by C.J. Gustafson
BusinessSchools.com Contributing Writer
October 23, 2004
The Village of Schaumburg, Illinois is often overshadowed by Chicago, its
larger and more well-known neighbor just 30 miles to the south. The village's
first recorded resident was Johann Sunderlage, a member of a survey team working
in the area in 1833. Sunderlage was so taken with the area that he brought his
family over from Germany a few years later and established permanent residency.
In 1850, the town was officially named Schaumburg after a town in Germany. The
vast majority of the residents were German, and that was the language spoken
throughout the town. Even the local school taught in German.
The population
of the area remained small and, although commerce increased, the town was not
incorporated until 1956. At that time, it had a population of just 130 people.
Ten years after its incorporation, Schaumburg began experiencing an amazing
influx of new residents that continued at an almost frantic pace for 30 years.
With a current population of over 75,000 residents, Schaumburg is one of the
fifteen most populous communities in Illinois. It is one of seven villages located
within Schaumburg Township.
In its early history, Schaumburg was an agricultural community, but it has
evolved and grown to become the retail commercial hub of the northwest suburbs.
Only the city of Chicago itself surpasses Schaumburg in retail sales in the
state of Illinois. The largest sales generators have been automobile dealerships
and service stations, general merchandise establishments, and apparel stores.
Growth in the village typically relates to its retail industry. Parking ramps
are being added, and the Schaumburg Convention Center, with a projected grand
opening in 2006, is a major new construction and business presence in the village.
When the center begins operations, it is expected to create 400 permanent jobs.
In the meantime, construction- and supply-related industries will benefit from
the project, and it provides potential opportunities for business students and
graduates. It is estimated that as many as 1,600 persons will be employed at
the peak of construction.
The top five industries based on number of employees are manufacturing (16.4%);
professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services
(14.0%); educational, health and social services (13.8%); retail trade (12.4%);
finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (10.2%). Viewing area employment
as a whole, over 70% of Schaumburg's workforce members are in white collar occupations,
and a majority of the residents earn between $50,000 and $90,000 per year.
Schaumburg is a perfect location for those who work in Chicago but don't want
to live in a major metropolitan area. Jerry Arnold, a computer programmer, was originally
living in Milwaukee when he was offered a job with a company in Chicago. The
position represented a nice step up in his career, but Arnold and his wife had
just had a baby and they wanted to live in a smaller city environment. After
searching around, the Arnolds decided Schaumburg fit perfectly with their needs.
"My work is on the north side of Chicago, so I have about a half-hour drive
on a good day," Arnold shared. "I can handle that. And I can always take the
'L' if I don't feel like driving," he added, referring to the rail system that
provides commuter service for a large part of Chicago and suburb areas. "My
wife likes the atmosphere and we fit right in with all the other young families
who are just starting out having children." Arnold's wife, with plans to return
to school to finish her degree in web design, was also happy to find that she
had numerous schools to choose from.
Schaumburg has several colleges and universities located within a ten-mile radius of the village that offer business and e-commerce
degrees. Argosy
University - Schaumburg (Chicago Northwest), University
of Phoenix - Chicagoland Campus, William
Rainey Harper College, and Devry Institute
Of Technology provide business students with local educational choices.
For those students willing to travel a bit further, College of DuPage, Wheaton College, Elmhurst College, Elgin Community College and Oakton Community College are all within twenty miles of Schaumburg. Travel just another ten miles, and students can tap into Chicago's extensive academic system as well.
These educational institutions offer Accounting degrees, Economics degrees, Marketing/PR degrees, and Management degrees in a variety of business fields. They also offer training for e-commerce careers and administration careers. Several of the four-year schools offer MBA programs as well.
Schaumburg is a fast-growing suburban community that provides a small city lifestyle
with easy access to a world-famous major metropolitan area. There are a variety
of educational opportunities within 30 miles of the village, and graduates that
choose to stay in the area have employment options right near home, or just
an easy commute away in the big city. As Jerry Arnold described it, "In many
ways, Schaumburg gives us the best of both worlds."
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