Downers Grove, Illinois
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| Incorporated | Village in 1873. | |||||||||||||||
| County, State | DuPage, Illinois | |||||||||||||||
| Township | Downers Grove, Lisle | |||||||||||||||
| Government | Council-manager | |||||||||||||||
| Mayor | Brian Krajewski | |||||||||||||||
| Population (2000) | 48,724 (up 3.98% from 1990) | |||||||||||||||
| Pop. density | 1,320.2/km² (3,420.2/mi²) | |||||||||||||||
| Zip code(s) | 60515, 60516 | |||||||||||||||
| Area code | 630 | |||||||||||||||
| Land Area | 36.9 km² (14.3 mi²) | |||||||||||||||
| Lat. / long. | ||||||||||||||||
| Income | Per capita: $31,580 Household: $65,539 |
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| Home value | Mean: $NA Median: $205,900 (2000) |
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| Website | www.downers.us | |||||||||||||||
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Downers Grove is a an affluent suburb located 19 miles west of Chicago, Illinois in DuPage County, Illinois. The population was 48,724 at the 2000 census. The United States Census Bureau estimated the population in 2004 to be 49,302.[1]
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[edit] History
Downers Grove was founded in 1832 by Pierce Downer, a settler from New York. He established a dairy farm in the northwest section of the village. Its other early settlers included the Blodgett, Curtiss, and Carpenter families. The original settlers were mostly comprised of migrants from the Northeastern states and Northern Europe. The first schoolhouse was built in 1844.
During the American Civil War, 119 soldiers from Downers Grove served in the Union Army; at least one of these was interred in the cemetery downtown. There was an abolitionist presence in the village, and some of the older homes are thought to have been stops on the Underground Railroad.
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was extended from Aurora to Chicago through Downers Grove in 1862, boosting its growth. The town was incorporated in March 1873. Its somewhat unusual spelling ("Apostrophe-free since 1873") remains a minor historical mystery.
In April 1947, a Burlington Railroad Nebraska Zephyr passenger train wreck killed two people, including the engineer. The eastbound streamliner struck a large piece of farm equipment which had become loosened from its flat car, and was protruding onto the adjoining track from a westbound freight. Part of the train 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 as I-88 in 1958, facilitated its access to the rest of the Chicagoland area. Downers Grove has developed into a bustling Chicago suburb with many diverse businesses, including the headquarters for FTD, Lovejoy, ServiceMaster, Sara Lee, Swift-Eckrich[2], Arrow Gear[3], Magnetrol[4], Spiegel and Butterball.
[edit] Geography
Downers Grove is located at (41.790730, -88.014855)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 36.9 km² (14.3 mi²). 36.9 km² (14.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.07% is water. Only the DuPage County communities of Bartlett, Aurora, Naperville and Bolingbrook have larger land areas. The town is bordered by two forest preserves: Lyman Woods [1] and Maple Grove Forest Preserve [2]. Downers Grove has been designated a Tree City USA for the past 22 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation [5].
Downers Grove borders the communities of Oak Brook, Westmont, Darien, Lombard, Woodridge and Lisle.
[edit] Housing
Downers Grove offers a unique collection of homes that range from well over 100 years of age (primarily around the downtown area of the community) to homes characteristic of each succeeding generation. Although the last large scale housing developments ended in the 1980s, Downers Grove has witnessed one of the highest "teardown" rates in the Chicagoland area; small older residences are being demolished and replaced with much larger new houses. Teardowns have been the source of much controversy within the village.[6]. Downers Grove prides itself on the presence of one of the largest collections of Sears-Roebuck Catalog Homes, which were erected between 1908 and 1940.
[edit] Transportation
The main line of the BNSF Railway (also used by Metra commuter rail), and Interstate Highways 355 and 88 all pass through the community. Downers Grove is served by the Pace Bus Service, a system of suburban public transportation.
[edit] Community events
The village hosts the Pierce Downers Heritage Days festival each June[7]. On Friday nights in the summer, antique and specialty cars park downtown in an informal car show. The Indian Boundary YMCA sponsors a Saturday morning farmer's market from June to October, and an ice scuplture festival is held in January. An annual in-line skating and cycling event, the National Criterium Championships, is hosted in August. The event draws racers and cycling enthusiasts from all over the country and the world.
