Arlington Heights is the most populous community in the U.S. to be classified as a village. Illinois doesn't have a population limit on what can qualify as a village, so the distinction is based more on the function of the government. So don't be fooled - Arlington Heights had a population of 75,101 at the 2010 census.
The first churches in Arlington Heights were Presbyterian and Methodist, closely followed by German Lutheran. Today, the village has a large population of Roman Catholics (more than 50 percent), along with Lutherans, Episcopalians and Protestants.
The Arlington Park racetrack was built in 1927, and still attracts throngs of visitors today. The grandstand burned down in 1985 and was rebuilt in 1989. Today, the track can seat 50,000 spectators.
Some scenes from the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street were filmed in John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. Other films that shot in the village include The Lucky Ones (2008) and Lucas (1986).
Arlington Heights is about a twenty-minute drive from O'Hare International Airport, one of the largest airports in the country. But, thankfully, we're far enough away that we aren't all that bothered by the pesky plane noise.
The Arlington Heights Historical Museum aims to honor and preserve Arlington Heights' history. The entire museum can be seen best with a Museum Campus Tour, $4 for adults and $2 for children. The tours are held Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The Arlington Heights Memorial Library not only offers books to residents but also operates a program of activities and classes. Options include: book clubs, writing groups, technology classes, business seminars and playgroups for tots.
The Arlington Heights Park District is one of the oldest and considered to be one of the most elaborate park systems in the Chicago area. The district includes two golf courses, six outdoor pools and one indoor pool, not to mention green space and playgrounds.
Speaking of the Park District, Arlington Heights holds Frontier Days every July to celebrate Independence Day. The festival includes a carnival with rides and games for the public and, of course, fireworks. The city also sponsors decorations and an ice sculpture at Christmas time.
The Arlington Heights Youth Athletic Association offers baseball, softball, football and cheerleading to the young people of Arlington Heights. The leagues cover 1st through 8th grades, and the association also has a high school league. A college league is currently in the works, pending interest in participation.
The Metropolis Performing Arts Center puts on more than 300 performances for 40 productions each year. Not content watching? The center also enrolls about 2,500 students a year in its School of the Performing Arts.
Santouka Japanese restaurant is incredibly popular among Yelp customers, and the ramen is particularly highly rated. The menu includes salt ramen, soy ramen, miso ramen and spicy miso ramen.
The iconic, hole-in-the wall style sandwich created by Chicago's stockyard workers has migrated to Arlington Heights. Johnny's Beef serves up cheap, greasy and juicy Italian Beef sandwiches along with Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian Ice.
Tuscan Market and Wine Shop is a small bistro that garners rave reviews for its beer and wine selection and its desserts. Yelp reviewers recommend it as a great place for a weekend date.
The Arlington Heights Park District is adding a dog park this year, and it's accepting name suggestions. In the lead are Barkalot Park, Canine Commons and Scentral Bark.
Arlington Heights is on the Metra Rail Line, a train system that runs to Chicago and other suburbs. The train ride into downtown Chicago is only 50 minutes. We're also closely located to I-90 and I-290 if driving is more your speed.
Ninety-seven percent of Arlington Heights residents 25 or older have a high school diploma, and half our residents have a Bachelor's Degree or higher. A stunning 20 percent have at least a master's degree.
Arlington Heights consistently has a lower crime rate than the U.S. average citydata.com rate. In 2011, our rate was almost four times lower than the national average.
Unemployment in Arlington Heights is significantly lower than the state average. The most common industries are professional, scientific and technical services (for men) and educational services (for women).
Since 1996, more than half of Arlington Heights has voted Democratic in the presidential election. In 2012, 74 percent of residents voted to reelect Barack Obama.
Arlington Heights' House of Music and Entertainment (H.O.M.E.) is a massive sports bar that features built-in table taps and 80 plasma-screen TVs. The venue also has a stage that brings in live music and entertainment.
In recent years, Arlington Heights has gained a significant Japanese population. One of the best ways to experience the diversity is to take a trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese market in the Midwest.
Arlington Heights has plenty of shopping, but perhaps the best is Arlington Town Square, an outdoor shopping center featuring a number of shops and restaurants. There's even a six-screen movie theater to kick back in when your feet just can't take it anymore.
If you absolutely have to have a Portillo's hot dog but don't want to make the trip into Chicago, don't worry! The popular hot dog chain has a location in Arlington Heights.
The Environmental Commission has been working to keep Arlington Heights green since 1971. Most recently, the village has started a campaign to stop cars from "idling" on street corners and by sidewalks.
Arlington Heights has two bowling alleys: Arlington Lanes and Beverley Lanes. Both feature forty lanes, billiard tables, a full-service bar and a full kitchen.
The Chicagoland Wedding Expo is held each March at the Doubletree Hilton in Arlington Heights. The exposition features djs, photographers, linen and event companies and more.
Slightly more than half of Arlington Heights residents are women. If you're a twenty-something you might be disappointed, though, because the median age of residents is 43.
Chicago may be the Windy City, but Arlington Heights has no shortage of breezes. The wind speed is consistently higher than the U.S. average, with speeds reaching an average of 12 mph in March and April.
Arlington Heights has average temperatures in the teens during December, January and February. Don't worry, though. The highest average temperature during the year reaches a balmy 82 degrees in July.
