Downers Grove, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Downers Grove is a village
in Downers Grove
and Lisle Townships
, DuPage County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 48,724 at the 2000 census, with an official estimated population of 49,250 in 2008.
from New York
. Its other early settlers included the Blodgett, Curtiss, and Carpenter families. The original settlers were mostly migrants from the Northeastern United States
and Northern Europe
. The first schoolhouse was built in 1844.
During the American Civil War
, 1.5 soldiers from Downers Grove served in the Union Army; at least one of these was interred in the cemetery
of Richards's. 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 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 Railroad Twin 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 as I-88
in 1958, facilitated its access to the rest of Chicago metropolitan area. Downers Grove has developed into a bustling Chicago suburb with many diverse businesses, including the headquarters for Rossi Furniture, FTD
, Sara Lee, Arrow Gear Magnetrol, Dover
, TMK IPSCO
and Luxury tour operator, Abercrombie & Kent.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 14.3 square miles (37 km²), of which, 14.2 square miles (36.8 km²) 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 and Maple Grove Forest Preserve. A small creek runs through Maple Grove forest preserve. Downers Grove has been designated a Tree City USA
for the past 22 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation
.
Downers Grove borders the communities of Oak Brook
, Westmont
, Darien
, Lombard
, Woodridge
and Lisle
.
zone. On average, January is the coldest month, and July is the warmest month. August typically has the most precipitation
, and February the least. The record high for Downers Grove was 105 °F (40.6 °C) in July 2005, and the record low of -26 °F was set in January, 1985.
in the town.
Downers Grove prides itself on the presence of a large collection of Sears-Roebuck Catalog Homes
, built using purchased kits between 1908 and 1940. During 2006 and 2007, a movement arose to establish the 1846 Blodgett House as a museum of the Underground Railroad
. The house has now been moved onto the Downers Grove Museum Campus.
In 2000, the mean value of all owner-occupied housing units was $215,754 and the median value was $195,900.
, the line is also used by Metra
commuter rail. Metra's BNSF Railway Line
has three stops in Downers Grove at Belmont Road
, Main Street
, and Fairview Avenue
. Interstate Highways 355
and 88
all pass through the community as well as the major surface street US 34
-Ogden Avenue
. Downers Grove is served by the Pace Bus Service, a system of suburban public transportation.
The Grove Commuter Shuttle runs four routes throughout the community to two of the three train station that are in the village. 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.
sponsors a Saturday morning farmer's market from June to October, and an ice sculpture festival is held in January.
The high school sporting events draw large crowds, especially the annual football game between Downers Grove North High School and Downers Grove South High School, the annual competition between the Hinsdale Central High School
and the Downers Grove North football teams for the Old Oaken Bucket, and the football game for the Cannon between Hinsdale South High School
and Downers Grove South.
, are part of Center Cass School District 66
, O'Neill Middle School, 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 and South, are part of Community High School District 99
. They serve the entire community of Downers Grove, the majority of the village of Woodridge
, and parts of Westmont
, Darien
, Lisle
, Bolingbrook
, Oak Brook
and unincorporated Downers Grove and Lisle Townships.
Both high schools perform very well academically, with District 99 posting an average ACT
score of 22.6 in the 2006 administration, 2.3 points above the state average. The 2004 Illinois School Report Card 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.
Downers Grove is home to the Avery Coonley School
. 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, occupational therapists and now even dentists.
According to the 2000 United States Census, Downers Grove has one of the nation's most educated citizenry, with 36.4% of individuals over the age of 25 holding bachelor's or advanced degrees; the national average is 24.4%.
. The Village Council is the policy-making body that authorizes a professional manager to oversee the daily operations of the village. 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.
As of the April 7, 2009 election, the Village Council commissioners are Geoff Neustadt, William Waldack, Marilyn Schnell, Robert Barnett, Sean Durkin, and Bruce Beckman. Martin Tully is Mayor.
The elections for village positions in the village have traditionally been non-partisan
; the candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot, and direct party funding was not practiced. The local Republican Party
and Democratic Party
organizations have not, in the past, openly issued endorsements of the candidates.
of Illinois (map), and as of 2009 is represented by Judy Biggert
(Republican). It is part of the Illinois Senate
's 21st Legislative District and the Illinois House of Representatives
's 42nd Representative District.
