Rolling Meadows began as one man's vision for an affordable housing development for young families in the years following World War II. He purchased land in a small corner of Chicagoland's Palatine Township for the development—land rich with rolling fields. The aptly named "Project Rolling Meadows" grew quickly, but the sense of community pride and neighborly spirit grew even faster. With the determination of its residents, Rolling Meadows became an official city on February 26, 1955, just a few years after the first home was constructed. Rolling Meadows is a city built by the strength and dedication of its residents. If it were not for its continuing vision of an American hometown that offers the best in civil and community services, then Rolling Meadows would be nothing more than an unincorporated housing development today.