Downers Grove, Illinois | |
|---|---|
 Main Street | |
 Seal  Logo | |
 Location of Downers Grove in DuPage County, Illinois | |
| Coordinates:41°47′21″N87°59′40″W / 41.78917°N 87.99444°W /41.78917; -87.99444[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | DuPage |
| Townships | Downers Grove,Lisle,York,Milton |
| Founded | 1832 |
| Incorporated | 1873 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Robert T. Barnett[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.80 sq mi (38.32 km2) |
| • Land | 14.65 sq mi (37.94 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.39 km2) |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 50,247 |
| • Density | 3,430.5/sq mi (1,324.51/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 60515–60517 |
| Area codes | 630 and 331 |
| FIPS code | 17-20591 |
| GNIS ID | 2398745[1] |
| Website | www.downers.us |
| [4] | |
Downers Grove is a village inDuPage County, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1832 by Pierce Downer, whose surname serves as theeponym for the village. Per the2020 census, the population of the village was 50,248. It is a south-western suburb ofChicago located betweenI-88 andI-55.
Downers Grove was founded in 1832 by Pierce Downer,[5] a farmer who traveled to Illinois fromRutland, New York, but was originally fromVermont.[6] Downers Grove was named for a lush grove of old-growthbur oak trees surrounding the village, which stood out from the localsavanna landscape.[7] Its other early settlers included the Blodgett, Curtiss, Blanchard, Stanley, Lyman, and Carpenter families. The original settlers were mostly migrants from the Northeastern United States and Northern Europe. In 1839, Reverend Orange Lyman, a presbyterian minister, and his wife Maria Dewey Lyman arrived, and built what is believed to be the first home in Downers Grove.[8] The first schoolhouse was built in 1844. In 1846, the Blodgett house was built by Israel and Avis Blodgett. It was the second (or third) home built in Downers Grove. Both the Lyman and Blodgett homes are of cultural significance, as they were both built byabolitionist families and served as former stops on theUnderground Railroad.[9]
TheChicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was extended fromAurora to Chicago through Downers Grove in 1864, boosting its population. The town was incorporated in March 1873. Its somewhat unusual spelling ("Apostrophe-free since 1873") remains a minor historical mystery.
In April 1947, the wreck of a Burlington RailroadTwin Cities Zephyr passenger train killed three people, including the engineer. The streamliner struck a large tractor which had fallen from a freight train and two passenger cars crashed through a wall of the Main Street Station.
The construction of two major toll roads along the village's northern and western boundaries,I-355 in 1989, and what is now referred to asI-88 in 1958, facilitated the village's access to the rest ofChicago metropolitan area.I-55 is not far from the south edge of the village. Downers Grove has developed into a bustling Chicago suburb with many diverse businesses, including the headquarters forFTD, Ambitech Engineering Corp,Dover,Heartland Food Corporation, and HAVI Global Solutions.