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. By contrast, in the same election, the Illinois Democratic senatorial candidate Barack Obama
received 45,721 votes, while his Republican opponent Alan Keyes
received 22,167 votes. In 2006, the 4 July
parade in Downers Grove featured both of the major Illinois gubernatorial candidates at the time, Judy Baar Topinka
(R) and Rod Blagojevich
(D).
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.
Waste water is treated by the Downers Grove Sanitary District.
was 3,420.2 people per square mile (1,320.2/km²). There were 19,477 housing units at an average density of 1,367.2 per square mile (527.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.15% White/Euro American, 1.92% Black, 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.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the village was $72,521, and the median income for a family was $96,327. The mean income for a family was $95,532. 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.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Downers Grove
Downers Grove Township, DuPage County, Illinois
Downers Grove Township is one of nine townships in DuPage County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 148,110. It is the largest township in the county, both in terms of area and population.-Geography:...
and Lisle Townships
Lisle Township, DuPage County, Illinois
Lisle Township is one of nine townships in DuPage County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 117,604.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Lisle Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Cities, towns, villages:* Bolingbrook * Downers...
, DuPage County
DuPage County, Illinois
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 916,924, White Americans made up 77.9% of Dupage County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 70.5% of the population. Black Americans made up 4.6% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.3% of Dupage County's population...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 48,724 at the 2000 census, with an official estimated population of 49,250 in 2008.
History
Downers Grove was founded in 1832 by Downer, a religious evangelistEvangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Its other early settlers included the Blodgett, Curtiss, and Carpenter families. The original settlers were mostly migrants from the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
and Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
. The first schoolhouse was built in 1844.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, 1.5 soldiers from Downers Grove served in the Union Army; at least one of these was interred in the cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
of Richards's. There was an abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
presence in the village, and some of the older homes are thought to have been stops on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
.
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
was extended from Aurora
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
to Chicago through Downers Grove in 1862, 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 Railroad Twin Cities Zephyr
Twin Cities Zephyr
The Twin Cities Zephyr was a streamlined passenger train service of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad . It was the second Zephyr service introduced by CB&Q following the record-setting Denver–Chicago "dawn to dusk dash" of the Pioneer Zephyr trainset...
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
Interstate 355
Interstate 355 , also known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway, is an Interstate Highway and tollway in the western and southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Like most other toll roads in the northeastern portion of the state, I-355 is maintained by a State Highway Authority...
in 1989 and what is now referred to as I-88
Interstate 88 (west)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway in the state of Illinois. It runs from an interchange with Interstate 80 near Silvis and Moline to an interchange with Interstates 290 and 294 in Hillside, near Chicago...
in 1958, facilitated its access to the rest of Chicago metropolitan area. Downers Grove has developed into a bustling Chicago suburb with many diverse businesses, including the headquarters for Rossi Furniture, FTD
Florists' Transworld Delivery
-Going public:In 1994, FTD began a process of demutualization.On December 19, 1994, a precursor to the FTD Corporation, a private, for-profit company, acquired FTD, which then divided FTD into two organizations: FTD Incorporated, a for profit corporation, and FTD Association, a non-profit trade...
, Sara Lee, Arrow Gear Magnetrol, Dover
Dover Corporation
Dover Corporation is a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 manufacturer of specialized industrial products and equipment within six segments. Dover Corporation is based in Downers Grove, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The company relocated its headquarters from New York in mid-2010.-History: can trace...
, TMK IPSCO
OAO TMK
OAO "TMK" is one of the world's leading producers of steel pipes for the oil and gas sector...
and Luxury tour operator, Abercrombie & Kent.
