Rolling Meadows

About Rolling Meadows

Rolling Meadows is a small city located about 24 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop, part of the Golden Corridor. It's home to a thriving community with diverse economic, religious and ethnic backgrounds, attracting new residents with its well-connected public transit system, excellent recreational system and healthy economy.

The History of Rolling Meadows

The land where Rolling Meadows now sits welcomed its first settler in 1836, when Orrin Ford staked a 160-acre claim in an area called Plum Grove. Shortly after, a number of farming families followed in his footsteps, many of them moving to the area from Vermont. Within just a few short years, the settlers constructed a dam across Salt Creek and claimed the entire Plum Grove area. By 1850, a large number of German immigrants had arrived, and the community joined the new Palatine Township.

Life in the community remained fairly quiet until 1927, when H.D. "Curly" Brown purchased 1,000 acres of land in the area. He had intended to build a golf course and a race-track, but ended up selling a portion of the land to Kimball Hill. When Kimball Hill published the floor plan he planned to construct in the community, demand was high.

The first families moved into the Rolling Hills development in 1953, and by 1955, 700 homes had been sold. For every home he sold, Hill donated $200 to establish a local school system. He also contributed funding for the Clearbrook Center, park-land and the homeowners association.

Rolling Meadows was officially incorporated as a city in 1955 and experienced a major boom throughout the mid-20th century.

Living in Rolling Meadows

Rolling Meadows is a popular destination for those looking to escape the bustle of Chicago for a more suburban experience. The city is particularly sought after for its recreational amenities, including more than 10 parks covering over 150 acres. The Rolling Meadows Park District is a four-time finalist for the National Gold Medal award for excellence in parks and recreation management. You'll be able to take advantage of parks in a variety of sizes, ranging from small neighborhood tot lots to large, multi-acre green spaces. Skate parks, walking trails, playgrounds and sports fields are just a few of the features among the community's parks.

If you enjoy living an active lifestyle, you'll appreciate the Nelson Sports Complex, which offers a gymnastics center, an ice-skating rink, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a large fitness center. The West Meadows Ice Arena is another popular spot for locals. Adults and children alike can enroll in a variety of sports and programs, ranging from dance and computers to disc golf and T-ball.

Rolling Meadows offers plenty to do for recreation and entertainment, and it also measures up when it comes to every-day amenities. You'll have plenty of easily accessible options for grocery stores, coffee shops and fitness centers, making it easy to go about every day life.

Rolling Meadows Schools

The public schools in Rolling Meadows are divided between Palatine CCSD 15 and Township HSD 214. Or you can enroll your child at the Harvest Christian Academy of Rolling Meadows or St. Colette School, two of the community's private schools. If you have preschool-age children, you can sign them up for early education through the park district.

Resources for Moving to Rolling Meadows

Here's some helpful information to simplify your move to Rolling Meadows:

• Utilities: Nicor Gas and Commonwealth Edison are the city's major energy providers. The Rolling Meadows utilities department manages water and sewer services.
• Trash and Recycling: Trash and recyclables are collected curbside once per week, typically on the same day.
• Transportation: The Pace Bus is the most convenient public transportation option in Rolling Meadows, providing easy access to the Metra rail system and the greater Chicago metro area.
• Vehicle Stickers: All vehicles must display a village sticker, which needs to be renewed on an annual basis. You'll have 60 days from the time of your move to get the proper sticker.

Rolling Meadows Housing

As a cozy suburb with plenty of amenities, Rolling Meadows is a slightly more expensive place to live than other communities in the Chicago area. The median home price is above national and state averages, but fairly in line with other big-city suburbs across the country. If you're planning to rent, you'll find a number of options, including multi-family communities with private amenities.