In 1673,Louis Jolliet, along with FatherJacques Marquette, paddled up the Des Plaines River and camped on a huge earthwork mound, a few miles south of present-day Joliet.[5] Maps from Jolliet's exploration of the area showed a large hill or mound down river from Chicago, labeled Mont Joliet.[6] The mound has since been flattened due tomining.
In 1833, following theBlack Hawk War, Charles Reed built a cabin along the west side of theDes Plaines River. Across the river in 1834, James B. Campbell, treasurer of the canal commissioners, laid out the village of "Juliet", a corruption of "Joliet" that was also in use at the time. Just before the economic depression of 1837, Juliet incorporated as a village, but to cut tax expenses, Juliet residents soon petitioned the state to rescind that incorporation.
In 1845, local residents changed the community's name from "Juliet" to "Joliet", reflecting the original name. Joliet was reincorporated as a city in 1852. Cornelius Covenhoven Van Horne was active in getting the city its firstcharter, and because of this, he was elected Joliet's firstmayor. When the city later built a new bridge, it was named the Van Horne Bridge.[7]
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Joliet has a total area of 65.82 square miles (170.47 km2), of which 65.08 square miles (168.56 km2) (or 98.87%) is land and 0.74 square miles (1.92 km2) (or 1.13%) is water.[8] It has a sprawling, irregular shape that extends into nine different townships, more than any other Illinois city. They are: Joliet, Plainfield, Troy, New Lenox, Jackson, Channahon, and Lockport in Will County, and Na-Au-Say and Seward in Kendall County. Joliet developed along the Des Plaines River, and its downtown is located in the river valley.
Joliet has a "west side" and "east side", referring to areas in relation to the river.
With the construction of highways and suburban development to the west, many businesses moved from the downtown area to the expanding areas west of the river. Many stores relocated to the west side in new strip malls and shopping centers with more parking and easier access. These changes resulted in the decline of the downtown shopping district, which is still felt today. Today, Joliet has a "west side" and a "far west side" (which includes all city limits in Kendall County). This has given rise to a newly referenced "Central Joliet" portion of the city, which essentially is all land west of the Des Plaines River and east ofInterstate 55. This new reference may soon change the current meaning of "west side" to west of I-55.[citation needed]
As of the2020 census[14] there were 150,362 people, 48,516 households, and 34,726 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,284.30 inhabitants per square mile (881.97/km2). There were 52,737 housing units at an average density of 801.18 per square mile (309.34/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 51.25%White, 16.25%African American, 1.00%Native American, 2.01%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 15.15% fromother races, and 14.30% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 33.59% of the population.
There were 48,516 households, out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.07% were married couples living together, 14.55% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.42% were non-families. 24.02% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.58 and the average family size was 2.98.
The city's age distribution consisted of 27.1% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 24% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $72,871, and the median income for a family was $86,198. Males had a median income of $48,865 versus $30,185 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $29,615. About 8.4% of families and 10.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Joliet city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
From April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011, Joliet was the fastest-growing city in theMidwestern United States and the 18th-fastest growing city in the United States among incorporated places with more than 100,000 people.[16]
According to the official website for the city of Joliet:
Joliet's diverse faith community represents over 60 denominations and offers residents services at more than 150 churches, synagogues, and houses of worship. Along with their spiritual offerings, these houses of worship enrich the Joliet area by providing some of the area's finest examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine, and Renaissance architecture. The spiritual community in Joliet welcomes newcomers with open arms, offering regular worship services and religious education.[17]
Like many Midwestern and East Coast cities dependent on manufacturing industries, Joliet has experienced past economic troubles. As of 2017[update], the rate of unemployment in Joliet was around 6.4%.[18] The city is evolving from a steel and manufacturing suburb to a commuter suburb in theChicago metropolitan area. Some new migrants to the Chicago area are working in bordering Cook County (the nation's second-most populous county) and living in Joliet.
The Auditorium Building is located at the northeast corner of Chicago and Clinton Streets. Designed by G. Julian Barnes and built of limestone in 1891, it was controversial as one of the first buildings to combine religious, civic, and commercial uses. Nonetheless, people suchTheodore Roosevelt visited and spoke at the building.[23] The building was originally built for theUniversalist Unitarian Church of Joliet, but the church sold the building in 1993, and it is no longer home to the congregation.[24]
The Jacob A. Henry Mansion, 20 South Eastern Avenue, is a three-story, red-brick, Second Empire/Italian Renaissance-style structure built on aJoliet limestone foundation in 1873 (completed in 1876). The structure is set on bedrock and the entire basement floor is made of Joliet limestone from the building owner's quarry. The walls of the structure are constructed of red Illinois sandstone and deep red brick specially fired in Ohio (wrapped individually and shipped by barge to Joliet). A commanding three-story tower is the focal point of the structure. The structure has steel trim with slate shingles on a mansard roof. The front and side porches are single slabs of limestone. The largest stone ever quarried lies in the sidewalk under the front entry gate. The stone is 9×22×20 ft. In 1885, an immense Byzantine dome was added to the south façade.[25]
The interior of the Jacob A. Henry Mansion has elaborate polished-walnut woodwork, massive, carved pocket doors, original wood mantles, and a solid-walnut staircase. The original owner, Mr. Henry, was a railroad magnate, building railroads in Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois. He had ownership in a local quarry and was a principal stockholder in Will County National Bank. The mansion won the architecture award at the American Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia in 1876.[citation needed] The structure is a local landmark, part of the East Side National Register District and individually listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.