Top employers
According to the Village's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is a hospital located in Downers Grove, Illinois. The medical center is part of Advocate Health Care.-History:... |
2,700 |
| 2 | GCA Services | 1,500 |
| 3 | University Subscription Services | 1,050 |
| 4 | Midwestern University Midwestern University Midwestern University is a graduate degree-granting institution specializing in the health sciences with eight colleges and two campuses.... |
1,000 |
| 4 | Sara Lee | 1,000 |
| 5 | Acxiom Acxiom Acxiom is a global interactive marketing services company that uses consumer data, analytics, information technology, data aggregation, data integration, and consulting solutions to help companies conduct direct marketing programs... |
700 |
| 5 | DeVry DeVry, Inc. DeVry Inc. is a United States corporation based in Downers Grove, Illinois, that operates several for-profit higher education institutions, including Advanced Academics, Becker Professional Education, Carrington Colleges Group, Chamberlain College of Nursing, DeVry Brasil, DeVry University and Ross... |
700 |
| 6 | RR Donnelley | 600 |
| 7 | Florists' Transworld Delivery Florists' Transworld Delivery -Going public:In 1994, FTD began a process of demutualization.On December 19, 1994, a precursor to the FTD Corporation, a private, for-profit company, acquired FTD, which then divided FTD into two organizations: FTD Incorporated, a for profit corporation, and FTD Association, a non-profit trade... |
500 |
| 8 | Dover Dover Corporation Dover Corporation is a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 manufacturer of specialized industrial products and equipment within six segments. Dover Corporation is based in Downers Grove, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The company relocated its headquarters from New York in mid-2010.-History: can trace... |
400 |
| 8 | Magnetrol | 400 |
| 9 | HAVI Global Solutions | 350 |
| 10 | Hub Group | 300 |
Geography
Downers Grove is located at 41.7948036°N 88.0169400°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 14.3 square miles (37 km²), of which, 14.2 square miles (36.8 km²) of it is land and 0.07% is water. Only the DuPage County communities of Bartlett
Bartlett, Illinois
Bartlett is a village located in both Cook County and DuPage County, Illinois. A small parcel on the western border is in Kane County. The population was 36,706 at the 2000 census. A 2002 recount gave the village a population of 37,304. In 2007 another recount gives the village a population of 41,500...
, Aurora
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
, Naperville
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
and Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Bolingbrook is a large village in Will and DuPage Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 US Census, the population is 73,366...
have larger land areas. The town is bordered by two forest preserves: Lyman Woods and Maple Grove Forest Preserve. A small creek runs through Maple Grove forest preserve. Downers Grove has been designated a Tree City USA
Tree City USA
Tree City USA is a tree planting and tree care program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for cities and towns in the United States.- Requirements :...
for the past 22 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation
National Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's oldest and largest tree-planting organization. The foundation began September 3, 1971 with a mission "to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees". The Foundation is supported by donations, selling trees and merchandise, and by corporate sponsors...
.
Downers Grove borders the communities of Oak Brook
Oak Brook, Illinois
Oak Brook is a village in DuPage and Cook Counties, in Illinois. The population was 8,702 at the 2000 census. A suburb of Chicago, it is the headquarters of McDonald's and Lions Clubs International.-History:...
, Westmont
Westmont, Illinois
Westmont is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Westmont is a community of six square miles in area, with a 2007 population of 26,211...
, Darien
Darien, Illinois
Darien is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, USA. The population was 22,086 at the 2010 census.A suburb of Chicago, Darien was named after a town in Connecticut.-Popular culture:...
, Lombard
Lombard, Illinois
Lombard, "The Lilac Village", is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County, Illinois. The population was 42,322 at the 2000 census. The United States Census Bureau estimated the population in 2004 to be 42,975.-History:...
, Woodridge
Woodridge, Illinois
Woodridge is a suburb of Chicago, located primarily in DuPage County, Illinois with portions in Will County and Cook County. It uses the 630 and 331 area codes. The population was 30,934 at the 2000 census. A special census commissioned in 2003 put the population at 33,253...
and Lisle
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
.
Climate
Downers Grove is in a humid continental climateHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
zone. On average, January is the coldest month, and July is the warmest month. August typically has the most precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
, and February the least. The record high for Downers Grove was 105 °F (40.6 °C) in July 2005, and the record low of -26 °F was set in January, 1985.
Housing
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 highest teardown rates in the Chicago 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. 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. Concerns have been expressed that teardowns reduce affordable housingAffordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
in the town.
Downers Grove prides itself on the presence of a large collection of Sears-Roebuck Catalog Homes
Sears Catalog Home
Sears Catalog Homes were ready-to-assemble kit houses sold through mail order by Sears, Roebuck and Company, an American retailer. Over 70,000 of these were sold in North America between 1908 and 1940. Shipped via railroad boxcars, these kits included all the materials needed to build a house...
, built using purchased kits between 1908 and 1940. During 2006 and 2007, a movement arose to establish the 1846 Blodgett House as a museum of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. The house has now been moved onto the Downers Grove Museum Campus.
