From the 🕹 biggest arcade in the United States to 🦒 world-class attractions and one of the most stable, affordable 🏡 housing markets in Cook County, Brookfield has so much to offer!
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Rich History: Did you know Brookfield was originally named Grossdale? I can especially appreciate this one, because my parents originally named me Niel before changing it to Eric. So why did Grossdale change its name to Brookfield? Just 12 years after incorporation, residents became disenchanted with village founder Samuel Eberly Gross after he divorced his wife, married a teenager, and fled to Michigan. A contest was held to decide the village’s new name, and Brookfield, a reference to Salt Creek, which runs through the village, won. Of the village founder, one author said, “Without question, Gross was the most prolific home builder in Chicago history,” who built more than 20 subdivisions, 10,000 homes, and established over 15 towns or villages.
Brookfield Zoo: With over 2 million annual visitors, Brookfield Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in the entire state. I love Brookfield Zoo and have been going there since I was little to chase ground squirrels. It used to make my dad crazy. He paid all that money to get me into the zoo, and all I wanted to do was look for these crazy little things that’d hang out in our backyard all the time. I’ll never forget the time we went to Brookfield Zoo after prom and met this massive walrus with a wicked case of IBS. I’ll just say this: the smell was EPIC.
Stable, Affordable Housing Market: From its foundation in 1893, attracting residents by offering quality, affordable housing has been a priority for Brookfield. Brookfield’s homeownership rate, 75%, is higher than the Chicago metro region, which sits at 64%, and Cook County, at only 57%. This, again, illustrates the stability of Brookfield. The housing affordability ratio, which is determined by dividing the median home value by median income, is significantly better for Brookfield than it is for Cook County. Brookfield’s housing affordability ratio is 3.1, while Cook County is at 4.1. The lower the number, the more affordable the area is.
A Bright Future: It’s easy to just go with the flow, react to what’s happening today, and not have any kind of plan future. But Brookfield, intent on growing and developing in a sustainable way, has developed a comprehensive plan for the future, laid out in an epic, 139 page document. It answers the question, “What should Brookfield look like in 10-20 years and how do we get there?”
Galloping Ghost: If you’re into gaming, you already know about Galloping Ghost. With over 640 games, it is the largest arcade in the United States, and the home of over 180 world records. $20 gets you in the door and you can play as much as you want until they close at 2am or you pass out from exhaustion.