The earliest settlement in Bridgeview came in the 1830s. Native American artifacts have been found in Bridgeview near Archer Avenue, along the northwestern edge of the town. One of the earliest homes in what is now Bridgeview was built near this old Indian trail in the 1830s. By the 1870s, German and Italian settlers began moving here to farm. Dutch migrated to the area during the 1920s, when real estate and industry began to develop the area considerably and farming waned. Homes were built between 71st and 75th Streets in 1924, in the Frederick H. Bartlett subdivision. Many residents worked at the huge Corn Products International plant in neighboring Bedford Park. The Harlem Airport at 87th Street and Harlem Avenue operated from the 1920s until the 1950s. Bridgeview, with about 500 residents, was incorporated in 1947. Local residents chose the name Bridgeview by one vote over Oketo, now a street name where Village Hall sits. “Bridgeview” was chosen for the view of the area from the Harlem Avenue bridge.
Bridgeview's Motto
Bridgeview's motto is "A Well Balanced Community" because the village is divided equally into residential, commercial and industrial areas. Its proximity to Chicago's Midway Airport and downtown, along with access to major highways, makes Bridgeview a crossroads of the inner southwest suburbs.
Interesting Tidbits
- Bridgeview is 13 miles southwest of the Loop.
- In 2000, the population was 15,335.
- There are 1,964 housing units in Bridgeview with a mortgage.
- About 4,900 children live in town.
- There are 1,293 two-person households, 970 three-person households, 814 four-person households and 712 households with five or more person.
- About 4,000 people in town leave for work between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.
- Most common ethnic ancestries in town: Polish (3,460); Irish (1,639); German (1,186); Italian (1,153); Arab (1,104) Arab/Arabic (743); American (589); Czech (360); Greek (267).