In 2000, the mean value of all owner-occupied housing units was $215,754 and the median value was $195,900.
Transportation
The main line of the BNSF RailwayBNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
, the line is also used by Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
commuter rail. Metra's BNSF Railway Line
BNSF Railway Line
The BNSF Railway Line is a commuter rail line in the United States, provided by Metra and operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs...
has three stops in Downers Grove at Belmont Road
Belmont (Metra)
Belmont Station is one of three railroad stations on Chicago Metra's BNSF Railway Line in Downers Grove, Illinois. The station is on Belmont Avenue from Union Station, the east end of the line....
, Main Street
Downers Grove (Metra)
Downers Grove-Main Street Station is one of three railroad stations on Metra's BNSF Railway Line in Downers Grove, Illinois. The station is at Main Street, from Union Station, the east end of the line. The local police department is nearby...
, and Fairview Avenue
Fairview Avenue (Metra)
Downers Grove-Fairview Avenue Station or Fairview Avenue Station is one of three railroad stations on Metra's BNSF Railway Line in Downers Grove, Illinois. The station is from Union Station, the east end of the line...
. Interstate Highways 355
Interstate 355
Interstate 355 , also known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway, is an Interstate Highway and tollway in the western and southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Like most other toll roads in the northeastern portion of the state, I-355 is maintained by a State Highway Authority...
and 88
Interstate 88 (west)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway in the state of Illinois. It runs from an interchange with Interstate 80 near Silvis and Moline to an interchange with Interstates 290 and 294 in Hillside, near Chicago...
all pass through the community as well as the major surface street US 34
U.S. Route 34 in Illinois
In the U.S. state of Illinois, U.S. Route 34 is an east–west highway that runs from the Iowa state line at Gulport west of Galesburg to Illinois Route 43 and Historic US 66 at Harlem Avenue in Berwyn. The entire highway in Illinois is named the "Walter Payton Memorial Highway"...
-Ogden Avenue
Ogden Avenue (Chicago)
Ogden Avenue is an arterial street extending from the Near West Side of Chicago to Aurora, Illinois.The street follows the route of the Southwestern Plank Road, which opened in 1848 across swampy terrain between Chicago and Riverside, Illinois, and was extended to Naperville by 1851.The 1909 Plan...
. Downers Grove is served by the Pace Bus Service, a system of suburban public transportation.
The Grove Commuter Shuttle runs four routes throughout the community to two of the three train station that are in the village. 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.
Community events
Downers Grove is home to many unique boutique shops, dining establishments, and community events - Things To Do In Downers Grove. Downtown Downers Grove has quickly become a shopping and dining destination due to its location and variety. The Tivoli Theatre and over 140 community events and festivals, which attract thousands of visitors each year, has helped to earn Downtown Downers Grove a spot on Chicago Tribune’s “Top 10 List of Downtowns.” Over 600 acres (2.4 km²) of parks for recreational use are available with 450 recreational activities are available throughout the year. On Friday nights throughout the summer, antique and specialty cars park downtown in an informal car show. The Indian Boundary YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
sponsors a Saturday morning farmer's market from June to October, and an ice sculpture festival is held in January.
The high school sporting events draw large crowds, especially the annual football game between Downers Grove North High School and Downers Grove South High School, the annual competition between the Hinsdale Central High School
Hinsdale Central High School
Hinsdale Central High School, or HCHS is a public four-year high school located at the corner of W. 55th St. and S. Grant St. in Hinsdale, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Founded in 1879, the school is well known for its large spending per student, academic...
and the Downers Grove North football teams for the Old Oaken Bucket, and the football game for the Cannon between Hinsdale South High School
Hinsdale South High School
Hinsdale South High School, or HSHS, and locally referred to as "South," is a public four-year high school located at the corner of 75th Street and Clarendon Hills Road in Darien, Illinois, a southwestern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.The South campus draws its students from the...
and Downers Grove South.
