Enjoying an ideal location near Interstates 55, 80, and 51, New Lenox is approximately 35 miles from downtown Chicago. Situated in the center of New Lenox Township, the village borders Joliet on the west. Other nearby communities include Mokena and Frankfort to the east, and Manhattan to the south. Distinguished as one of the far southwestern suburbs, New Lenox is known for its selection of affordable and attractive homes. Many properties feature spacious yards for family enjoyment, and new subdivisions are springing up in response to the influx of new residents. While New Lenox is one of the region's oldest areas, the community remained a small and sleepy farming village until the 1980s. Good schools, available land, a pastoral setting, and the peaceful countryside have all been magnets for record growth. Calling itself "the Home of Proud Americans," the village preserves a rural lifestyle while it offers all the conveniences and services of an urban setting. The new North-South Tollway Interstate 355 extension will fuel even more interest in this area as a site for residential and commercial development.