West Salem, IL

West Salem is a small town located in Will County, Illinois. The population was 10,841 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Will County.

The town was founded in 1836 and named for Salem, Massachusetts. West Salem is home to the Illinois State Fairgrounds and the Will County Courthouse. The town's economy is based on agriculture, manufacturing, and retail sales.

West Salem has a long history of real estate development dating back to its early days as a small settlement. In 1892, Jens Jensen developed what would become known as Jensen Beach on the north side of town near Lake Michigan. Jensen Beach became one of the most popular resorts in Illinois during its heyday and remains an important part of West Salem's tourism industry today. Other early real estate developments in West Salem include the Village Center Shopping Center (1962), which was followed by Towne Centre (1966), both located on U.S Route 20; and Park Place (1978), which is located near downtown on Main Street.

Today, West Salem continues to experience strong growth in its real estate market due to its many amenities and proximity to major metropolitan areas such as Chicago and Springfield. Recent developments include The Shops at Willow Creek (2008), which features high-end retailers such as Neiman Marcus; The Promenade at Willow Creek (2010), a mixed-use development featuring upscale restaurants, luxury apartments, office space, and a spa; Park Place II (2011), an upscale residential development featuring over 50 high-end homes ranging from 1 bedroom/1 bath up to 4 bedrooms/5 baths; The Commons at Willow Creek (2012), an open-air lifestyle center featuring more than 60 stores including Nordstrom Rack; The Crossing at Willow Creek (2013), a mixed-use development featuring upscale retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH; Villa Verde III & IV condominiums(2014) with over 300 units ranging from studios up to 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms; Skyline Tower I & II condominiums(2015) with over 350 units ranging from studios up to 3 bedrooms/4 bathrooms; Alderbrook Manor retirement community(2016); Northgate Plaza shopping center(2017); Oakridge Landing office complex(2018).