Willowbrook is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States, in the Chicagoland area. Per the 2020 census, the population was 9,236. It is a southwestern suburb of Chicago.
History
thumb|Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, Willowbrook, Illinois
Originally an unincorporated area of nearby Darien, Willowbrook grew from the Ridgemoor subdivision. It was named after a grove of willows along a local creek, which flows into Waterfall Glen. It was incorporated as a village in 1960 Construction of U.S. Route 66 along Willowbrook's south edge led to the development of several new gas stations and restaurants. In 1946, Ervin "Irv" Kolarik opened Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket on Route 66. The restaurant became a staple in the community. It continues to operate as one of the last surviving stops on Route 66 in Illinois. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the 1980s, new development began along IL-83 and I-55 as the village population continued to grow. In 1990, a swampy pond along Route 83, was cleaned up and designated as "Willow Pond". A trail has since been built around the pond, and it is known as a popular ice skating spot during the winter season.
Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Willowbrook has a total area of , of which (or 97.94%) is land and (or 2.06%) is water. Willowbrook is around from Chicago. It is bordered by the suburban villages of Hinsdale, Westmont, Clarendon Hills, Burr Ridge, and Darien, along with unincorporated areas of DuPage County.