When America was sailing along the crest of Teddy Roosevelt's trust-busting wave, a handful of men from a non-descript area of West Hammond, Indiana huddled in what was probably the Village of Burnham's first 'smoke-filled room' conference. As representatives of some 500 residents clamoring for identity, theirs was a trust both sacred and historic. They were trying to settle on a name for their "Village".

What took place has become a Village legend, handed down through the generations and perhaps very much embellished! The conferees, after a few faltering attempts, narrowed the field to names of two influential realtors of that time, both prominent in the areas of development and growth. One of them pulled out a coin and tossed it! As the silver piece landed, word was spread like a chain-reaction that the Village would be named after Samuel Burnham - as was rumored at the time.

The Village of Burnham, incorporated on February 8, 1907, has undergone many dramatic changes in the seeming eternity between the first of the Roosevelt's and our present times. Although many of the homes present during the beginning still remain, the Village has undergone the development of modern residential developments, as well. Roads once constructed for horses and buggies have been re-established for modern-day society, as well as the sidewalks, boardwalks and stone and gravel paths. And of course, the modern conveniences of electricity, gas, telephone have led to the access of all the technologies we have today.

Much of the color of Burnham's history centers on Johnny Patton, "Boy Mayor", whose 40-year rule as Village President made his name synonymous with the Village of Burnham. Patton, who was Village marshal before his election as Village Head in 1908, succeeded Joseph Wineland, the first Village President. To mention Patton's name was a password into almost any of Burnham's eleven taverns and five grocery stores of those times.

During the first election in 1907, the following officials were chosen: Village President, Joseph Wineland; Village Clerk, T.J. Cullman; Village Trustees - James Harvey Patton, William C. Neel, Emil Jabrasky, Milton Shaver, Jospeh Doe, and W.C. Coombs; and Village Treasurer - A.W. Hunter. Samuel K. Markman was the first Village Attorney after the Village was incorporated in 1907.

At one time, Burnham was the home and hunting grounds of the Sioux, Iroquois, Potawatomi and the Miami Indian Tribes. The French explorers, Marquette and Joliet, also spent a great deal of time in the area. However, the Village truly owes it's greatest debt to Telford Burnham. Burnham designed the land use patterns of the Village and helped establish the area's reputation as an important industrial and transportation site. The Village, was then indeed, named after Telford Burnham and was incorporated a number of years later in 1907.

Since the days of the "Boy Mayor" Johnny Patton, the Village has continued with some 'firsts' as it is proud of it's past. The first African American Mayor, Robert E. Polk, was elected in 2005; the first annual back-to-school parade was established in 2006.

The Village of Burnham links the southern suburbs to the neighboring State of Indiana and the City of Chicago. The Village is conveniently located next to large tracts of forest preserves and the Little Calumet River. Currently, the Village is almost equally divided between residential and industrial districts, whereby, commercial areas exist on Torrence Avenue, State Street, and Burnham Ave. One point six (1.6) miles are zoned industrial, while on point nine (1.9) miles of land are zoned as residential sites.

Two areas make up the residential portions of Village - one on the east side of the Village, and one on the west. The older area is on the east side of the Village where the Village Hall was previously located. The newer homes are on the west side of the Village, which was built up considerably after World War II in the fifties and into the present time. This area is larger than the old section of the Village and this is where the new Village Hall/police facility is now located. This new Village Hall opened in 1985 and the new police station addition opened in 2007.

During the month of June 2007, the Village of Burnham will adopt a resolution its official recognition of the Village's 100-year birthday. In celebration of the centennial, the Village will adopt it's official bird as the green parrot; its official flower as the yellow rose; and it's official colors as green and yellow/gold.