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The Golden Corridor in the Chicago metropolitan area

The Golden Corridor is a term used to describe the area around the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (Interstate 90) in the Chicago metropolitan area.^[1] It is coined as such since the corridor generates a "gold" mine of economic profit for communities in the area. Several Fortune 500 companies, office buildings, industrial buildings, exhibition and entertainment centers, hotels, shopping centers, and restaurants are located along the Golden Corridor.

[edit] Cities and villages

Cities and villages located within the scope of the Golden Corridor include:

[edit] Major companies

A view of the Rosemont area

Several important companies are headquartered in or have a significant presence in the corridor. They include:

Sears Holdings, a major department store chain headquartered in Hoffman Estates
Motorola, a telecommunications company headquartered in Schaumburg
United Airlines, a major airline company headquartered in Elk Grove Village
Claire's, a retailer of accessories and jewelery to young women, headquarterd in Hoffman Estates
Affiliated Computer Services, an information technology outsourcing company with offices in Schaumburg
ACNielsen, a marketing research firm headquartered in Schaumburg
Automatic Data Processing , a technology and services company whose Dealer Services Division is headquartered in Hoffman Estates
United Stationers, an office products distributor headquartered in Des Plaines
U.S. Robotics, a manufacturer of modems headquartered in Schaumburg
Zurich Financial Services, regional offices in Schaumburg
Fifth Third Bank branch offices in the Continental Towers in Arlington Heights
Chase Bank branch offices in Elgin
Allstate, an insurance company with a branch in South Barrington, and headquartered out of Northbrook
AT&T, telecommunications company with a large regional office in Schaumburg
True Value, a hardware store chain headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
Bally Total Fitness, a fitness center chain headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
U.S. Cellular, a mobile communications service provider headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
uBid, an online auction platform company headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
PepsiAmericas regional offices in Schaumburg
XL Capital, A Corporate Insurance Company headquartered in Bermuda, Has Regional offices in Schaumburg
Siemens Medical Solutions, regional offices in Hoffman Estates
FANUC Robotics, regional offices in Hoffman Estates
Mori Seiki, U.S. headquarters in Rolling Meadows
NEC Display Solutions of America, regional offices in Itasca
Omron, regional offices in Schaumburg
Popular, Inc., regional offices in Rosemont
STMicroelectronics, regional offices in Schaumburg
Mazak, a Japanese machine tool builder with regional offices in Schaumburg
THK, a Japanese machinery manufacturer with its U.S. headquarters in Schaumburg
First Midwest Bank, a bank headquartered in Itasca
Harris Bank, a Chicago-based bank with regional offices in Schaumburg
Comcast, a cable and telecommunications provider with regional offices in Schaumburg
Chicago Tribune, a Chicago-based newspaper with regional offices in Schaumburg
The Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper with headquarters in Arlington Heights and regional offices in Elgin and a printing center in Schaumburg
Office Max, a Naperville-based office supply store with regional offices in Itasca
Sprint Nextel, a telecommunications company with regional offices in Rosemont and Itasca
Verizon Wireless, a telecommunications company with regional offices in Elgin
Safeco, an insurance company with regional offices in Schaumburg
Experian (EMS - Experian Marketing Services) a credit information group with regional offices in Schaumburg
CareerBuilder.com, a career services company headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
Pace, suburban Chicago's bus transit provider headquartered in Arlington Heights
PromoWorks, a marketing services company headquartered in Schaumburg
Weber-Stephen Products headquarters in Palatine, Illinois and factory in Huntley
Regional offices for several major home developers including Pulte and Lennar
Nexicore, a Nationwide onsite computer contractor with offices in Des Plaines
InstallShield, A Software Company for developing Software Installation Programs, with Headquarters in Schaumburg
Expansive industrial parks in Elk Grove Village and Elgin

[edit] Educational institutions

A variety of higher educational institutions are located along the Golden Corridor, ranging from branch locations to community colleges to four year colleges.

