Dunning is named after Andrew Dunning, who bought land for a nursery after the Civil War. The neighborhood was still a remote area in the prairie when, in 1851, it was selected by Cook County to be the location of a poor farm and an asylum for the insane.
The population increased after World War I when the area adjacent was purchased and was called West Portage Park to help remove the stigma.
Dunning is perhaps best known as the home to Eli’s Cheesecake factory, and the company has been producing cheesecakes in its state-of-the-art facility for nearly two decades.
The Chicago Park District maintains several parks throughout the area, with a strong focus on Shabbona Park which sits on nearly 20 acres of land. Shabbona Park has a host of several activities for guests including badminton, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, softball, a swimming pool and fitness center, tennis courts, a walking trail, and much more.
The late 20th century witnessed growth in population, business and institutions in Dunning. There are luxury homes and a golf course north of Irving Park, and Wright Junior College has experienced expansion, with futuristic buildings.