The housing stock in Downers Grove comprises a mixture; some, generally near the center of town, date from the middle of the 19th century, but housing styles of each succeeding generation are represented. Downers Grove has witnessed one of the highestteardown rates in the Chicago area; small older residences are being demolished and replaced with much larger new houses.[10] Teardowns have been the source of much controversy within the village. Since they occupy much more land than the original houses, rainwater that was originally absorbed by their yards is directed into neighboring yards and streets, resulting in flooding.[11] Concerns have been raised that teardowns reduceaffordable housing in the town and promotegentrification.[12]
According to the 2010 census, Downers Grove has a total area of 14.457 square miles (37.44 km2), of which 14.31 square miles (37.06 km2) (or 98.98%) is land and 0.147 square miles (0.38 km2) (or 1.02%) is water.[13] Only the DuPage County communities ofBartlett,Aurora,Naperville andBolingbrook have larger land areas. Within the town are two forest preserves: Lyman Woods[14] and Maple Grove Forest Preserve.[15] A small creek runs through Maple Grove forest preserve. Downers Grove has been designated aTree City USA 28 times by theNational Arbor Day Foundation.[16]
Downers Grove is in ahumid continental climate zone. On average, January is the coldest month, while July is the warmest month. August typically has the mostprecipitation, and February the least. The record high for Downers Grove was 105 °F (41 °C) in July 2005, and the record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was set in January 1985.[17]
| Climate data for Downers Grove, Illinois | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) | 70 (21) | 85 (29) | 90 (32) | 95 (35) | 103 (39) | 105 (41) | 100 (38) | 100 (38) | 90 (32) | 78 (26) | 70 (21) | 105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32 (0) | 38 (3) | 50 (10) | 63 (17) | 75 (24) | 84 (29) | 87 (31) | 85 (29) | 78 (26) | 67 (19) | 50 (10) | 37 (3) | 62 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 14 (−10) | 19 (−7) | 28 (−2) | 38 (3) | 48 (9) | 57 (14) | 63 (17) | 61 (16) | 53 (12) | 42 (6) | 32 (0) | 20 (−7) | 40 (4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) | −21 (−29) | −10 (−23) | 4 (−16) | 25 (−4) | 32 (0) | 41 (5) | 38 (3) | 27 (−3) | 14 (−10) | −4 (−20) | −21 (−29) | −26 (−32) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.85 (47) | 1.56 (40) | 2.62 (67) | 3.80 (97) | 3.94 (100) | 3.91 (99) | 3.97 (101) | 4.60 (117) | 3.38 (86) | 2.66 (68) | 3.20 (81) | 2.45 (62) | 37.94 (965) |
| Source:[17] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 586 | — | |
| 1890 | 960 | 63.8% | |
| 1900 | 2,103 | 119.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,601 | 23.7% | |
| 1920 | 3,543 | 36.2% | |
| 1930 | 8,977 | 153.4% | |
| 1940 | 9,526 | 6.1% | |
| 1950 | 11,886 | 24.8% | |
| 1960 | 21,154 | 78.0% | |
| 1970 | 32,544 | 53.8% | |
| 1980 | 42,259 | 29.9% | |
| 1990 | 46,845 | 10.9% | |
| 2000 | 48,724 | 4.0% | |
| 2010 | 47,833 | −1.8% | |
| 2020 | 50,247 | 5.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] 2018 Estimate[19] | |||
As of the 2020 census,[20][21] there were 50,327 people living in Downers Grove. The population density was 3,475.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,341.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 84.3%White alone (notHispanic or Latino), 3.4%Black or African American alone, 0.1%American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 5.3%Asian alone, 0.0%Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, and 2.5% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino were 5.0% of the population.[22]
There were 20,115 households, with an average household size of 2.42 and an average family size of 3.09. 53.5% of family households includedmarried couples living together, 16.2% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse present. Out of adults in the village, 55.2% were married (not separated), 5.9% were widowed, 9.8% were divorced, 0.7% were separated, and 28.5% were never married.
In the village, 5.9% of the population was under 5 years of age, with 21.5% under the age of 18, and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. Themedian age was 43.1 years.
