SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM IN Bridgeview

Bridgeview

Bridgeview is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located approximately 15 miles southwest of the Chicago Loop. According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Bridgeview has a total area of 4.13 square miles, all land. The village has a roughly rectangular shape, with borders generally defined as between Roberts Road and Harlem Avenue. Its proximity to Chicago’s Midway Airport and downtown, along with access to major highways, has made it a crossroads of the inner southwest suburbs.

The earliest European settlement in Bridgeview occurred in the 1830s, when the area was still populated by Native American groups. By the 1870s German and Italian settlers began moving into the area for farming purposes. Dutch migrated to the area by the 1920s, at which time farming began to decline; real estate and industry began to develop the area considerably. After Lake Michigan water became available to the area, the population grew significantly. The Bridgeview Community Club was founded in 1938 and became the center of local activities. Bridgeview was incorporated in 1947 with an initial population of approximately 500 residents. Local residents chose the name “Bridgeview” by one vote over “Oketo,” which remains a street name in the village today. The term “Bridgeview” connotes views of the area from the Harlem Avenue bridge, 79th Street bridge, and 87th Street bridge.

As of the 2020 census there were 17,027 people, 5,613 households, and 3,807 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,119.77 inhabitants per square mile. The racial makeup of the village was 70.05% White, 4.04% African American, 3.34% Asian, 0.85% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.72% from other races, and 10.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.44% of the population. Arab Americans are a growing presence, making up 10.8 percent of the population in 2020. Top ancestries include Polish (18.5%), Palestinian (11.4%), German (3.8%), Irish (2.7%), and Egyptian (2.1%).

The first Palestinians arrived in the 1890s, and by 2024, an area between Midway International Airport and SeatGeek Stadium was home to “Little Palestine,” the largest Palestinian enclave in the United States. Numerous self-owned businesses create an atmosphere similar to Arab diaspora communities across the world. Businesses include ethnic grocery stores, hookah lounges, and Middle Eastern sweet shops. The majority of Arab business owners on Harlem Avenue are from Palestine and Jordan.

The Mosque Foundation was established in 1954 as one of the Chicago area’s earliest Islamic centers. In 1981, an Islamic social club was established and by 1984 it had become a mosque. Two Islamic schools in Bridgeview educate hundreds of students from K-12. Among those schools is Aqsa School, a girls-only Islamic academy that ranks in the top 11% nationally for high school performance, particularly in STEM programs.

Bridgeview’s motto is “A Well Balanced Community,” as the village’s zoning is divided equally into residential, commercial, and industrial areas. The Fifth District Circuit Court of Cook County is located in Bridgeview near 103rd Street and 76th Avenue. The village is governed by a mayor and a six-member Board of Trustees. Steven Landek currently serves as Mayor of Bridgeview and is also the Lyons Township Democratic Committeeman. As mayor, Landek oversaw the construction of Toyota Park, now known as SeatGeek Stadium.

Bridgeview was the home of the Chicago Fire professional Major League Soccer team between 2006 and 2019, whose stadium was funded and operated by the village. SeatGeek Stadium is also home to Chicago House AC, the Fire Reserves, the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League, and the Chicago Hounds of Major League Rugby. Toyota Park hosted the 2006 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, and continues to be a premier venue for concerts.

Notable people from Bridgeview include Mark Barnett, a former professional motocross racer, and Brent Bowers, a former MLB outfielder.

Village of Bridgeview