Kane County Communities
AURORA
A city second to none, Aurora continues to be a strong progressive force in the Chicagoland area. Known as the “City of Lights,” Aurora affords its population of over 160,000 a prosperous, ever-expanding community.
The first settlers came to the Aurora area in the 1830s, in large part due to the significant benefits of the Fox River. In 1881, the city was dubbed the “City of Lights” for being the first city in the world to line its streets with electric lights. While the city continually expands and attracts a growing number of residents and businesses, it still holds on to its traditional historic origins.
Aurora is strategically positioned a mere 40 miles west of downtown Chicago and its two major airports, O’Hare International and Midway International. Interstate 88 connects Aurora to Chicago and surrounding communities, as well as Indiana and Wisconsin. The community is not only part of Kane County, but it also extends into DuPage, Kendall and Will Counties.
A host of lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment choices are available in and around the Aurora community. Visitors can choose from a number of comfortable hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts to meet accommodation needs. Dining selections range from American to Chinese, Mexican to Italian and everything in between. Aurora is packed with a number of shopping resources, including the Westfield Fox Valley Mall with over 180 specialty stores, Chicago Premium Outlets, offering 120 designer and brand name outlet stores, and a number of family-owned and specialty shops.
Spend a day at one of Aurora’s many parks and nature trails, and be sure to visit Stolp Island, an outdoor museum of architecture exhibiting more than 20 historic structures. At night, enjoy live entertainment, productions and musicals at the Paramount Arts Centre, or be part of a murder mystery at the Riverfront Playhouse. Feeling lucky? Poker, blackjack, slots and more are available at the Hollywood Casino-Aurora.
Business and industry is abundant in Aurora. Comprised of Fortune 500 companies, national companies, large manufacturing companies and small businesses, the area affords a strong local economy. Aurora-based companies, comprised of Process Plastic, Caterpillar, Weyerhauser, Toyota and JVC Corporation of America, provide employment to a workforce of over 70,000.
Three outstanding public school systems and a number of private and parochial schools are available to Aurora residents. A number of public and private higher education facilities are accessible in and around the Aurora area, including Waubonsee Community College, Aurora University, Robert Morris College, Olympia College, North Central College and Benedictine University.
Three top-notch medical centers and a number of diverse practices are provided throughout the Aurora region: Rush-Copley Medical Center is a 142-bed facility, staffed by over 385 physicians specializing in more than 50 medical areas; Provena Mercy Medical Center is equipped with a 365-bed facility and over 350 physicians and medical professionals; and Dreyer Medical Center has over 110 physicians that specialize in 27 medical services.
Arts, entertainment and an array shopping and dining options are plentiful throughout the area. Excellent educational facilities, Fortune 500 companies and three high-quality medical centers in the area make Aurora the envy of its neighboring communities.
BATAVIA
A growing population of 25,000 makes up the flourishing community of Batavia. Once known as the “Windmill City,” Batavia was host to an array of windmill manufacturers, starting with the U.S. Wind Engine and Pump Company’s move to Batavia in 1856. Now nicknamed the “City of Energy,” Batavia provides residents with a powerful local economy and a unique quality of life.
Only 35 miles west of the Loop, Batavia has enjoyed continuous growth over the years, both residentially and economically. Running east and west and providing easy travel to Chicago and surrounding suburbs is Interstate 88. State Highways 25 and 31, running north-south, and 38 and 56, running east-west, are all situated in or near the community. Available public transportation includes Metra commuter trains in neighboring Geneva and Aurora, the Pace bus service, and the nearby O’Hare International and Midway International Airports. The larger part of Batavia is located in Kane County, with a small section located in DuPage County.
Various forms of entertainment abound throughout Batavia and its neighboring communities. Downtown Batavia houses a number of historical buildings and unique specialty shops, while the increasing commercial area along Randall Road affords space for large shopping centers and an array of retail stores. Along this corridor, retailers provide everything from everyday necessities to specialty items.
A number of area facilities offer live music, comedy, plays, musicals and more. The Cultural Center in St. Charles, Hemmens Culture Center in Elgin, the Paramount Arts Centre in Aurora and Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles all provide an array of entertainment throughout the year.
Looking to view competitive sports? The Kane County Cougars baseball team, the Class A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, plays home games in nearby Geneva.
