Shirley, IL

Shirley, Illinois is a small town located in Cook County. The population of Shirley was 8,851 as of the 2010 census. Shirley is located about 10 miles south of downtown Chicago and is part of the Southwest Side community area.

The history of Shirley dates back to 1835 when John Kinzie and his family settled in the area. In 1871, the town was incorporated and by 1900 it had a population of 1,500. The growth of Shirley during the early 20th century was due to its location on Chicago's South Side and its proximity to factories and railroads. By 1950, the population had grown to 7,000 and by 2000 it had reached its current level of 8,851 residents.

Today, Shirley is primarily a residential community with a mix of single-family homes and apartments. There are also a number of businesses located in the town including a grocery store, bank, pharmacy, barbershop/beauty salon, restaurant/bar and convenience store. The majority of housing stock in Shirley is made up of brick or frame structures with some newer construction mixed in. There are no major commercial areas within the town but there are several small strip malls located nearby that serve as convenient shopping destinations for residents.

The main transportation artery serving Shirley is Interstate 55 which runs through the center of town connecting Chicago to St Louis. Other major roads that run through or near Shirley include Cicero Avenue (which connects Shirleys east side with Oak Lawn), Ogden Avenue (which connects Shirleys west side with Elgin) and Roosevelt Road (which connects Shirleys north side with Downers Grove). Public transportation options available in Shirley include bus service provided by CTA along Cicero Avenue as well as Metra train service along Ogden Avenue and Roosevelt Road