Alsip, IL

Located on a ridge formerly known as "Lane's Island," Alsip's geography paved the way for its history. Farmers settled the area in the 1800s, but the town's namesake, Frank Alsip, brought prosperity to the region with his brickyard when he realized the potential of Alsip's clay. The town's population didn't boom until after World War II, when explosive growth hit the area when the Tri-State Tollway moved in. In 1950 the population remained small at 1,228, but just 50 years later the population had exploded, consisting of nearly 20,000 residents.

Chicago's booming list of museums and aquariums lie within a one-hour ride of Alsip. The Children's Museum, which challenges children's imaginations, sits just outside of Alsip in neighboring Oak Lawn.

Residents and visitors alike revel in Alsip's eclectic mix of restaurants. This village's impressive list of dining venues suits the taste buds of everyone. From farmhouse classics to authentic Mexican cuisine, drool-worthy signature dishes make eating out in Alsip an event in itself.

Known for their in-house menu and catering as well as their own branded olive oil, Country House Restaurant maintains its place as a local favorite. Not only does this establishment serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, a group can enjoy the family style menus -- including brunch. Featuring new twists on traditional favorites, the breakfast menu easily wins over the hearts and stomachs of diners. If you're looking for something familiar with a unique flair, consider the Greek Islands Sun. This menu item offers three sunny side-up eggs, red breakfast potatoes, sun-dried tomato pesto, onions and feta cheese. The lunch and dinner menu features appetizers, homemade soups, one-of-a-kind salads, pizzas and traditional dinner fare. The restaurant's Pylian Estates olive oil comes from the family grove and earned a column in the Chicago Tribune.

Allgauer's Restaurant and Spotlight Lounge serves a full menu of starters, lunch and dinner entrées for patrons, including a long list of fried appetizers to start the night off right. Fried options don't make up the whole starter menu, though, as diners can wrap their lips around the Thai lettuce wraps for a crisp and unique appetizer. With a full list of creative sandwiches, salads and entrées, Allgauer's will impress even the most discerning diners.

Nightlife may not be one of Alsip's strong points, but a few local bars serve the residents well. Dakota Inn, known for its dive-bar feel and fun-filled events, offers patrons a small, close-knit feel with bingo, DJs and karaoke.

With a population base of primarily commuters, Alsip's transportation offerings appeal to the masses. Interstate 294, also known as Tri-State Tollway, runs along the southwest edge of the city, while state highways dissect the area and create multiple routes for commuters.

Public transportation options include Pace, which connects residents to surrounding neighborhoods and Chicago's CTA system. Two Amtrak stations lie within 10 miles of Alsip: Homewood, and Summit stations sit 8.2 and 9.3 miles from Alsip city center, respectively.

With a walk score of 60 out of 100, Alsip somewhat serves pedestrians, although this community relies on drivers more than walkers. Most destinations offer on-site parking to ease the trouble of finding a place to park. Several cab companies serve the area, including Uber.

The Alsip Park District contains over 200 acres of park, paths for biking and walking, and golf courses. Free admission entices residents, although certain activities and facilities come with a small fee.

The Apollo Recreation Center serves as an open gym for kids of all ages when other park activities don't use the facility. Commissioner's Park, a 30-acre park that opened in 1989, provides patrons with four softball diamonds, three soccer fields, two sand volleyball courts, a playground, a fishing pond and a picnic grove. Sears Park features a walking path, a pond, and native flora and fauna to let residents step outside city life and enjoy the natural world around them.

The Park District offers family friendly activities all throughout the year, as well as classes, health workshops and seasonal events. The Aquatic Park, for example, offers open swim times in addition to adult lap swims, pool rentals and swim lessons.

The cost of living for Alsip ranks lower than that in Chicago, coming in at 104 as opposed to 107.1, making Alsip an affordable suburb of southwest Chicago. Rental prices in Alsip also remain below Chicago's, with the median rental price coming in at $870 per month. Single-family homes dominate Alsip's real estate market, although other types of housing also exist. This small-town village offers large yards and space to spread out while remaining close to neighbors and businesses.

State highway IL-50, also known as Cicero Avenue, runs north and south through Alsip, and it contains the retail and commercial cluster for the city. This strip of road contains numerous restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues, serving as the community's main strip. Small shopping centers and large strip malls dominate Cicero Avenue, providing a convenient everyday shopping experience for residents. Along this strip you'll find big-box retailers, furniture stores, convenience stores and retail services.

Chain grocers serve the Alsip community; several groceries lie within Alsip's boundaries to give residents a variety of options. From June through early October, Alsip Park District Farmer's Market provides fresh produce, prepared foods, activities, entertainment and crafts every Tuesday afternoon.