According to the 2020American Community Survey, theMedian Household Income in the village was $97,197 (~$115,736 in 2024). The median income for a family was $131,733, while the median income for a non-family household was $45,193. About 5.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 2.6% of minors under age 18, 5.5% of adults aged 18–64, and 6.0% of seniors age 65 or over. The state of Illinois as a whole, has a $68,428 Median Household Income and a 12.0% poverty rate
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[23] | Pop 2010[24] | Pop 2020[25] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 42,777 | 40,631 | 40,289 | 87.79% | 84.94% | 80.18% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 911 | 1,388 | 1,801 | 1.87% | 2.90% | 3.58% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 43 | 37 | 34 | 0.09% | 0.08% | 0.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,773 | 2,623 | 2,919 | 5.69% | 5.48% | 5.81% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 5 | 4 | 13 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 48 | 55 | 118 | 0.10% | 0.11% | 0.23% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 420 | 627 | 1,664 | 0.86% | 1.31% | 3.31% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,747 | 2,468 | 3,409 | 3.59% | 5.16% | 6.78% |
| Total | 48,724 | 47,833 | 50,247 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Located 20 miles west of theChicago Loop, Downers Grove residents commonly commute via the village's threeMetra BNSF line stations orhighway connections. The village itself also serves as headquarters for multiple businesses, includingAdvocate Aurora Health andFortune 500 membersDover Corporation andUnivar Solutions. The village is also home to regional satellite offices of numerous national corporations, includingMicrosoft,MetLife, andState Farm.[26][27]
According to the Village's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[28] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duly Health and Care | 4549 |
| 2 | Hearthside Food Solutions LLC | 3600 |
| 3 | Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital | 2500 |
| 4 | Midwestern University | 1000 |
| 5 | Ambitech Engineering Corp. | 700 |
| 5 | Havi Global Solutions, LLC | 700 |
| 5 | Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants | 700 |
| 6 | First Health Corporation/Coventry Health Care | 500 |
| 6 | FTD Inc | 500 |
| 7 | Advocate Aurora Health (formerly Advocate Health) | 450 |
| 8 | HMOS of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois | 420 |
| 9 | Flavochem | 400 |
| 9 | Rexnord | 400 |
| 10 | Ensono | 368 |
Downers Grove has 68 confirmed Sears Kit Homes, 11 Harris Brothers, 9 Wardway/Gordon-Van Tine, and 1 Aladdin Kit Home. Source Downers Grove Museum. Sears and Other Kit-Home research.
TheTivoli Theatre is located in Downers Grove. Built in 1928, with an initial seating capacity of 1,390, The Tivoli was the first theatre in DuPage County to show "talkies".[29] The Tivoli was equipped with an originalWurlitzer theatre organ. Replaced in 1992, the current instrument, dubbed "Opus 942", originally came from the Indian Theatre inEast Chicago, Indiana. The Wurlitzer is frequently played during the opening credits of films shown on weekend evenings.[30]
Downers Grove contains many parks and forest preserves, includingDoerhoefer Park.[31] The 360 acres (150 ha) Hidden Lake Forest Preserve contains a glacier-dug pond that provides boating access to the nearbyDuPage River (East Branch).[32]
Lyman Woods, a nature preserve, was originally ranching lands. The 150 acres (61 ha) preserve consists ofoak savannas, prairies, and marshes. The land was purchased by Downers Grove in 1987. The preserve contains over 300 native species of plants and animals; six of which are considered rare in northern Illinois. In 1996, residents of Downers Grove passed the referendum to protect Lyman Woods from residential and commercial development.[33]
The Village of Downers Grove operates under a magisterialcouncil-manager form of government. The Village Council is the policy-making body that authorizes a professional manager to oversee the daily operations of the village. The Village Council is composed of the Mayor and six Commissioners elected at-large. In addition to the Municipal Code, which establishes many of the rules and regulations by which the Village operates, the council has also adopted separate council policies on several matters related to municipal activities.
The Mayor of Downers Grove is Robert T. Barnett.[2] The Mayor and Commissioners are elected for four-year terms at odd-year Consolidated General Elections.
The elections for Mayor and Commissioners arenon-partisan; the candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot, and direct party funding is not traditionally practiced.
The majority of the Village of Downers Grove is within the6thUS Congressional District of Illinois. Downers Grove residentSean Casten (Democrat) has represented the district since 2019. Portions of southwest Downers Grove are within11th US Congressional District. This district is represented byBill Foster (Democratic).
The majority of the Village of Downers Grove is within theIllinois Senate 41st Legislative District, which is represented byJohn Curran (Republican) as of 2023. A portion of northern Downers Grove is within theIllinois Senate 24th Legislative District, which is represented by Suzanne Glowiak (Democratic) as of 2019.