Education
Downers Grove is home to twelve public elementary schools, two public middle schools and two public high schools, Downers Grove North High School and Downers Grove South High School. Eleven of the elementary schools, including Hillcrest, Belle Aire, El Sierra, Kingsley, Fairmount, Highland, Whittier, Pierce Downer, Henry Puffer, Lester, and Indian Trail Schools and two of the middle schools, are part of Downers Grove Grade School District 58. The other elementary schools, Prairieview and Elizabeth Ide and Lakeview Jr. High SchoolLakeview Jr. High School
Lakeview Junior High School, also commonly called Lakeview is a junior high school located in Downers Grove, Illinois. Lakeview serves students in 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade who live in Downers Grove, Illinois, Woodridge, and Darien. Sixth grade is considered junior high in Lakeview unlike...
, are part of Center Cass School District 66
Center Cass School District 66
Center Cass School District 66 is a public school district located in Downers Grove, Illinois in DuPage County. The district serves about 1300 students in grades K-8....
, O'Neill Middle School, which includes the extreme southern part of Downers Grove, as well as parts of Darien
Darien, Illinois
Darien is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, USA. The population was 22,086 at the 2010 census.A suburb of Chicago, Darien was named after a town in Connecticut.-Popular culture:...
and Woodridge
Woodridge, Illinois
Woodridge is a suburb of Chicago, located primarily in DuPage County, Illinois with portions in Will County and Cook County. It uses the 630 and 331 area codes. The population was 30,934 at the 2000 census. A special census commissioned in 2003 put the population at 33,253...
.
The two high schools in Downers Grove, North and South, are part of Community High School District 99
Community High School District 99
Community High School District 99 is a local school district serving Downers Grove, Woodridge, Bolingbrook, Darien, Lisle, Oak Brook, and Westmont in the state of Illinois. It consists of two high schools, North High School and South High School, both located in Downers Grove. The current...
. They serve the entire community of Downers Grove, the majority of the village of Woodridge
Woodridge, Illinois
Woodridge is a suburb of Chicago, located primarily in DuPage County, Illinois with portions in Will County and Cook County. It uses the 630 and 331 area codes. The population was 30,934 at the 2000 census. A special census commissioned in 2003 put the population at 33,253...
, and parts of Westmont
Westmont, Illinois
Westmont is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Westmont is a community of six square miles in area, with a 2007 population of 26,211...
, Darien
Darien, Illinois
Darien is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, USA. The population was 22,086 at the 2010 census.A suburb of Chicago, Darien was named after a town in Connecticut.-Popular culture:...
, Lisle
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
, Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Bolingbrook is a large village in Will and DuPage Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 US Census, the population is 73,366...
, Oak Brook
Oak Brook, Illinois
Oak Brook is a village in DuPage and Cook Counties, in Illinois. The population was 8,702 at the 2000 census. A suburb of Chicago, it is the headquarters of McDonald's and Lions Clubs International.-History:...
and unincorporated Downers Grove and Lisle Townships.
Both high schools perform very well academically, with District 99 posting an average ACT
ACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
score of 22.6 in the 2006 administration, 2.3 points above the state average. The 2004 Illinois School Report Card 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.
Downers Grove is home to the Avery Coonley School
Avery Coonley School
The Avery Coonley School , commonly called Avery Coonley, is an independent, coeducational day school serving academically gifted students in preschool through eighth grade , and is located in Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S...
. 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
Midwestern University
Midwestern University is a graduate degree-granting institution specializing in the health sciences with eight colleges and two campuses....
, which trains osteopathic physicians and surgeons, physician's assistants, pharmacists, physical, occupational therapists and now even dentists.
According to the 2000 United States Census, Downers Grove has one of the nation's most educated citizenry, with 36.4% of individuals over the age of 25 holding bachelor's or advanced degrees; the national average is 24.4%.
Local
The Village of Downers Grove operates under a council-manager form of governmentCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
. The Village Council is the policy-making body that authorizes a professional manager to oversee the daily operations of the village. 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.
As of the April 7, 2009 election, the Village Council commissioners are Geoff Neustadt, William Waldack, Marilyn Schnell, Robert Barnett, Sean Durkin, and Bruce Beckman. Martin Tully is Mayor.
The elections for village positions in the village have traditionally been non-partisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
; the candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot, and direct party funding was not practiced. The local Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
organizations have not, in the past, openly issued endorsements of the candidates.
State and national
Downers Grove is within the 13th US Congressional DistrictUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
of Illinois (map), and as of 2009 is represented by Judy Biggert
Judy Biggert
Judith Borg "Judy" Biggert is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. She is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
(Republican). It is part of the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
's 21st Legislative District and the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
's 42nd Representative District.
