Seniors Enjoy Westmont

Westmont is not large but has several attractions in town that bring in visitors of all ages. Westmont is a village in DuPage County, Illinois. Senior travelers will find it approximately 18 miles (29 km) west of the Chicago Loop in the southeastern portion of the  County. The village is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area with a population of around 25,000.

Gregg’s Station, the name by which Westmont was first known, began as a stop to load agricultural and dairy products on the train. It soon began a gradual transition from an agricultural community to a commuter community. Fields and dairy herds gave way to developments and formal platting of land began.

The area known as Westmont was inhabited by the Potawatami until 1833. After several failed attempts by the U.S. government to persuade the Native Americans to move from the area, in 1833, the Native Americans agreed under coercion to vacate their land for nominal payment.

Seniors Discover Trails That Became Highways

The Indians had established an elaborate system of trails, which later became the settler’s first highways including The Buffalo Trail and the Ottawa and LaSalle Trail. The Buffalo Trail, today named Naperville Road, was later used as a stage line between Chicago and Naperville.

The Ottawa and LaSalle Trail is today Ogden Avenue or Route 34. The first permanent settler in DuPage County was Bailey Hobson who passed through the Westmont area in 1829, on his way to the Naperville settlement. The French trapper and hunter, Francois DuPage, after whom the county was named, traveled through the area in the late 18th century.

The development of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, authorized by the State of Illinois in the 1820s but delayed in construction until the 1830s, contributed to Westmont’s early growth.

When the economic Panic of 1837 halted canal construction, many of the workers turned to farming, and agriculture became the major occupation, with produce sold in nearby Chicago. The area around Westmont became one of the most prosperous sections of the state.

 Seniors Enjoy Chicago Suburb

Muddy Waters, a musician who is considered to be the father of Chicago blues, lived in Westmont. Ty Warner, industrialist and inventor of Beanie Babies also called Westmont home. Remember Beanie Babies?

And what can seniors do in Westmont?  You can visit their parks, enjoy the Gregg House Museum, a historic Victorian building  or play a round or two of golf at one of the three golf courses.

Senior shoppers will enjoy several shopping centers that are part of Westmont. Not far away senior travelers will find the Brookfield Zoo, the Morton Arboretum and the Graue Mill and Museum.

Senior travelers, see for yourself why Westmont is a popular stop when you are in the Chicago area. -jeb