The majority of the Village of Downers Grove is within theIllinois House of Representatives 81st Representative District, which was represented byRon Sandack (Republican) as of 2015. Sandack abruptly resigned in July 2016 citing issues with social media and "ugly" politics. In August, local Republican officials choseDavid S. Olsen, previously the mayor pro tem of Downers Grove, as the new Representative of the 81st District. In 2018, newcomerAnne Stava-Murray overcame David S. Olsen in the election with only approximately $30,000 (~$36,801 in 2024). Portions of northern Downers Grove are within theIllinois House of Representatives 47th Representative District, which is represented byDeanne Mazzochi (Republican) and theIllinois House of Representatives 48th Representative District, which is represented byTerra Costa Howard (Democratic).
In 2006, theJuly 4 parade in Downers Grove featured both of the major Illinois gubernatorial candidates at the time,Judy Baar Topinka (R) andRod Blagojevich (D).[34]
Downers Grove is home to twelve public elementary schools, two public middle schools and two public high schools,Downers Grove North High School andDowners Grove South High School. Eleven of the elementary schools, includingHillcrest, Belle Aire, El Sierra, Kingsley, Fairmount, Highland, Whittier, Pierce Downer, Henry Puffer, Lester, and Indian Trail Schools and two of the middle schools, Herrick andO'Neill Middle School, are part of Downers Grove Grade School District 58.[35] The other elementary schools, Prairieview and Elizabeth Ide andLakeview Jr. High School, are part ofCenter Cass School District 66.[36] Downers Grove has two Catholic Schools, St. Joseph's and St. Mary's of Gostyn, that enroll students from pre-school through 8th grade. The two high schools in Downers Grove,North andSouth, are part ofCommunity High School District 99. They serve the entire community of Downers Grove, the majority of the village ofWoodridge, and parts ofWestmont,Darien,Lisle,Bolingbrook,Oak Brook and unincorporated Downers Grove and Lisle Townships.
Good Shepherd Lutheran School is a Christian Pre-K–8 school of theWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Downers Grove.[37]
Downers Grove is home to theAvery Coonley School.[38] Founded in 1906 and in its present location in Downers Grove since 1929, it is a private K–8 school, known for its math and science-oriented teaching as well as its focus on the arts and foreign language.
Downers Grove is also the home ofMidwestern University, which trainsosteopathic physicians and surgeons,physician assistants,pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and dentists.
According to theAmerican Community Survey 2010, Downers Grove has one of the nation's most educated citizenry, with 50.7% of individuals over the age of 25 holding bachelor's or advanced degrees; the national average is 27.9%.[39]
Downers Grove Christian School celebrated their 50-year anniversary in 2020 and offers classes for Preschool 2 and 3, Pre-K 4, K–8th Grade. Located next to the Lincoln Center and a ministry of First Baptist Church of Downers Grove.
The main line of theBNSF Railway is also used byMetracommuter rail. Metra'sBNSF Line has three stops in Downers Grove atBelmont Road,Main Street, andFairview Avenue. Interstate Highways355 and88 pass through the community, as well as the major surface streetUS 34-Ogden Avenue. Downers Grove is served by thePace Bus Service, a system of suburban public transportation.
The Grove Commuter Shuttle runs four routes throughout the community to two of the three train stations that are in the village.[40] The shuttle also operates for the RotaryGrove Fest from remote parking lots on the north and south sides of the village, located at the respective north and south high schools.
Downers Grove drinking water comes from Lake Michigan, via the DuPage Water Commission pipeline, which purchases the water from the City of Chicago Department of Water Management.[41] Its electricity infrastructure is largely maintained byCommonwealth Edison Company (ComEd);[42] its natural gas infrastructure was built by Northern Illinois Gas.[43]
Household waste pickup is contracted out by the village to Republic Services, as is yard waste pickup; these are paid for by either household-purchased stickers or rented carts. Curbside recycling is free.
Waste water is treated by the Downers Grove Sanitary District.[44]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Places adjacent to Downers Grove, Illinois | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofDuPage County, Illinois,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns/Neighborhoods | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