In the November 2004 general election, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
received 39,966 votes in Downers Grove Township, John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
received 32,155 votes, and the Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
candidate Michael Badnarik
Michael Badnarik
Michael J. Badnarik is an American software engineer, political figure, and former radio talk show host. He was the Libertarian Party nominee for President of the United States in the 2004 elections, and placed fourth in the race, behind independent candidate Ralph Nader...
received 438 votes. By contrast, in the same election, the Illinois Democratic senatorial candidate Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
received 45,721 votes, while his Republican opponent Alan Keyes
Alan Keyes
Alan Lee Keyes is an American conservative political activist, author, former diplomat, and perennial candidate for public office. A doctoral graduate of Harvard University, Keyes began his diplomatic career in the U.S...
received 22,167 votes. In 2006, the 4 July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
parade in Downers Grove featured both of the major Illinois gubernatorial candidates at the time, Judy Baar Topinka
Judy Baar Topinka
Judy Baar Topinka is the Illinois State Comptroller and former Illinois State Treasurer, having served as Treasurer from 1995 to 2007, and former chairwoman of the Illinois Republican Party. She was the first woman to become state treasurer, first to be elected to three consecutive terms and the...
(R) and Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
(D).
Utilities
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. Its electricity infrastructure is largely maintained by Commonwealth Edison Company; (ComEd); its natural gas infrastructure was built by Northern Illinois Gas.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.
Waste water is treated by the Downers Grove Sanitary District.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,724 people, 18,979 households and 13,019 families residing in the village. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,420.2 people per square mile (1,320.2/km²). There were 19,477 housing units at an average density of 1,367.2 per square mile (527.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.15% White/Euro American, 1.92% Black, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the village was $72,521, and the median income for a family was $96,327. The mean income for a family was $95,532. Males had a median income of $56,422 versus $36,938 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $31,580. About 1.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Bill NoveyBill NoveyWilliam 'Bill' Novey was an American special effects guru in Hollywood, Head of Special Effects at Walt Disney Imagineering in the 1970s, and co-founder of Art & Technology, Inc...
(1948–1991), Special Effects Master/Head of Special Effects at Walt Disney ImagineeringWalt Disney ImagineeringWalt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide... - Muriel AndersonMuriel AndersonMuriel Anderson is a composer and award-winning guitarist and harp-guitarist.-Biography:Muriel Anderson was born in Downers Grove, Illinois. Her grandfather was a saxophone player in John Phillip Sousa’s band, and her mother was a piano teacher. Her musical heritage showed early when an inspired...
(b.1960), composer and guitarist - Bob Bryar (b. 1979), drummer for My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
- Thax DouglasThax DouglasThaxter Elliott Douglas III , better known as Thax Douglas, is an American poet based out of Austin, Texas. Due to his close relationship to the city's music scene, he is often referred as a "rock poet." For many years, Douglas has been a fixture at Chicago-area shows, reading poems directly...
(b. 1957), poet - Lauren FrostLauren FrostLauren Frost is an American actress from Downers Grove, Illinois. She attended Downers Grove South High School for her freshman year before moving to California. She co-starred in the Disney Channel original series Even Stevens as Ren's best friend Ruby, from 2001 - 2003. She also co-starred in...
(b. 1985), actress in Even StevensEven StevensEven Stevens is an American comedy television series that aired on Disney Channel with a total of three seasons and 65 episodes from June 17, 2000, to June 2, 2003... - Cammi GranatoCammi GranatoCatherine Michelle "Cammi" Granato is a retired American female ice hockey player and one of the first women to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2010....
(b. 1971), Olympic ice hockey champion - Tony GranatoTony GranatoAnthony Lewis Granato is an American retired National Hockey League left winger and a former head coach and assistant coach of the Colorado Avalanche...
(b. 1964), retired left winger and former head coach of the Colorado AvalancheColorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
(NHL) - Miles HarveyMiles HarveyMiles Harvey is an American journalist and author. He is best known for his 2000 book, The Island of Lost Maps, which recounted the strange story of a Floridian named Gilbert Bland, who stole many old and precious maps from various libraries across America.Harvey graduated from the University of...
