The name of Sandwich, Illinois has nothing to do with your favorite lunch, but is tied to the creation of the border of the State of Illinois as it is today. "Long John" Wentworth had the honor of choosing a name for the town in recognition of his hard work to move the border, so he decided to name it after his New Hampshire hometown, Sandwich.
Situated in America's heartland, Sandwich is a beautiful small town where people earn their keep in local industries, businesses and on farms
The name of Sandwich, Illinois has nothing to do with your favorite lunch, but is tied to the creation of the border of the State of Illinois as it is today. "Long John" Wentworth had the honor of choosing a name for the town in recognition of his hard work to move the border, so he decided to name it after his New Hampshire hometown, Sandwich.
Situated in America's heartland, Sandwich is a beautiful small town where people earn their keep in local industries, businesses and on farms. Covering an area of 4.68 miles and home to just over 7,000 people, Sandwich may seem small and unassuming, but this quaint place draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The reason? The Sandwich Fair, of course -- the oldest continuing fair in Illinois, something the local community has worked hard to achieve and are extremely proud of.
Moving to Sandwich
Rental apts in Sandwich go quickly and tenants need to give at least a month's notice before they leave, even if they only rent on a month-to-month basis. This means that your window of opportunity is fairly small from the day that the place is advertised online. If you are picky, start your search well in advance to ensure you get what you have in mind. Remember that your application can also still take a week to finalize and with all the competition from other tenants, it is not always a given that you will get the place you applied for. Whatever you do, don't plan your move during Labor Day week (first week of September) -- being stuck in traffic due to an influx of up to 200,000 fair visitors per day is no fun.
When it comes to rental homes, Sandwich offers plenty of options. Single, detached units are most abundant, accounting for 70 percent of the housing in the area -- there is no lack of 3 to 4-bedroom family homes. This however doesn't mean that you won't find an apartment complex or two. Just don't search for studio apartments in Sandwich, as there isn't many, according to the census data. Apartment-wise, your best bet is to look for two-bedroom places, since there are twice as many as one-bedroom units.
Sandwich Neighborhoods
Where do you want to sandwich yourself in Sandwich? See what we did there? Punny right? Funny business aside, check out the list below to see where to put down your roots in town.
Lake Holiday: The suburban neighborhood of Lake Holiday is made up of small to medium size homes and mobile homes that are owner occupied. The average rental cost of Lake Holiday is unfortunately much higher than most of the other neighborhoods in Illinois.
City Center: The Sandwich City Center has a few small apartment buildings, but primarily features small to medium sized homes. Knights Park is a great place to relax and unwind in the area and there are also quite a few antiques shops and markets to check out.
E Church St/E Railroad St: This area is made up of small- to medium-sized homes as well as small apartment buildings with a mix of owners and renters. It is a hip and trendy suburban neighborhood where you will find the Edgebrook Country Club, Sannauk Forest Preserve and Sandwich Memorial Park.
Life in Sandwich
Sandwich is a crafter's paradise and a shopper's downfall. Besides the famous Sandwich Fair, the town hosts plenty of craft fairs and flea markets throughout the year. Markets are, however, not the only things that make Sandwich tick. There are plenty of other activities to do: Go test your swing at Edgebrook Golf Course, grab a popcorn and watch a movie at WOW7 Cinema, or get all sophisticated and experience a real life opera at the Sandwich Opera House.
Fitness junkies and nature lovers will love the many parks and hiking trails in the area, among which Silver Springs State Park is an absolute must to visit. Although everything in town is within walking distance, most people around here own a car and have an average commute of about 30 minutes. Having your own wheels is an absolute must if you are prone to missing the big city, as Chicago is 60 miles away.