Life in Woodridge
At the intersection of I-55 and I-355, just 25 miles west of Chicago, is the lively suburb of Woodridge, Illinois. The village of Woodridge boasts job opportunities in several industries, including manufacturing, distribution, retail, and more. It’s considered a great place to raise a family while still having access to a major city for work and recreation.
Woodridge in the 1800s (back when it was unincorporated land in DuPage county) was mostly occupied by farmers. Albert Kaufman, the president of local development company Surety Builders, founded the first suburb in 1958. From there, the village grew rapidly to 500 residents within the span of a few months. The area was officially incorporated as Woodridge in 1959, named for a ridge overlooking the DuPage River that happened to be covered in trees. As of 2020, the population was just over 34,100 people.
School and Home Life in Woodridge
There are six elementary schools and one junior high school in Woodridge. While there are no high schools in the city, most high-school age residents attend either Downers Grove North or South. Some residents attend Lemont High school. There are also several universities, colleges, and private schools nearby.
The vast majority of homes in Woodridge were built after 1950. Within that, housing stock can be divided into three categories:
- Category 1: About 24% of homes in Woodridge are high-cost/high-value homes. Most of these are on the north side of the village toward Downers Grove. These are single-family, detached homes with high-quality construction. Homeowners in this category who need roof repairs or replacements need to find a roofing company skilled enough to match the work/replacements to the rest of the home and the surrounding neighborhood.
- Category 2: Nearly 1/3 of Woodridge housing stock is comprised of low density, single-family homes built between 1980 and 1999. These are typically maintained well and occupied by older residents. While many of these homes are still in good condition, some may require full roof replacements in the next few years.
- Category 3: About 42% of homes in Woodridge were built between 1960 and 1979. These are low-density, single-family homes, many of which have somewhat declined in value due to the burden of maintenance. High transportation costs make it difficult for residents in these areas to keep up with repairs and maintenance. It’s important for these residents to find high-quality roofing service companies that help them to preserve these properties for the future.
Things to Do In Woodridge
Woodridge is more than just a suburb. It’s a thriving community with several opportunities for shopping, dining, and recreation. A good portion of attractions are in the Seven Bridges area — a shopping and recreation area on the northwest side of the village. Here are some places to visit:
- Seven Bridges Ice Arena: Visited by over 1 million people every year, this recreation center features multiple ice rinks for skating and hockey games, in addition to a large turf space for other sporting events. The center also offers training sessions for ice skating and related activities.
- Seven Bridges Golf Club: One of the major attractions in the Seven Bridges area is this charming public golf course. It’s rated as one of the top five public golf courses in the region and one of the best public golf courses in the entire Midwest.
- Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park: This water park features a 600-foot lazy river, wading pool, standard swimming pool, and two large water slides in addition to a spray-ground with squirt guns and a sand beach.
- Woodridge Bike Trail System: Bikers can ride through the village on 21 miles of asphalt and off-road paths, which also connect to several other trails throughout the city.
- Greene Valley Forest Preserve: This 1,388-acre forest is located on the east side of Woodridge and is home to over 370 species of native wildlife. The area also features a dog park with sections for both large and small dogs, plus a climbable 190-foot water tower that provides a great view of the Chicago skyline.
Woodridge Weather
Woodridge has a typical humid continental climate reminiscent of several other Midwest areas. Summer lasts about three and a half months, from late May to mid-September. The average daily high for summer is over 73°F. It’s also somewhat muggy throughout the summer.
Rain in Woodridge begins to pick up in March and usually reaches its peak in late May. From there, it remains steady throughout the summer with an average 38% chance of rain on any given day. Rain is less frequent in fall and reaches its lowest frequency in January (the driest month).
Winter in Woodridge typically lasts from early December to early March. During this season, the average daily low is below 41°F. Winters are also dry and windy. Winds are typically most prevalent in January, when the average wind speed is 12.6 mph.
Wind in Woodridge is relatively low during the summer, but that doesn’t mean the village is immune from major weather events. In June 2021, an EF-3 tornado tore through the area, damaging about 255 homes across Woodridge and surrounding neighborhoods. No deaths were reported, thankfully.
In any case, the Midwest is no stranger to cold temperatures or high speed winds — an easy recipe for roof damage. Harsh weather may erode your shingles and set you up to experience leaks. For this reason, it’s important for Woodridge residents to take proper care of their roof systems with regular maintenance and repairs.
