Take a close look at any city in America in terms
of where it was started and where growth has been prominent, and one
of the important aspects encountered is
the presence of a railroad. West Chicago, Illinois is such a place;
it is a city where history and progress meet. From a historic point
of view, three railroads converged here by 1850, forming the first
railroad junction in the state of Illinois. The resulting confluence
gave the town its first name - Junction. When the Elgin, Joliet &
Eastern Railroad laid tracks on the town's west
side, the first efforts were made to attract industry as the
town offered free factory sites along its route.
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West Chicago (cont.)
In 1909, the town name was
officially changed to the City of West Chicago; as
the rail line that connected the city of Chicago with Geneva passed
through West Chicago with passengers now as well as freight, the
rails continued to support the growth of the city. 1928 saw the
addition of an airfield converted from a former sheep pasture
that has now become the third busiest in the state of Illinois: Du
Page Airport.
Today, there are many contrasts from
affordable apartments and quaint bungalows to the old Victorian
homes of many years past, from white-collar commuters to blue-collar
workers. West Chicago's population has become quite diverse, with a
wide range of cultures and ethnicities settling into a city built by
pioneers and immigrants German, Hispanic, Irish, Swedish and
others not unlike many of the cities in the immediate area.
More than 50% of the population is 35 years of age or younger. Offering outstanding schools, parks, and
housing options make West Chicago a wonderful place to live and
raise a family, the city is one that embraces diversity and draws
strength from it.