TheJoliet Prison is located near Joliet's downtown district on Collins Street. The prison has been featured in both television shows and movies. One such television series filmed there wasPrison Break.[26] The prison was also used for the opening scenes in the 1980 movie,The Blues Brothers, which starredJohn Belushi as "Joliet" Jake Blues andDan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues.[27]
The firstDairy Queen store opened in Joliet.[28] The location is now occupied by Universal Church.
Joliet is home to three high schools that bear its name:Joliet Central,Joliet West, andJoliet Catholic Academy (JCA), in addition to the closed Joliet East,[30] each of which has sports programs. JCA has been a major football powerhouse for many years and has won more state football titles than any other team in the state, with 15 as of 2023.[31]
Joliet also is home to a minor-league baseball team, theJoliet Slammers of the independentFrontier League. Since the beginning of the 2011 season, they have played their home games atDuly Health and Care Field. The Slammers replace the formerJoliet JackHammers of theNorthern League. The Joliet Slammers won the 2011 Frontier League Championship in their first season as a team.[33]
Three golf courses are located in the city of Joliet: Inwood Golf Course, Woodruff Golf Course, and Wedgewood Golf Course. Disc golf courses are available at Highland Park and West Park.
The Pilcher Park Nature Center, located in Pilcher Park, hosts many youth and educational programs. Pilcher Park, one of Joliet's oldest parks, is home to over 640 acres (260 ha) of land that provide a habitat for abundant wildlife and outdoor recreation. Pilcher Park also contains Native American Indian remains and was the site of a Potowatami Indian village. A burial mound is just south of the entrance on Gougar Road, on the south side of the bridge, and a marked burial plot is inside the park grounds.
Hammel Woods is also located in Joliet with miles of hiking trails and even a seven-acre dog park.
Louis Joliet Mall located on Route 30 in Joliet hosts a large Cinemark theatre
The Rock Run and Joliet Junction Trails are roughly north–south routes that begin at the Theodore Marsh in Crest Hill, Illinois, and have southern termini on theI&M Canal State Trail. These three paths can be used as a 16-mile loop through western Joliet. The I and M Canal State Trail stretches about 60 miles toPeru. TheWauponsee Glacial Trail also begins close to town.
U.S. Highways6 (the Grand Army of the Republic Highway),30 (the Lincoln Highway),45,52, and66 (Route 66) all ran through the city. In the 1960s, Interstate 55 andInterstate 80 made their way through Joliet, linking up near Channahon just west of the city limits. The phrase "Crossroads of Mid-America", found on the Joliet seal, is an allusion to the intersection of I-80 and I-55 (and, historically, the intersection between the Lincoln Highway and Route 66).
Joliet currently has one hospital within its city limits: Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center (also known as St. Joe's), located on the west side.Silver Cross Hospital, now located in neighboringNew Lenox, was located on Joliet's east side. These were the only two hospitals in the history of the existence ofWill County until AMITA Bolingbrook Adventist Hospital opened in January 2008. In September 2008, Silver Cross Hospital broke ground for a new facility on Maple Road (U.S. Route 6) in New Lenox, immediately west ofInterstate 355. All patients were transferred to the new hospital on February 26, 2012, and the old facility was completely vacated and later demolished.[43]
The 1999 filmStir of Echoes starringKevin Bacon had scenes shot on at the Rialto Square Theatre (the hypnotism scenes in which James saw the word "Dig" on the movie screen), at the corner of Scott Street and Washington, and at the old Menards that took over theWieboldt's building at Jefferson Square Mall.
The 2019 American dramaWorking Man, was shot in Joliet.
In the 2024 action comedy novelCarl and the Big Guy, title characters Carl McIntyre and Devin "Dee" "The Big Guy" Shields both reside in Joliet. After a chase through a nearby oil refinery, Dee and Carl are then chased through Joliet, causing massive damage in the process.[46]
^Shannon, Dan (November 26, 2024).Carl and the Big Guy (1st ed.). United States of America. pp. 179–208.ISBN9798338929025.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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