Located in DuPage County about 17 miles west of the Chicago Loop, the town of Bensenville is located in the northwest corner of the county near the O’Hare Airport. Bensenville has evolved in step with the rest of Chicago, going from a farming town to a bustling railroad community to where it is today as a modern airport suburb. As with many other towns in DuPage County, Bensenville started out with a strong Native American presence in the area, namely the Potawatomi tribe. The native tribes were removed in 1833, at which time New England settlers began claiming land near Salt Creek. As political problems in Europe continued, more immigrants settled in the area, bringing a strong German presence. The area was comprised of mainly farmers who grew wheat and raised cattle for dairy products. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad allowed easier and more transportation to Chicago, giving residents a glimpse of how transportation would play a role in their future.
Over the next 50 years, Bensenville began to look and feel like a true suburb. With the first school being opened in 1886, modern amenities such as concrete sidewalks, electricity, and telephone services followed soon after in the 1900s. In 1916, a roundhouse and freight yard were erected in the town, which provided many jobs and attracted more residents including those of Mexican descent. The village continued to grow steadily throughout the 1920s and 1930s, boasting a population of 1,870 by the 1940s. Today, Bensenville has reached its limit for land development but still attracts residents from different ethnic backgrounds. With the addition of the O’Hare Airport in 1955, the area saw increased tourism and business. The village’s population has grown to over 18,000 residents who work at some of the area’s top employers including LifeLink, US Foods, Central States Trucking, and Victor Envelope Company.