The Batavia Park District spreads across 300 acres of land, is comprised of 30 parks and provides more than 1,000 programs and services each year. Recreational areas throughout Batavia and surrounding communities are numerous: Hall Quarry Beach, a renovated stone quarry, the area’s primary swimming facility; Clark Island Park, home to Shakespeare on Clark; and Laurelwood Park, offering boating amenities and access to the Fox River.
Batavia residents are fortunate to have access to first-rate education. Batavia High School, Rotolo Middle School and six elementary schools make up Batavia School District 101. Several private and parochial schools are offered, consisting of a highly acclaimed Montessori School, a variety of churches providing faith-based education and three Catholic and one Christian high school in Aurora. A host of higher education facilities surround Batavia, including Aurora University and Waubonsee Community College.
Healthcare is abundant in the area, from extensive medical centers to assisted living. Two hospitals serve Batavia residents with top-notch, quality medical care: Delnor-Community Hospital sits on 87 acres in Geneva and Provena Mercy Medical Center is located in Aurora. The Holmstad retirement community offers both independent and assisted living situations and Heritage Woods of Batavia provides assisted living for older adults.
Conveniently located and affording residents and visitors countless superior amenities, the city of Batavia is second to none.
GENEVA
The beautiful city of Geneva, nestled along the extensive Fox River, exemplifies the quintessential community. Serving as the county seat of Kane County, Geneva is within reach of a host of extensive highways, major roads and interstates: Highways 25 and 31 provide easy transport to St. Charles and Batavia; Roosevelt Road links to Chicago and other cities to the east and west; and Interstates 80 and 90 connect drivers to Interstates 290, 294 and 355. With a great locale, the community boasts an array of entertaining festivals, extensive shopping districts, delectable dining choices and many more appealing advantages.
Geneva hails as the home to a number of festivals, welcoming visitors from all over to partake. Popular festivals in the community include the June Midsommer Festival—Swedish Days, the Geneva Arts Fair, the Festival of the Vine in September and the Christmas Walk and House Tours during the holiday season.
This area is a shopper’s dream, offering a host of quaint shops and large, national retailers. More than 100 specialty shops line the downtown district, offering shoppers everything from clothing to art. In 2002, the Geneva Commons was constructed, providing over 60 stores and several eateries.
Recreational areas abound in Geneva: the Fox River Trail offers beautiful mixed-use trails; the Great Western Trail is comprised of a 17-mile limestone trail ideal for biking; the Tekawitha Woods Forest Preserve; the Fabyan Forest Preserve; and Peck Farm Park, which spans 370 acres and is equipped with a nature center, gardens, trails, picnic areas, a 19-acre lake and more.
A variety of entertainment is available in and around the region, including the 1,000-seat Dellora A. Norris Cultural Center, offering dance, music, theater and more, and the extensive Kane County Events Center. Geneva is also the home of the Kane County Cougars, the local Class A baseball team.
Residents of the area take advantage of first-rate educational facilities and medical centers. The Geneva Community Unit School District 304 serves close to 6,000 students in eight schools, with several private and parochial schools also available. Within 30 miles, students can access a number of community colleges and four-year higher education facilities. The area is also served by two excellent healthcare centers—Delnor Community Hospital, a 118-bed facility providing services to more than 20,000 patients annually, and Provena Mercy Medical Center.
The benefits of living in the city of Geneva are countless, ranging from entertainment venues and recreational facilities to superb educational and medical resources. Residents enjoy these advantages and are proud to call Geneva home.
ALGONQUIN
Inhabited by the Potawatomi Indians nearly 200 years ago and home to the first settlers in 1834, Algonquin is a community proud of its rich past and progressive future. While the majority of Algonquin lies within McHenry County, about 30 percent is in Kane County. The area is conveniently located 45 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and 29 miles from O’Hare International Airport. Situated along the beautiful Fox River and accessible to Interstate 90, Algonquin is home to an expanding residential, retail and business population.
