It's common knowledge in Arlington Heights that the community used to be called Dunton - but the fact that it was almost called Bradley is not so well known.

"William Dunton was going to name it after a friend of his, Peter Bradley," said Arlington Heights Historical Museum Administrator Susan English.

What foiled his plan was the discovery that Bradley, Ill., already existed near downstate Kankakee.

The town became Dunton instead - but not before the name of "Bradley" was printed on a map. Dunton crossed it out and wrote in his own name when he realized Bradley would no longer do.

In the late 1870s, residents wanted to change the name again, for economic reasons.

"The forerunners of the chamber of commerce ... felt that the name Dunton wasn't attractive to new investment in town," English said.

Arlington was an honorable choice - Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., had opened about 10 years earlier.

But that name presented a problem: Again, another Illinois city had snatched it first.

"So then someone just came up with the idea of adding 'Heights,' because it is one of the higher points in the area," English said.

Arlington Heights took up the name in 1874 - and it's held for more than 100 years.

-Erin Holmes

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