Will County, Illinois
Braidwood Real Estate and Local Guide
Braidwood is a former coal-mining town about 53 miles southwest of Chicago that grew after coal was discovered there in 1864 and later became home to Illinois' first miners' union local. Its Route 66 heritage and nearby fossil beds anchor much of the community's identity.
Living in Braidwood
The surrounding coal district is world-famous for Mazon Creek fossils, and the town produced figures such as United Mine Workers president John Mitchell and future Chicago mayor Anton Cermak, who worked the mines here. Source: en.wikipedia.org
Homes in Braidwood
Source: ACS 2023
What makes Braidwood home
Polk-a-Dot Drive In
1950s-style Route 66 diner opened in 1956, known for fiberglass Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Blues Brothers figures
Sun Motel (former Braidwood Inn)
Motel featured in the film Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station
Large Exelon-operated nuclear plant serving the Chicago region, sited just outside the city
Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area
State area southeast of the city known for Mazon Creek fossil hunting by permit, including the Tully Monster
Braidwood Lake
Former coal-mine cooling lake used for fishing, waterfowl hunting, and fossil hunting