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Bourbonnais, IL

Frequently asked questions

Bourbonnais, IL

Bourbonnais is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,164 at the 2020 census. According to the 2010 census, Bourbonnais has a total area of 9.31 square miles (24.11 km²), all land.

The original French pronunciation of Bourbonnais came to be Anglicized over time to /bərˈboʊnɪs/ bər-BOH-nis. In 1974, a state representative from Bourbonnais introduced a resolution "correcting" the pronunciation of the town's name to /bɜːrbəˈneɪ/ bur-bə-NAY, closer to the French. In 1976, for the U.S. Bicentennial, the Village Board passed a resolution making "ber-buh-NAY" the official pronunciation.

The village is named for François Jace Bourbonnais père, a fur trapper, hunter, and agent of the American Fur Company, who had married a Native American woman and arrived in the area near the fork of two major Indian trails and the Kankakee River circa 1830. John Jacob Astor founded the company in 1808, and when the United States banned foreign (i.e. British and Canadian) companies (such as the Hudson's Bay Company) from competing in the country after the War of 1812, it flourished. By 1830 it had a near monopoly of fur trading in the midwest, but the number of local trappable wild animals had declined.

In 1832, Noel Le Vasseur arrived as the Astor firm's local fur trading agent, establishing a trading post in the area, and becoming the first permanent non-Native American settler. He married Watseka, niece of a Potawatomi chieftain, and after the Potawatomi were relocated to Iowa, recruited French-Canadiens to settle around his store. The Potawatomi were forced to move westward by a series of treaties culminating in the Treaty of Tippecanoe, which Congress ratified in 1833. The treaty reserved two sections for Potawanomi chief Me-she-ke-te-no and one section each for Catish (Mrs. Bourbonnais Sr.) and Manteno (daughter of Francois Bourbonnais Jr.). LeVasseur received considerable land through a series of shrewd trades, and eventually divorced Watseka and married a Canadian woman named Ruth. After the establishment of the new Catholic diocese of Chicago, missionary Fr. Stephen Badin briefly settled in Bourbonnais Grove in 1846, before retiring further south.

Bourbonnais was home of the summertime training camp of the Chicago Bears professional football team from 2002 to 2019. In 2020, the team relocated their training camp to their headquarters at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois after major renovations of the building complex.

Bourbonnais places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, with Riverside Medical Center serving as a cornerstone of healthcare in the region. The medical center provides comprehensive services, ensuring the well-being of the community. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Bourbonnais Township Park District offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Fitness Premier and K3 Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Bourbonnais, such as the Rock Creek and Chief Shaw Trails and Kankakee River Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top Sites in Bourbonnais, IL are Perry Farm Park, Kankakee River State Park, and Exploration Station - a Children's Museum.

Population: 18,164 (2020). ZIP Code: 60914. Area codes: 815, 779. Elevation: 696 ft (212 m). Area: 9.31 sq mi (24.12 km²).

FAQs

Is Bourbonnais, IL a good place to live?

Bourbonnais is in Kankakee County and is one of the best places to live in Illinois. Living in Bourbonnais offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Bourbonnais, there are a lot of parks. Many young professionals live in Bourbonnais and residents tend to lean conservative.

What is the crime rate in Bourbonnais, IL?

Bourbonnais is safer than the majority of cities, towns, and villages in America (84%) and also has a lower crime rate than 77% of the communities in Illinois, according to NeighborhoodScout's analysis of FBI crime data. Your chance of becoming a victim in Bourbonnais is one in 310 based on the total crime rate (violent and property crimes, combined). In America overall, your chance of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 43.

Is Bourbonnais, IL expensive?

Bourbonnais, Illinois's cost of living is 9% lower than the national average. Bourbonnais's housing expenses are 24% lower than the national average and the utility prices are 2% lower than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 7% higher than the national average.

Sources

Wikipedia

Village of Bourbonnais

Riverside Medical Center

Bourbonnais Township Park District 

Fitness Premier 

K3 Fitness

Rock Creek and Chief Shaw Trails 

Kankakee River Trail

Perry Farm Park

Kankakee River State Park

Exploration Station - a Children's Museum

Niche

Neighborhoodscout

Payscale

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