Palatine, IL

The village of Palatine is 28 miles northwest from Downtown Chicago, with a population of more than 65,000 residents. Nearly 21 percent of the residents of this ethnically diverse suburb were born outside the country. They hail from a variety of countries, and many come from the Far East. The city's cost of living is similar to many Chicago-area suburbs, and the village is made up of people from all economic classes. Many parks and trails dot the landscape of Palatine, and its massive transportation options allow for easy access to nearby suburbs and to the Windy City.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

About 84 percent of Palatine's workers are employed by companies, 9 percent by the government and 4 percent are self-employed. The city has an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent, which is quite lower than the national average.

The leading industries in Palatine are educational services, health care, social assistance, administrative, waste-management services and manufacturing. Major companies that have headquarters in the city are Weber-Stephen Products and Square D.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Palatine has a total area of 13.1 square miles and accommodates about 26,200 houses. Out of these, 25,530 houses are occupied, with renters accounting for about 31 percent of total occupied houses. The vast majority of housing in Palatine was built between 1940 and 1989, with more than half of the city's homes built in the 1970s and 1980s.

Palatine has more than 30 separate shopping centers or strip malls inside the city limits. Deer Grove Centre on Dundee Road, east of Hicks, is a 400,000-square-foot shopping center with several national retail stores. Park Place Shopping Center is near the corner of Rand and Dundee roads and has 350,000 square feet of retail space. Off Northwest Highway in downtown Palatine, numerous boutiques and specialty retail stores dot the streets.

GETTING AROUND

In 1853, the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad was constructed through the township where Palatine would be incorporated just a few years later. A town emerged at the rail depot, just south of Salt Creek; the town was called Palatine after a former resident of the town suggested it. Today, freight rail service is provided by Union Pacific.

For passengers, the Metra Rail's Union Pacific Northwest line runs through Downtown with a stop at Wood Street. Palatine saw its population explode after the completion of the Northwest Tollway, also called Interstate 90, in the 1950s. The tollway runs two miles south of the village and opened up the area so that commuters can easily travel east toward Chicago or west toward Rockford. Interstate 294, which is also referred to as the Tri-State Tollway, is eight miles east of Palatine. Other busy roadways for this northwestern suburb include Interstate 290/Illinois Route 53 and U.S. Routes 12 and 14. I-290 and Route 53 run together once they hit Palatine's eastern edge. Travelers can use this route to connect to I-90. U.S. Route 12 runs northwest and southeast through the village and is called Rand Road. U.S. Route 14 runs south, parallel to Rand Road, and is referred to as Northwest Highway. This road also runs alongside the Metra line that services Palatine.

In regards to public transportation, Pace Bus Service offers two bus routes through Palatine. Route 699 runs from Palatine to Woodfield to Elk Grove Village, and Route 723 runs from Northeast Palatine to Arlington Park. For air travel, Palatine is situated 14 miles from O'Hare International Airport. For private aircraft, the village is 12 miles from Chicago Executive Airport in nearby Wheeling.

BEST BETS

• Dog Park: This off-leash dog park is open daily, except for Wednesday mornings. The fenced dog park is situated at the Plum Grove Reservoir on Algonquin Road, south of Harper College. Dogs must be registered through Palatine's Park District, and both owner and pet must adhere to its list of rules and guidelines.
• Palatine Public Library: Palatine's library has been named countless times as one of the top five libraries in the nation, serving a population of between 50,000-100,000 residents. Its youth department is one of the most popular and frequented in the Chicagoland suburbs. It has three branches: the main library is on North Court, and the two others are on Freeman and Rand roads.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Fred P. Amphitheater: Providing outdoor entertainment since June 1988, this theater encourages spectators to bring their folding chairs and blankets for Wednesday and Friday evening concerts during the summer.
• George Clayson Historical Museum and Library: Located on East Palatine Road, this building houses the Palatine Historical Society. Tours and educational programs are offered to visitors to help them learn about the history of Palatine.
• Cutting Hall Performance Art Center: This auditorium provides many theater options for Palatine residents. With community theater troupes, a children's chorus and a concert band, there's a chance to see all types of performing arts.

EVENTS

Held over a three-day weekend in August, the Downtown Palatine Street Fest began as a small, hometown event and now brings in close to 45,000 people annually. The celebration has a block-party feel with plenty of food, live entertainment and numerous family activities.

EDUCATION

William Rainey Harper College is a two-year, community college with more than 25,000 credit students and almost 10,000 noncredit students enrolled. Opened in 1967, it's named after one of the country's pioneers in the junior college movement. The campus is at Algonquin Road near Euclid and Roselle roads. Its athletic teams are part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III.