Century Oaks - Elgin, IL

Century Oaks sits nestled in the northwest corner of the city of Elgin, Illinois. Founded in 1835 after the Black Hawk War in 1832 expelled the Native Americans and easterners travelled west in search of the allegedly fertile soil, Elgin became a bustling little dairy town. Several decades later, the Elgin Watch Company opened and became the country’s leading watch producer until the factory closed in 1960.

Also known for its education system, Elgin High School has produced many successful people including a Tony Award winner, a Pulitzer Prize winner, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, five navy admirals and a General Motors CEO. Max Adler also hailed from Elgin and went on to found the Adler Planetarium, the nation’s first planetarium.

Elgin also houses the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, one of the biggest orchestras in Illinois. You can also visit the Elgin Public Museum in the center of 112-acre Lords Park, where you can see American bison at the zoo.

One popular restaurant near Century Oaks lies just across McLean Boulevard: Larsa’s Kitchen. This Mediterranean restaurant receives high praise from locals, with several patrons returning specifically for the shawarma and falafel. If you have not tried Mediterranean food, ease into it with Larsa’s Kitchen’s specialty kabobs and gyros.

For evening entertainment, try out Hooper’s Sports Bar and Grill, located on McLean Boulevard south of Century Oaks. This bar opened in 1991 and features a fresh, half-pound hamburger voted best in the area for several years. Boasting 10 big-screen HDTVs, Hooper’s is the ideal hangout on any game day.

Convenient transportation options abound in the Century Oaks neighborhood. Three Metra train stations sit in the city of Elgin, and the one closest to Century Oaks is slightly more than a mile away if you drive west on Big Timber Road. This road borders the south side of the neighborhood.

The Metra Rail offers quick, convenient and affordable transportation into and out of the city and the suburbs surrounding it. Nine trains travel every Monday through Friday to the Chicago Union Station from the Big Timber Station – all before noon. While no trains go through the Big Timber Station on the weekends, you can instead opt to travel from the main Elgin station on Saturdays and Sundays. Only 2.75 miles from Century Oaks, the Elgin Station offers 12 trains to Chicago throughout the day on Saturdays.

Rather than take the train, you might choose to travel by car. Interstate 90, less than two miles from the Century Oaks neighborhood, can take you straight to the Loop in less than an hour depending on traffic. While this road does have tolls, it offers a convenient way to move around the area. Taxi companies that service Elgin can provide transportation to and from Century Oaks, but residents must call to plan their rides.

As far as walkability or biking in the Century Oaks area goes, the city of Elgin is a bit too suburban for this type of pedestrian travel. Most restaurants, shopping centers, and other local destinations sit too far from the neighborhood for convenient walking or biking.

Nestled between two parks, Century Oaks particularly suits families with children or people who enjoy staying active. The park just across McLean Boulevard, the street bordering the west side of the neighborhood, is known as Century Oaks Park. The four-acre park consists of a playground and an open field commonly used for sports practice or other recreational activities.

Tyler Creek Forest Preserve sits on the east side of Century Oaks. Consisting of 48 acres of protected nature, this forest preserve boasts 0.86 miles of walking trails, free parking, restrooms and picnic areas. Tyler Creek Forest Preserve serves adults, children, and even pets.

Those who especially love their dogs should try out Freedom Run Dog Park, less than six miles east of Century Oaks. The four-acre dog park requires yearly membership, which ensures all four-legged visitors have updated vaccinations to help keep the park safe for everyone.

For indoor recreation, Elgin offers the Eastside Recreation Center. This facility contains a fitness area, an indoor soccer field, boxing and martial arts programs, batting cages and even after-school programs. Although pets are prohibited, children and adults alike can utilize this center for the perfect mix of fun and exercise.

The cost of living in Elgin, Illinois, which includes the neighborhood of Century Oaks, runs only nine percent above the national average. This makes it a cost-effective place to live, especially considering the close proximity to downtown Chicago and all that it has to offer. Apartment rentals in this neighborhood cost around $915 per month, only $26 over the national average.

Retail stores in Elgin are just a short drive away for Century Oaks residents. Smaller stores, such as Soulful Sparrow on Douglas Avenue, offer fashionable apparel and vintage home goods likely found nowhere else. Crafty residents should hop over to the Tandy Leather Factory on Davis Road in Elgin for a never-ending supply of all things leather.

For grocery shopping near Century Oaks, you can try Pop’s Pantry. Located on McLean Boulevard, this food and convenience store offers a clean, well-stocked place to purchase groceries and sub sandwiches.

More mainstream grocery stores like Jewel-Osco and Aldi require a slightly longer drive. Both stores can be found a little under three miles south of the Century Oaks neighborhood by traveling down McLean Road. You can also choose to shop at Walmart Supercenter, which lies just under three miles southwest of Century Oaks.