Why visit Riverdale
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 32 parks and trails, 16 places to eat and 3 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include AVR 661, Joshua P. Young House, Palmer Park and Golden Gate Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 20°F, and about 39 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Riverdale
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Riverdale
Riverdale is a village and south suburb in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,663 at the 2020 census. The village shares its name with the bordering Riverdale neighborhood in Chicago.
From the Wikipedia article Riverdale, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks9
AVR 661
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
United States Air Force boat
Joshua P. Young House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Pacesetter Gardens Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Illinois, United States
West Pullman Elementary School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Historic school building in Chicago, Illinois
Pope Leo XIV's Childhood Home
Monument and historic site · 1.0 mi
Childhood home of Pope Leo XIV
212 East 141st Place, Dolton
Parks, trails and playgrounds32
Palmer Park
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Public park in Chicago, Illinois, United States
20 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes16
The Torta Spot
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.4 mi
242 East 147th Street, Harvey
Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-15:00
Burger King
Fast food · Burger · 1.9 mi
12701 South Ashland Avenue, Calumet Park
Mo-Sa 06:00-21:00; Su 07:00-21:00
Subway
Fast food · Sandwich · 1.4 mi
232 East 147th Street, Harvey
Mo-Fr 07:00-20:00; Sa-Su 09:00-18:00
4 more on the map.
Where to stay3
Knights Inn Calumet Park
Motel and hotel · 1.8 mi
12800 South Ashland Avenue, Calumet Park
History
The Village of Riverdale was incorporated in 1893. In 1904 the Englishman and former Chicago glucose manufacturer Charles Pope (1843–1922) purchased property in Riverdale at what is today the west side of Indiana Avenue with the intention of establishing a beet sugar factory. The property was previously occupied by The Riverdale Distillery, which had been established by the Union Copper Distilling Company of Chicago in 1871 to manufacture fermentum yeast. Located on the south bank of the Little Calumet river with access to the Illinois Central tracks, the beet sugar factory opened in 1905 with a capacity of 350 tons of beet sugar per day, a production rate that was eventually increased to 500 tons per day. The factory was sold by Pope's heirs in 1922 to the Midwest Sugar Refining Company, who added sugar to the product line that was produced from cane supplied from Cuba and Puerto Rico. and who the following year began a program that was intended "to expand this enterprise far beyond its present capacity so as to make the company one of the leading producers and refiners of sugar in the Middle West." In 1947 this enterprise was replaced by The Chromium Mining and Smelting Corporation.
From the History section of Riverdale, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship29
First Pentecost Assemblies International Church
Church · Pentecostal · 1.3 mi
14543-59 Green Street, Harvey
Christ Everlasting Missionary Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.6 mi
62 West 127th Street, Chicago
Foster Park Church of Christ
Church · Church Of Christ · 1.3 mi
12814 South Lowe Avenue, Chicago
Lively Stone Church of God in Christ
Church · Church Of God · 1.8 mi
735 East 134th Street, Chicago
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging20
Schools, colleges and libraries70
Healthcare3
Midwest Express Clinic Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.7 mi
12850 South Ashland Avenue, Calumet Park
Map of Riverdale
186 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 20°F | 2.3 in | 12.5 in |
| Feb | 37°F | 23°F | 2.1 in | 10.1 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 32°F | 2.7 in | 5.7 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 42°F | 4.2 in | 1.0 in |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 63°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 68°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 67°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 59°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 47°F | 3.9 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 35°F | 2.7 in | 1.5 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 25°F | 2.3 in | 7.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chicago Midway Ap 3Sw 72534 (10 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Cook County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-09-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng (Flood)
- 2023-11-20: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2023-08-15: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Dolton 2 mi southeast, about 4 min by car
- Blue Island 3 mi northwest, about 4 min by car
- Harvey 3 mi south, about 4 min by car
- Markham 4 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Midlothian 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Crestwood 5 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Hazel Crest 5 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
- Alsip 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Calumet City 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Homewood 6 mi south, about 10 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Palmer Park Fieldhouse, Zol87 from Chicago, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- West Pullman Elementary School, Kevin J. Woolfolk, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joshua P Young House, Burnhamandroot, Public domain
- James Meeks delivers "Surviving Basic Training" sermon to Salem Baptist Church Congregation at House of Hope in 2022 IMG 09, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, CC BY 3.0
- Saint Mary of the Assumption Church front view 1, Lori Strock Photography, CC BY 4.0
- St. Michael Chicago, Julianhayda, CC0
- Holy Rosary Catholic Church And Parsonage (NBY 416560), Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Pope Leo XIV childhood home, Michael Howie, Attribution
- Image Housing Unit in Pacesetter Gardens, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Boxcar, Cadiz RR, Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., CC0
- Boxcar, MNS - 10586795055, Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., CC0
- Container Car, SP (10589083035), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Boxcar, Detroit & Mackinac, Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., CC0
- Boxcar, BN - 10587166133, Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9005 (SW9) (10570336285), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9200 (SW1500) (10570335715), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9004 (SW9) (10570374666), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 8834 (NW2) & 8859 (SW7) (10567510955), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 8821 (NW2) (10567532606), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 8879 (SW7) (10570618743), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 8821 (NW2) (10570342755), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt PB2 (slug) (10570322045), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt PB1 (slug) (10567520886), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9216 (SW1500) (10567507455), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9222 (SW1500) (10570323455), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9217 (SW1500) (10570605293), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt BU51 (SW7B) (10570387754), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9221 (SW1500) (10570324645), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Conrail 3274 & CNW 6913 (10588893806), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9203 (SW1500) (10570369916), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9203 & 9208 (SW1500) (10567574344), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9209 (SW1500) (10567777013), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9207 (SW1500) (10570366986), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9204 (SW1500) & PB1 (slug) (10567572674), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Indiana Harbor Belt 9212 (SW1500) (10570367446), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Chicago & North Western CNW 5059 (GP50) (10570575516), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Chicago & North Western CNW 6831 (SD40-2) (10567877264), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Chicago & North Western CNW 5072 (GP50) (10570817453), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Chicago & North Western CNW 6913 (SD40-2) (10570528785), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
- Chicago & North Western CNW 5089 (GP50) (10567355396), Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
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