Historical Signs Help Tell the History of Romeoville

The town of Romeo originated on the east side of Des Plaines River and was initially settled in 1835. In 1895, the people decided to incorporate and named their new village Romeoville. The community has a lot of history. You just need to know where to look. Finding that history is now easier than ever with the installation of five wayside signs featuring photos, maps, and text about the past.

You may be surprised to discover that everything north of 135th Street was once going to be part of Wisconsin. If you want the full story, find the wayside sign along the path at Deer Crossing Park. Learn about the first two village halls by finding the signs near the Metra Station and at Murphy Park. Read up on the story of the oldest church in Romeoville by climbing the hill to the Living Faith Community Church on the east side of town. Finally, you can learn about the Hampton Park housing boom of the late 50s, which increased Romeoville’s population from 200 to over 3,500 in just four years! That sign is located near the intersection of Belmont and Amherst on the property of the Romeoville Historical Society, which is another great resource to learn about Romeoville’s history. Learn more about the Historical Society by visiting them online at romeohistory.org. In addition to exhibits on Romeoville, they also have three books for sale that cover the history of the town.

“As a community, we are growing quickly. 65 years ago, we had a population of 200. Today, we are close to 40,000,” explained Mayor Noak. “We hope these signs provide a fun look back at the growth of our village and spark family conversations that begin with ‘I remember when.’”

For a map of sign locations and additional historical sites in the village, click here.

Do you have a suggestion for a historical sign? Fill out the submission form by clicking here.