The high school sporting events draw large crowds, especially the annual football game between Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South high schools, and the annual competiton between the Hinsdale Central High School and the Downers Grove North football teams for the Old Oaken Bucket. The rivalry is just as intense if not greater between the Downers Grove South and Hinsdale South High schools for the Old Wooden Cannon.
[edit] Education
Downers Grove is home to 12 public elementary schools, 3 public middle schools and 2 public high schools, Downers Grove North and South. 11 of the elementary schools and 2 of the middle schools are part of Downers Grove Grade School District 58. The other elementary school and junior high are part of Center Cass School District 66, which includes the extreme southern part of Downers Grove, as well as parts of Darien and Woodridge.
The two high schools in Downers Grove, North High and South High, are part of Community High School District 99. They serve the entire community of Downers Grove, the entire village of Woodridge, and parts of Westmont, Darien Lisle, Bolingbrook, Oak Brook and unincorporated Downers Grove and Lisle Townships. The high schools engage in a spirited athletic and academic rivalry.
Both high schools perform very well academically, with Downers Grove South posting an average ACT score of 21.7 in 2004 and Downers Grove North averaging at 22.0. Downers Grove North is also home to the 5-time defending West Suburban Conference Champion Scholastic Bowl Team coached by Jane Rice. The 2004 Illinois School Report Card [8] gave North High School an overall achievement rating of 73.4/100, while South High School received a score of 66.3, ranking them 7th and 13th respectively out of 22 DuPage County high schools.
In 2004, Downers North won the Illinois Class 8A Football Championship. Downers South won that title in 2001, and the state soccer title in 2004.
Downers Grove is home to the Avery Coonley School[9]. Founded in 1906 and in its present location in Downers Grove since 1929, it is a highly prestigious 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 of Midwestern University, which trains osteopathic physicians and surgeons, physician's assistants, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, and psychologists.
According to the 2000 United States Census, Downers Grove has one of the nation's most educated citizenry, with 46.4% of individuals over the age of 25 holding bachelor's or advanced degrees; the national average is 24.4%.[10]
[edit] Religion
The community is the home to many different houses of worship. Christian traditions represented include the Assemblies of God, various Baptist traditions, Bible Churches, Churches of Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Christian Science, Disciples of Christ, Reformed Church in America, Jehovah's Witnesses, United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Full Gospel church, Lutherans of various synods, United Methodists, Roman Catholics, Orthodox Church in America, United Pentecostals, Presbyterians (both Presbyterian Church USA and Presbyterian Church in America), Unity Church and Seventh-day Adventists.
[edit] Politics
In the November 2004 general election, George W. Bush received 39,966 votes in Downers Grove Township, John Kerry received 32,155 votes, and the Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik received 438 votes.[11]. By contrast, in the same election, the Democratic senatorial candidate Barack Obama received 45,721 votes, while his Republican opponent Alan Keyes received 22,167 votes. [12]. In 2006, the 4th of July parade in Downers Grove featured both of the major Illinois gubernatorial candidates, Judy Baar Topinka (R) and incumbent Rod Blagojevich (D)[13].
[edit] Utilities
Downers Grove drinking water comes from Lake Michigan, via agreements with the Chicago Water Department[3]. Its electricity infrastructure is largely maintained by Commonwealth Edison Company[4]; (ComEd); its natural gas infrastructure was built by Northern Illinois Gas[5]. The latter two utilities have been deregulated.
Household waste pickup is contracted out by the village, as is yard waste pickup; these are paid for by household-purchased stickers. Curbside recycling is free.
Wastewater is treated by the Downers Grove Sanitary District[6].
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 48,724 people, 18,979 households, and 13,019 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,320.2/km² (3,420.2/mi²). There were 19,477 housing units at an average density of 527.7/km² (1,367.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.15% White, 1.92% African American, 0.11% Native American, 5.71% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population.