(b. 1960), journalist and author - F. Kenneth IversonF. Kenneth IversonF. Kenneth Iverson is credited with transforming Nucor Steel from a nearly bankrupt company in the 1960s into the largest and most successful steelmaker in the United States. Trained as a metallurgist, he became a very successful leader and businessman...
(1925–2002) CEO of Nucor SteelNucorNucor Corporation , a Fortune 300 company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the largest steel producers in the United States, and the largest of the "mini-mill" operators... - Nancy Johnson (sport shooter)Nancy Johnson (sport shooter)Nancy Johnson is an American sports shooter. She competed and won a gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics .-References:...
(b. 1974), 2000 Summer Olympics gold medalist in the 10 metre air rifle - Matt Jones (ice hockey) (b. 1983), player for Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
- Dan LeFevourDan LeFevourDan LeFevour is an American football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Central Michigan University...
(b. 1987), quarterback for Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... - Eric LichajEric LichajEric Joseph Lichaj is an American soccer player who plays for Aston Villa. Lichaj also plays for the United States men's national team. He started his youth career playing for Chicago Magic and participated in the youth residency program at IMG Soccer Academy. He later played college soccer for...
(b. 1988), professional soccer player, currently with Aston Villa and also a member of the US national teamUnited States men's national soccer teamThe United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF... - Jim McDermottJim McDermottJames Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means...
(b. 1936), U.S. representative representing Washington's 7th congressional districtWashington's 7th congressional districtWashington's 7th congressional district encompasses most of Seattle, all of Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien. Since 1989, the 7th District has been represented in the U.S...
since 1988 - Sherrill MilnesSherrill MilnesSherrill Milnes is an American operatic baritone most famous for his Verdi roles. From 1965 until 1997 he was associated with the Metropolitan Opera....
(b. 1935), baritone, formerly with the Metropolitan OperaMetropolitan OperaThe Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager... - Emo PhilipsEmo PhilipsEmo Philips is an American entertainer and comedian born in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove. Much of his standup comedy stems from the use of paraprosdokians and garden path sentences spoken in a wandering falsetto tone of voice and a confused, childlike delivery of his material to produce the...
(b. 1956), comedian - Lanny PoffoLanny PoffoLanny Mark Poffo , better known by his ring name "Leaping" Lanny is an American professional wrestler. Poffo was born in Calgary, Canada, to Angelo Poffo, an Italian American Catholic, and Judy, a Jewish American. He is also the brother of wrestling legend "Macho Man" Randy Savage...
(b. 1954), professional wrestler - "Shorty" PowersJohn A. PowersJohn Anthony Powers , better known as Shorty Powers, was an American public affairs officer for NASA from 1959 to 1963 during Project Mercury...
(1922–1979), NASA spokesman for Project MercuryProject MercuryIn January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,... - Denise RichardsDenise RichardsDenise Lee Richards is an American actress and former fashion model of Croatian and Welsh descent. She has appeared in films including Starship Troopers, Wild Things, and The World Is Not Enough...
(b. 1971), actress and former model - Randy SavageRandy SavageRandall Mario Poffo , better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler, best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling .Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and was a...
(1953-2011), Randall Mario Poffo, ring name "Macho Man", former professional wrestler and actor - Luther Ely SmithLuther Ely SmithLuther Ely Smith was a St. Louis, Missouri lawyer, civic booster and is called by the National Park Service the "father of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial."-Early life:Smith was born in Downers Grove, Illinois...
(1873–1951), founder of the Jefferson National Expansion MemorialJefferson National Expansion MemorialThe Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is in St. Louis, Missouri, near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was designated as a National Memorial by Executive Order 7523, on December 21, 1935, and is maintained by the National Park Service .The park was established to... - Matthew WestMatthew WestOn July 26, 2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, West had an injury to his left arm which threatened his musical career and guitar playing. He says, "I locked myself out of my house. But I'd done that before, and I had a way of breaking in through...
(b. 1977), contemporary Christian musician - Cosmo Brown (b. 1992), modern artist/ photographer
External links
- Village of Downers Grove
- Downers Grove Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Downers Grove Park District
- Downers Grove Public Library
- Downers Grove Visitors Bureau
- Downers Grove Grade School District 58
- Community High School District 99
- Township of Downers Grove
- Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance
- The Downers Grove Heritage Preservation Corporation - 1846 Blodgett House
- The Downers Grove Reporter
- The Downers Grove Sun
- The Grove Foundation