Driving down Roberts Road, you might think Palos Hills is just another quiet pocket in the Cook County sprawl. Honestly, that’s exactly what the locals want you to think. It’s a city of about 18,500 people that feels more like a forest hideaway than a neighbor to Chicago’s concrete jungle.
People move here for the trees. They stay because the taxes don't make them want to scream.
But there is a weird tension in the City of Palos Hills. It’s a place where you can find a world-class community college campus and a literal radioactive burial site within a few miles of each other. Most people passing through to Moraine Valley Community College have no idea they are driving over what used to be a massive, reed-choked marsh called the Sagaunashkee Swamp.
The Mystery of the Palos Forts
Did French explorers actually build forts here? If you ask a local historian, they’ll probably give you a "sorta." Back in the 1830s, settlers found earthwork fortifications on a bluff overlooking the swamp. One was a triangle; the other was a square.
Some folks swear up and down they were French. Others say they were indigenous. The truth? Nobody actually knows for sure. It’s one of those local legends that got repeated so often it became "fact" in the town’s psyche. You can still find mentions of these ruins in notes from the late 19th century, specifically from a guy named Karl August Dilg. He was convinced they were stockaded forts.
Even if the forts are gone, the history is literally baked into the ground.
Nature, Nuclear Waste, and Night Skies
You can’t talk about the City of Palos Hills without mentioning the 15,000 acres of forest preserves wrapping around its edges. It’s the largest forest preserve district in the state.
Basically, the city is a gateway to the Palos Preserves.
The Manhattan Project’s Leftovers
At Red Gate Woods, there is a granite marker that most hikers just breeze past. Underneath that stone lies the remains of Chicago Pile-1. That was the world’s first nuclear reactor. Part of the Manhattan Project, it was moved here in 1943.
Is it safe? Yeah, totally.
Is there still low-level tritium leaching into the Des Plaines River? Also yeah.
It’s a bizarre mix of heavy science and weekend hiking. You can literally walk your dog over the birthplace of the atomic age.
🔗 Read more: Milford CT Hourly Weather: Why the Shoreline Forecast Always Changes
Looking Up at the Dark
In 2021, the Mount Forest Island area was named an Urban Night Sky Place. It’s the largest one in the entire world. In a region as light-polluted as Chicagoland, being able to actually see the stars is a big deal. Most people think they have to drive to Wisconsin for that, but you just have to hit the trails near Palos after sunset.
Living in Palos Hills: The Reality of 2026
If you’re looking at real estate here, the median home value is sitting somewhere around $260,000 to $280,000. That’s a steal compared to some of the North Shore suburbs, and honestly, the crime rates are some of the lowest in Illinois.
But it’s not all quiet walks in the woods.
Just this January, a massive low-pressure system ripped through the Midwest. On January 8, 2026, Palos Hills got hit with rare winter flash flooding. Stony Creek near 111th Street jumped to flood stage almost instantly. People were reporting flooded basements and closed lanes on IL-83.
Nature is the city's best feature, but sometimes it bites back.
The Moraine Valley Factor
Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) is the heartbeat of the town. With over 300 acres, it’s one of the biggest in the state. If you’ve spent any time in the Southland, you’ve probably taken a class there or seen a show at the Fine and Performing Arts Center.
They’re currently pushing hard on "greening" the curriculum. Students can even get a sustainability designation on their transcripts now. It’s a smart move for a school surrounded by protected forest.
🔗 Read more: Why Your Timer For New Year Is Probably Wrong
Local Flavor and the "Friendship Festival"
Every July, the town goes a bit wild for the Friendship Festival. It’s four days of carnival rides and fireworks. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a Midwestern suburb, but with a bit more of a "small town" vibe than you’d get in Orland Park or Burbank.
Notable Neighbors:
- Nadeshot: Matthew Haag, the founder of 100 Thieves, grew up here.
- Ben Skora: The legendary inventor who lived in a house full of robots. His "Ametron" robot was a local icon.
- Christian Dvorak: NHL player who put Palos on the hockey map.
What Really Matters for Residents
Mayor Gerald R. Bennett has been the face of the city for ages. Right now, the big focus is infrastructure. They just dropped $3.5 million on the intersection at 111th and Roberts Road.
Why should you care? Because traffic there used to be a nightmare.
They are also hooking up to a new 60-inch water main from Oak Lawn. It’s the kind of boring, expensive project that keeps a city from falling apart. Plus, there’s a new walking and bike trail along the Cal-Sag that just opened up. It cost $650,000, and it finally connects Southwest Highway to 86th Street.
Actionable Insights for Visiting or Moving
If you are heading to the City of Palos Hills, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Trails: Don't just stick to the paved paths. The "Yellow Unpaved" trail is 9.2 miles of legitimate hiking.
- Watch the Speed: The Palos Hills Police Department is active, especially on Roberts Road and 103rd. They recently issued warnings about a spike in IRS phone scams targeting residents, so stay sharp.
- Visit the Schoolhouse: The Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center is great, but remember it's closed on Fridays.
- Real Estate Strategy: Look for homes near the forest preserve borders. They hold value better and offer the "Palos" experience people actually move here for.
The city isn't just a place to sleep. It’s a weird, beautiful mix of high-tech education, nuclear history, and some of the best dirt trails in the Midwest. Whether you're there for a class at Moraine or a hike at Maple Lake, it’s worth more than a drive-through.
To make the most of your time in the area, check the Cook County Forest Preserve interactive map before you head out to ensure trail conditions are clear after the recent January rains.