The community has recently enjoyed downtown renovation projects, including the redeveloped Riverfront Park and the new Cornish Park. Shopping, dining and lodging abound in Algonquin. Nearby malls consist of the Algonquin Commons and the Galleria. Most notable of many quality local restaurants include Port Edwards seafood and Cucina Bella italian fare. Stay in one of Algonquin’s most beautiful and historic bed and breakfasts, the Victorian Rose Garden, built in 1886. Excellent school systems and several top healthcare facilities are offered in and around the area. Both village officials and residents consistently strive to raise the quality of life in Algonquin, making the community an attractive site to lay family roots.
BARRINGTON HILLS
Incorporated in 1957, the village of Barrington Hills boasts approximately 4,000 residents spread throughout its expansive area. Making up 42 percent of the land in the village is the 6,000 acres dedicated to forest preserve areas. The community sits a mere 34 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and is accessible by Interstate 90. Barrington Hills is served by three park districts, two public school districts comprised of grades K-12, and one parochial school. On top of it all, residents enjoy homes situated on a minimum of five acres, allowing for both farming and raising horses. Barrington Hills consistently aims to provide its residents with a superior lifestyle, distinctive from its surrounding communities.
BARTLETT
Expanding through Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties, Bartlett boasts a populace of more than 40,000 residents. The ideal location of this municipality provides access to the Northwest Tollway, East-West Tollway, Interstate 290 and the Elgin O’Hare Expressway, making travel in and out of the area easy. Residents enjoy the propinquity of five extensive regional malls and an array of diverse dining options in and around the Bartlett area.
Accessibility to a variety of amenities, including the availability of five top-notch hospitals in the region, constitutes Bartlett as an attractive place to live and work.
BURLINGTON
Burlington, a small town of around 500 residents, is within reach to the larger town benefits of Elgin, and is also a mere 61 miles from the Chicago metropolitan area. School District 301 in Burlington consists of Howard B. Thomas Grade School, Central Middle School and Central High School. A number of higher education facilities are offered in nearby communities as well. The closest hospitals include Vencor Hospital in Sycamore and Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb. Burlington offers the luxury of a quiet lifestyle, with easy access to urban locales.
CARPENTERSVILLE
The largest community in Dundee Township, Carpentersville boasts nearly 40,000 residents. Located only 35 miles northwest of Chicago, Carpentersville was settled by Charles Valentine Carpenter and his brother, Daniel, in 1837. The original name was Carpenter’s Grove, until it was renamed Carpentersville in 1851. This large community affords a host of benefits, from excellent schools to an array of shopping choices to beautiful parks and forest preserves.
EAST DUNDEE
East Dundee, with a population of over 3,000, is within reach of a number of larger communities, including Elgin and Algonquin, both located within five miles, and Chicago, with a locale nearly 44 miles away. Situated in Kane County and encompassing a small section on the eastern boundary of Cook County, the community of East Dundee affords residents a variety of restaurants, shopping endeavors, entertainment choices, recreational facilities and much more.
School District 300, an exceptional school system in the area, provides top-notch education with 15 elementary schools, five middle schools and three high schools. The Dundee Township Public Library contains over 100,000 valuable resources available to the entire community. East Dundee continues to expand in all facets of the community, providing residents with a superior way of life.
ELBURN
Originally named Blackberry, the name Elburn was put into use in 1886 by the Village Board. Located 54 miles driving distance from downtown Chicago, the Elburn community continues to grow, with a current population reaching approximately 4,500. Elburn hosts a variety of events in the community, including the Day in the Park event, held the Sunday after the Fourth of July, Elburn Days, Elburn’s unofficial end-of-summer celebration, and the Christmas Walk in December.
ELGIN
Dubbed as one of the fastest growing cities in Illinois, Elgin boasts a populace of more than 100,000 residents within both Kane and Cook Counties. With an ideal location along the Fox River, the Elgin community is accessible to the Interstate 90 tollway and sits a mere 25 miles from O’Hare International Airport and 12 miles from DuPage Airport. Chicago’s Union Station is only one hour away by Metra’s Milwaukee District West Line.
Elgin received its city charter in 1854 and has grown into a thriving community. The area affords great attractions, from a day at the Grand Victoria Casino to a night of excellent entertainment at Hemmens Cultural Center. More than 50 recreational spaces are provided in Elgin, including the Centre, the community’s modern recreation complex. The city of Elgin affords residents an outstanding school system, with access to private and parochial education, the availability of top-quality healthcare facilities and a strong local economy. Elgin’s perfect locale has contributed to residential and both commercial and industrial growth in the area. The community continues to prosper, while maintaining its historical values.