There were 18,979 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, and 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $65,539, and the median income for a family was $80,604. Males had a median income of $56,422 versus $36,938 for females. The per capita income for the village was $31,580. About 1.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Other notable facts
The public Downers Grove Golf Course was founded in 1892 by Charles Blair Macdonald and is the oldest golf course west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Downers Grove is the home of the Tivoli Theater[14], which opened in 1928 as only the second theater in the world designed and built for sound motion pictures. It features an ornate interior and an original Wurlitzer organ that is played on most Friday and Saturday nights.
Downers Grove is also home to Good Samaritan Hospital[15], a Level I trauma center that serves the entire Chicagoland area.
In 1928, the powerful transmitter and three tower array for radio station WCFL (1000 AM) was relocated from Navy Pier in Chicago to Downers Grove. Originally named for its owner, the Chicago Federation of Labor, and known as the "Chicago Voice of Labor," the station became WLUP-AM [16] in 1987, and in 1990 became WMVP. The 1930s era transmitter building still displays the distinctive WCFL lettering.
Comedian Emo Philips, who grew up in the town, performs a humorous song entitled "Downtown Downers Grove" on his 1985 album E=mo². He has stated that "When I was 10 years old, my parents moved to Downers Grove...It took me three years to find them."
In 2001, writer Michael Hornburg published a novel entitled Downers Grove, set in the town. [17]
[edit] Notable people with connections to Downers Grove
- Sherrill Milnes, baritone
- Denise Richards, actress
- Miles Harvey, author
- Sean Bennett, pianist
- John Michael Bruchas, technologist
- Randy Savage & Lanny Poffo, wrestlers
- Emo Philips, comedian
- Cammi Granato, Olympic ice hockey champion
- Tony Granato, Former NHL Player
- Maggie Council, singer-songwriter
- Nancy Johnson, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 10-meter Air Rifle competition
- James Henry Breasted, Egyptologist
- Thax Douglas, poet
- Steven Gonzalez, noted economist
- Jim McDermott, U.S. Representative for Washington state, including Seattle
[edit] References
- ^ United States Census Bureau
- ^ http://www.eckrichbrand.com/pages/index_flash.jsp About Swift-Eckrich
- ^ http://www.arrowgear.com/ About Arrow Gear
- ^ http://www.magnetrol.com/us/ About Magnetrol
- ^ http://forestry.about.com/cs/urbanforestry/a/tree_city_usa.htm
- ^ http://www.dgcmr.org Downers Grove Coalition for Managed Redevelopment
- ^ http://visitor.vil.downers-grove.il.us/fest/ Pierce Downers Heritage Fest
- ^ http://www.isbe.state.il.us/research/htmls/report_card.htm Illinois School Report Card 2004
- ^ http://www.averycoonley.org/ The Avery Coonley School
- ^ United States Census Bureau Fact Sheet
- ^ http://eh.robis.net/uploads/JID37_2004_11_results_DownersGrove.pdf November 2004 Election results for Downers Grove Township
- ^ http://eh.robis.net/uploads/JID37_2004_11_results_DownersGrove.pdf November 2004 Election results for Downers Grove Township
- ^ http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=4334402 Blagojevich and Topinka both make appearances at the Downers Grove 4th of July parade
- ^ http://www.classiccinemas.com/History/tivoli.asp The Tivoli Theater in Downers Grove
- ^ http://www.advocatehealth.com/gsam/ Good Samaritan Hospital
- ^ http://www.440int.com/chicago.html Radio Broadcasting History
- ^ http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=books.viewBook&book_id=1671 About Michael Hornburg's novel Downers Grove
[edit] External links
- Village of Downers Grove
- Downers Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Downers Grove Public Library
- Downers Grove Park District
- Downers Grove Community Advocates
- Metra Rail service: Aurora to Chicago via Downers Grove
- Citizen's Advisory Group - Groundwater Contamination
- Teardown discussion by the National Historic Trust
- Downers Grove Tourism & Events
- Township of Downers Grove
- History and Photos of the Tivoli Theatre
- Downers Grove Sun Newspaper
- Downers Grove Reporter Newspaper
- List of churches in Downers Grove
- Pierce Downers' Heritage Alliance
- Lisle Police Association
- Downers Grove 2000 Crime Rate Information
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
