The End of Conformity in Des Plaines, Illinois
Des Plaines, Illinois, once a homogeneous postwar suburb, has transformed significantly over the past fifty years. The author reflects on growing up in a conformist community marked by sameness, which contrasted with her sense of being an outsider. Returning after decades away, she finds the city both familiar and dramatically changed, shaped by waves of reinvention and cultural shifts.
- ▪Des Plaines is located about 6.5 miles northwest of O'Hare International Airport.
- ▪The city was once home to the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi peoples before being renamed and developed.
- ▪After World War II, Des Plaines became a hub for suburban development to house boomer families.
- ▪The community was once marked by economic and demographic homogeneity, with aluminum-sided homes and chain stores like Sears.
- ▪Today, the city is unrecognizable from its past, reflecting decades of cultural and physical transformation.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Michelle Van Loon / May 2, 2026 The End of Conformity in Des Plaines, Illinois Fifty years ago, this suburb was cookie-cutter. Not so much anymore. Unlocked Where I’m From Photo via Michelle Van Loon. Photo via Michelle Van Loon. Audio Audio Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Text Size Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Threads Email 0 Open and scroll to the comments section Editor’s Note: This is the ninth entry in a Dispatch series titled “Where I’m From.” Every Saturday, a writer shares a meditation on his or her hometown—a bustling metropolis, distant desert outpost, quiet suburb, or somewhere in between—and what makes it unique.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Dispatch.
