Geneva, Illinois | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Geneva City Hall as viewed fromIllinois Route 31 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Geneva in Kane County, Illinois | |
| Coordinates:41°53′00″N88°19′27″W / 41.88333°N 88.32417°W /41.88333; -88.32417[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Kane |
| Township | Blackberry,Geneva,St. Charles |
| Founded | 1835 |
| Incorporated as a village | 1867[2] |
| Incorporated as a city | 1887 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Kevin Burns[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.20 sq mi (26.43 km2) |
| • Land | 9.97 sq mi (25.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.62 km2) |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 21,393 |
| • Density | 2,146.7/sq mi (828.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 60134 |
| Area codes | 630 and331 |
| FIPS code | 17-28872 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394875[1] |
| Website | geneva |
Geneva is a city in and thecounty seat ofKane County, Illinois, United States.[5] It is located in the far western side of theChicago suburbs. Per the2020 census, the population was 21,393.[6]
Geneva is part of atri-city area, located betweenSt. Charles andBatavia.[7][8] The area experienced rapid population growth from the late 1980s through the mid-2000s as the Chicago suburbs spread to the west.
Geneva is located along theFox River. Portions of theFox River Trail and theIllinois Prairie Path pass through Geneva. TheFabyan Windmill, a Dutch windmill dating from the 1850s, is located here.
Two Native American trails crossed through Geneva. ThePotawatomi people lived in the Geneva area, with their main chief, Waubonsee, leading a group that gathered just north of Aurora.[9]
Geneva was first settled in the 1830s on an important route fromChicago. Daniel Shaw Haight was the first European settler in Geneva. Haight sold his claim in 1835 to James and Charity Herrington, who were influential in the creation of the town of Geneva.[10] A local's connections with Col. Richard Hamilton, a prominentCook County politician, led to the naming of Geneva ascounty seat in 1836. The town was platted a year later and was probably named afterGeneva, New York.[11] Before the name Geneva was chosen, the names LaFox, Big Spring, and Herrington's Ford were used.[12] A courthouse and jail were among the first major works. Geneva was incorporated as a village in 1867. While its site as a county seat attracted attention, the village's location on theFox River provided the most economic opportunities. Early goods manufactured in Geneva included cheese, butter, milled grains, and packed meat. The railroad connection in 1853 provided increased industry demand; by 1900, Appleton Manufacturing, Howell Foundry, Bennet Milling Co., and Pope Glucose Co. became major employers. This resulted in major civic improvement projects such as pumping stations and water mains in 1896. Geneva was particularly noted for its flux of Swedish immigrants, who comprised half the population by 1900. Geneva was connected to other Fox Valley communities a year later through theAurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric Company.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Geneva has a total area of 10.20 square miles (26.42 km2), of which 9.97 square miles (25.82 km2) (or 97.67%) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) (or 2.33%) is water.[13]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 997 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,239 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,692 | 36.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,446 | 44.6% | |
| 1910 | 3,006 | 22.9% | |
| 1920 | 3,327 | 10.7% | |
| 1930 | 4,607 | 38.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,101 | −11.0% | |
| 1950 | 5,139 | 25.3% | |
| 1960 | 7,646 | 48.8% | |
| 1970 | 9,049 | 18.3% | |
| 1980 | 9,881 | 9.2% | |
| 1990 | 12,617 | 27.7% | |
| 2000 | 19,515 | 54.7% | |
| 2010 | 21,495 | 10.1% | |
| 2020 | 21,393 | −0.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] | |||
As of the2020 census[15] there were 21,393 people, 7,925 households, and 5,942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,096.53 inhabitants per square mile (809.47/km2). There were 8,533 housing units at an average density of 836.24 per square mile (322.87/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.56%White, 0.66%African American, 0.27%Native American, 2.30%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 1.98% fromother races, and 7.21% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 7.30% of the population.
There were 7,925 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.77% were married couples living together, 11.48% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.02% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 2.74.
The city's age distribution consisted of 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $116,083, and the median income for a family was $136,083. Males had a median income of $76,533 versus $43,667 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $52,697. About 3.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 19,651 | 18,392 | 91.42% | 85.97% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 103 | 128 | 0.48% | 0.60% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 3 | 10 | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 461 | 485 | 2.14% | 2.27% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 3 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 18 | 55 | 0.08% | 0.26% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 213 | 758 | 0.99% | 3.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,043 | 1,562 | 4.85% | 7.30% |
| Total | 21,495 | 21,393 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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Fabyan Windmill is an authentic, working Dutch windmill dating from the 1850s.[18] The five-story woodensmock mill with a stage, which stands 68 feet (21 m) tall, sits upon the onetime estate of ColonelGeorge Fabyan, but is now part of the Kane County Forest Preserve District. The windmill is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places (NRHP).[19]
Riverbank Laboratories is an acoustical testing agency founded byWallace Clement Sabine in 1918. The acoustical laboratory building was funded and built by ColonelGeorge Fabyan at hisFabyan Villa in Geneva. The facility housed a cryptology team that deciphered codes from the works of Sir Francis Bacon, Shakespeare, and enemy military communications.[20] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 2003. The Fabyan Villa Museum houses photographs, the Fabyans' personal artifact collections, and original furnishings.[21]
Sacred Heart Seminary Shrine is a stone and mosaic religious Chapel in Geneva. It is located near Sacred Heart Monastery. The shrine was established in 1925 when a piece of the land along the river was sold to theSociety of Jesus.[22]
Elizabeth Place, or the Henry Bond Fargo House, is a historic residence in Geneva, in theMission Revival style. The house was owned byHenry Bond Fargo, a local businessman who brought several early industries to Geneva. It is listed on the NRHP.
Geneva has been home to theKane County Cougars since 1991 when theWausau Timbers relocated fromWausau, Wisconsin.[23] The Cougars currently play atNorthwestern Medicine Field. Originally members of theMidwest League,Major League Baseball removed their affiliation status during the nationwide minor league reorganization. The Cougars joined theAmerican Association of Professional Baseball.[24] In 2015 theChicago Steel of theUnited States Hockey League moved to Geneva fromBensenville, Illinois and played atFox Valley Ice Arena. In 2023, the Steel franchise was purchased by theWirtz Corporation, the owners of theChicago Blackhawks.
Geneva School District 304 includes the following schools:
Movies filmed in Geneva include:
Highways include State Routes25,31, and38.
Geneva is served by thePace bus system.
Geneva Station is on theUnion Pacific West Line of theMetra commuter rail system; it provides service todowntown Chicago.
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He came to this country with his parents in 1843, and lived for a time at Geneva, Ill., where he obtained a rudimentary education...
Media from Commons
Travel information from WikivoyagePlaces adjacent to Geneva, Illinois | |
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Municipalities and communities ofKane County, Illinois,United States | ||
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| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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