The community of Oak Forest, Illinois is located in southwest Cook County, approximately 27 miles south of Chicago. The city is less than a half hour from Chicago Midway International Airport and less than an hour from O'Hare International Airport. The Metro Rock Island Railroad provides commuter rail service from Oak Forest to Chicago. Interstates 57, 80, and 294 are accessible from the city. History of Oak Forest The first settlement of Oak Forest dates back to the early 1800s. The town was named Cooper's Grove in honor of one of its first residents and has been part of the Borough of Bremen since its founding. In the late 1840s, the area was settled by immigrant German farmers attracted by the area's fertile soils and oak forests. In 1848 the post office was renamed New Bremen and included Tinley Park, a neighboring community. The village of Oak Forest was incorporated in 1947, and the town was incorporated in 1971. The Cook County Infirmary, also known as Oak Forest Hospital, was built in 1910 to serve the poor, destitute, and mentally ill. The hospital was a major factor in the growth of the comm...