Brookfield, village in northeastern Illinois, located in Cook County, west of the Des Plaines River. Situated about 21 km (about 13 mi) west of Chicago, Brookfield is a residential suburb of the city. The village developed on a railroad line, and many commuters who work in Chicago live here. The Brookfield Zoo, established by the Chicago Zoological Society in 1934, attracts many visitors. Animals in this 80-hectare (200-acre) zoo live in surroundings designed to recreate their natural habitats. Founded in 1888 and incorporated in 1893, the village was originally named Grossdale, after its founder, Chicago-based developer Samuel Gross. The village was renamed Brookfield in 1905. Population 19,395 (1980); 18,876 (1990); 19,085 (2000).