GILBERTS
Incorporated in 1890, the Village of Gilberts, named after Albro Gilberts, has grown extensively since its establishment. After the building of nearby Interstate 90 and the growth in the neighboring Elgin community, Gilberts began to gradually expand with its motto: “Growing with Vision.” The community provides its residents with beautiful recreational areas including bike trails; two active parks comprised of baseball diamonds, basketball courts, soccer fields, playgrounds, a fishing pond and pavilions; and Governor’s Hometown Award-winning 2005 “Skateboard Park”. Gilberts also received the Governor’s hometown “2006 Village Wide Clean-up Day” award.
HAMPSHIRE
Accessible to Interstate 90 and the city of Chicago, Hampshire enjoys the benefits of continual growth, while preserving its traditional heritage. With a gradually increasing population, the community enjoys the influx of benefits by living in Hampshire—from prime schooling to outstanding parks and recreational facilities to easy access to variety of shopping and dining options in and around the area.
HUNTLEY
This rapidly developing community, situated along Interstate 90, is a mere 45 minutes west of downtown Chicago in both Kane County and McHenry County. The populace of Huntley has grown immensely since its establishment more than 150 years ago. In 2000, the reported population was 5,730, which more than doubled in 2003 with 12,203 residents in the area. Currently, the village is comprised of 16,719 and is projected to be at 44,435 by 2030. Huntley is growing quickly in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors, resulting in a strong local economy.
Residents enjoy an excellent school system, the Consolidated School District 158, which encompasses five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Perhaps the most popular site for both residents and visitors to the community are the Huntley Factory Shops, offering shoppers more than 60 stores. The recent surge of growth in Huntley appeals to both prospective residents and businesses alike.
LILY LAKE
Lily Lake is a gradually growing village in the northwestern section of Illinois. Comprised of more than 900 residents, the community sits approximately 55 miles west of downtown Chicago with O’Hare International Airport located 40 miles away and Midway International Airport 52 miles away. Though this village enjoys the small-town life, nearby larger communities, such as Elgin, St. Charles and Geneva, provide a number of amenities from an array of diverse restaurants to stores and entertainment options. Lily Lake prides itself on a great school system and enjoys several local colleges and universities in the area, aiding in the high number of college graduates in the community.
MAPLE PARK
Originally incorporated under the name Lodi in 1865, residents changed the name to Maple Park shortly after in 1880. Now home to a population of more than 800, Maple Park is situated nearly 50 miles west of Chicago in Kane and DeKalb Counties. The community boasts a strong school district, Kaneland Community Unit School District 302, as well as the extensive Maple Park Public Library District, established in 1998.
MONTGOMERY
Just south of Aurora sits Montgomery, one of Illinois’ fastest growing communities, which currently hails approximately 15,500 residents within the counties of Kane and Kendall. With an abundance of acreage dedicated to parkland, Montgomery offers an extensive amount of recreational facilities and areas along the Fox River. The expanding community has recently approved several newly built subdivisions and is undergoing a downtown rejuvenation in hopes of attracting new residents and businesses.
Montgomery is home to a number of family-friendly events, welcoming all residents of the community to participate. The Montgomery Oktoberfest 5K River Run spans both sides of the Fox River and is held annually on the first weekend of October, attracting runners from all over. The Montgomery Fest is held annually during the second weekend in August, providing a number of entertaining treats, including musical performances, carnival rides, food vendors and more. Residents enjoy a high quality of life in the area and are proud to be a part of the Montgomery community.
NORTH AURORA
Established in 1905, North Aurora recently celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. With nearly 14,000 residents in the community, North Aurora is accessible to Interstate 88, Route 31, Route 25 and Route 56, providing easy travel to and from Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Sitting along the Fox River, the community provides residents with 110 beautiful parks, bike paths, parklands and fishing areas.
North Aurora is served by West Aurora School District 129, which provides residents with three elementary schools and one middle school within the community, as well as one high school in nearby Aurora. Several higher learning facilities are located in the region, including the accredited four-year Aurora University.
