Commission in the areas relating to new construction, existing housing, plumbing, zoning, commerical food service, community and economic development for the residents and businesses of the Village.

Finance Department
(708) 579-2300
The Finance Department is responsible for the Village's revenues - taxes, fees, bills, and all other monetary concerns. This Department safeguards Village assets through adherence to sound financial management practices and procedures, and provides the public, Village Board and staff with financial analysis needed to develop appropriate policies.

Fire Department
(708) 579-2338
The Fire Department, through an aggressive program of fire suppression, emergency medical service, fire prevention, fire code enforcement and public education, seeks to prevent the loss of life, reduce the effects of personal injury or illness, and minimize property loss. There are 19 full time firefighters on the Department.

Police Department
(708) 579-2334
The LaGrange Police Department consists of 28 full-time, sworn police officers; records, dispatch and parking enforcement functions are performed by civilian personnel. Both the Fire and Police Departments are accessible in emergencies through the E-911 emergency telephone system.

Department of Public Works
(708) 579-2325
The Public Works Department consists of 25 full time employees whose duties and responsibilities include maintenance of all Village streets and alleys, parkways, Village facilities, street lights, and sewer and water infrastructure. The Department services include brush and leaf collection, snow removal, and street sweeping.