Judson College, a 4-year college located in Elgin
Harper College, a very large community college located at Roselle Road and Algonquin Road in Palatine
Roosevelt University on McConnor Parkway in Schaumburg
NIU Hoffman Estates, the Hoffman Estates branch of Northern Illinois University, located at Beverly Road and I-90
American InterContinental University has its Online campus offices in Hoffman Estates
DePaul University branch in Rolling Meadows
Olivet Nazarene University branch in Rolling Meadows
National Louis University branch in Elgin

[edit] Shopping centers

View of the area around Woodfield Mall

Ranging from regional indoor malls to chic lifestyle centers, "the Golden Corridor" is a bustling center of retail activity. Major shopping centers include:

Woodfield Mall, among the Top 10 largest malls in North America, and the largest in Illinois. Located at Golf Road and Interstate 290, just south of Interstate 90
The Streets of Woodfield, an outdoor mall of about 30 stores adjacent to Woodfield Mall.
Huntley Prime Outlets, a 50-store outlet mall located at Route 47 and I-90 in Huntley
Algonquin Commons and the Algonquin Galleria, the largest outdoor mall complex in Illinois. Located on Randall Road, 5 miles (8.0 km) north of I-90, in Algonquin
Spring Hill Mall, a regional mall at Route 31 and Route 72, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of I-90, in West Dundee
The Arboretum of South Barrington located in South Barrington, off of Illinois Route 59 and Illinois Route 72.
One of two Chicago area IKEA locations in Schaumburg
Cabela's in Hoffman Estates

[edit] Entertainment and exhibition centers

From major arenas to convention centers to theaters to gambling centers, the Golden Corridor is a thriving entertainment center. Major facilities include:

Sears Centre, a 10,000 seat arena at Beverly Road and Interstate 90 in Hoffman Estates
Allstate Arena, a 16,000 seat arena at Mannheim Road and Interstate 90 in Rosemont
The Rosemont Theater, a 4,000 seat theater in Rosemont
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont
Schaumburg Convention Center and Renaissance Hotel, a large convention center and hotel complex located at Meacham Road and I-90 in Schaumburg
Medieval Times, a dinner-theater located at Roselle Road and Interstate 90 in Schaumburg
Arlington Park, a major horse track in Arlington Heights, along Illinois Route 53, just 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Interstate 90
Grand Victoria Riverboat, Illinois' most-profitable casino, located in downtown Elgin, a couple miles south of Interstate 90
Alexian Field, a minor league ballpark located on Springinsguth Road in Schaumburg, a few miles south of Interstate 90

[edit] Healthcare facilities

Located within five miles (8 km) of the Northwest Tollway are a variety of major hospitals, including:

Sherman Hospital: off Illinois Route 25, a mile south of Interstate 90 in Elgin
St. Joseph's Hospital: off Randall Road, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Interstate 90 in Elgin
St. Alexius Hospital: on Barrington Road, a half-mile south of Interstate 90 in Hoffman Estates
Northwest Community Hospital: off Central Road, a mile north of Interstate 90 in Arlington Heights
Alexian Brothers Hospital: on Biesterfield Road, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Interstate 90 in Elk Grove Village
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital: a major hospital and trauma center on Dempster Street, 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Interstate 90 in Park Ridge

[edit] Transportation infrastructure

O'Hare International Airport, the former busiest airport in the world, located off Interstate 190, a spur of Interstate 90.
Metra's STAR Line, a proposed commuter rail line slated to operate along the Golden Corridor of Interstate 90, extending from O'Hare International Airport westward to the Prairie Stone Business Park in Hoffman Estates, with several stops in between.

[edit] Hotels and restaurants

Nearly every national hotel and restaurant chain can be found along the corridor, as well as numerous independently owned and local chains.

The highest concentration of hotels can be found in the Schaumburg/Arlington Heights and Rosemont/O'Hare areas, with secondary concentrations in Hoffman Estates, Elgin, and Itasca.

[edit] Trivia

Additionally, McDonald's, home of the "golden" arches, opened its first franchise in Des Plaines, a community located along the "golden" corridor.

[edit] See also

Woodfield Mall, the crown jewel of the Golden Corridor
Illinois Technology and Research Corridor, located along Interstate 88; a counterpart to the Golden Corridor
List of technology centers
List of edge cities

[edit] References

^ Demographics, Hanover Park, Illinois (IL)

[0] Demographics, Hanover Park, Illinois (IL)

[1]

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