The area enjoys a thriving economic environment, with new retail developments and a booming industrial sector, which includes companies such as Aurora Packaging, Aurora Pump, Air-Rite, Dart Container and several others.
PINGREE GROVE
Celebrating its 100th anniversary on February 14, 2007, the village of Pingree Grove still maintains its strong historical essence while progressing into its future. The community is in the process of creating a new business park, which will be more than 100 acres in size and will be home to 15 businesses after construction has finished. Residents are not only pleased with Pingree Grove’s strong local economy, but they are also pleased with the abundance of accessible amenities in the region including prime educational facilities, the availability of high-quality medical care and beautiful recreational areas.
ST. CHARLES
Situated within Kane County, with a small section in DuPage County, St. Charles is a continuously progressing community. Approximately 36 miles west of Chicago, St. Charles hails as the northernmost town of the Tri-Cities of the Fox Valley. Easy access to a number of U.S. and state routes, as well as interstate highways, makes commuting in and out of the area simple.
Community Unit School District 303 serves around 14,000 students all over the St. Charles region, ranging from grades Kindergarten through 12th. The region also affords several higher education opportunities at Elgin Community College, Judson College and Aurora University.
The St. Charles Park District comprises nearly 1,400 acres of park and recreational land, earning recognition for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. The community encompasses countless amenities, including a number of shopping districts, about 120 diverse restaurants and the entertainment venues of Hotel Baker, Arcada Theatre and Pheasant Run. Residents enjoy both the small-town charm of St. Charles and the large-town amenities it has to offer.
SLEEPY HOLLOW
Founded in 1958, Sleepy Hollow has grown to encompass a populace reaching 4,000 residents. Chicago is a mere 47 miles from the residential community, which is in proximity to Randall Road, Illinois Route 72, Illinois Route 31 and Boncosky Road. Though the community is completely residential, it has access to countless services throughout its neighboring region, including laudable education facilities, top-quality healthcare at Sherman Hospital or St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin, and a number of shopping areas and assorted restaurants.
SOUTH ELGIN
More than 20,000 people reside in the growing area of South Elgin, positioned approximately 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. The community provides facile accessibility to Chicago and its adjacent suburbs through surrounding Illinois Routes 31, 25 and 19, as well as U.S. Route 20.
Two superior school districts serve South Elgin—St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 and the U-46 Public School System, which recently opened South Elgin High School in 2005.
South Elgin enjoys a variety of local events, each welcoming residents in and around the community. The South Elgin Riverfest, held in August, offers guests a range of entertainment, carnival rides and games, and delectable food choices. The Fox Valley Oktoberfest in early September is a three-day event featuring genuine German culture. This community is certain to appeal to a variety of lifestyles, and South Elgin invites all to partake in its many advantages.
VIRGIL
The Village of Virgil was incorporated in 1990 and currently serves more than 300 residents. The community sits near a number of large cities including Aurora, Naperville, Rockford, Joliet and Chicago. Excellent healthcare is provided by Vencor Hospital in Sycamore and Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva, each offering a number of medical services to the region. Virgil residents enjoy the village’s location, offering a quiet, small town away from the bustling Chicago Metropolitan area, while still treasuring the urban conveniences.
WAYNE
Straddling DuPage and Kane Counties, Wayne sits within 15 miles of Elgin, Naperville and Aurora and approximately 40 miles from downtown Chicago. Boasting over 2,300 residents, it is estimated that Wayne goes through more than a two percent population growth annually. This gradually expanding community is an appealing site to live, work and play, affording residents proximity to major cities, medical care facilities, outstanding educational opportunities and other resources.
WEST DUNDEE
The spirited and ever-growing community of West Dundee is conveniently positioned in the Fox River Valley, affording easy access to surrounding cities by Interstate 90. Twenty full-time police officers and 16 full-time and 27 part-time firemen oversee safety throughout the community.
West Dundee is in the vicinity of several public and private schools, providing education for grades kindergarten through 12, and a number of colleges and universities. Education, affordable housing and the availability of a host of medical care facilities provide West Dundee residents with a variety of important amenities, promoting a favorable way of living within the community.
The Historic Downtown Business District offers a variety of dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities along the Fox River. West Dundee is also home to Spring Hill Mall, a regional mall home to five national chain department stores and numerous specialty shops.
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