City Town Info

Elgin, IL


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Elgin, Illinois

Introduction to Elgin, Illinois

Elgin, Illinois, in Kane county, is 34 miles W of Chicago, Illinois. The people of the city are in the Chicago metropolitan area. Elgin has a population of 94,487.

Elgin History

The present day city of Elgin was originally inhabited by the Native American tribes. The area was settled in by the whites after the Black Hawk Indian War of 1832. James T. Gifford and Hezekiah Gifford, two brothers from New York, established the city in April 1835. It was named after the ‘Song of Elgin’, the Scottish hymn. The Galena & Chicago Union Railroad entered the city in 1849. The city is the home of the Elgin Watch Company, the leading producer of watches in Unites States.

Elgin and nearby Attractions

  • Historical Radio Museum
  • Fox River Trolley Museum
  • Santa's Village - Illinois
  • Racing Rapids
  • Elgin Area Historical Society & Museum
  • Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve

Things To Do In Elgin

There are several parks and playgrounds in Elgin including the Wing Park, Zayres Park, Channing Park, and Wright Avenue Park. Leisure time can be spent at the Elgin Shores County Forest Preserve and Poplar Creek County Forest Preserve. The Elgin Fire Barn No. 5 Museum, Elgin Public Museum, and Elgin Area Historical Society Museums are worth visiting. While staying in the city, you can enjoy shopping at the Wing Park Manor Shopping Center, Summit Square Shopping Center, Town and Country Plaza Shopping Center, Clock Tower Plaza Shopping Center, Tyler Creek Plaza Shopping Center, and Fox River Plaza Shopping Center.

Elgin Transportation

International flights are available from Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Elgin Higher Education

Elgin Community College and Judson College are the local colleges.

High Points

Elgin strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Illinois):

CategoryTrophy
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)		Top 3%trophyElgin Racial Diversity
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. State)		Top 19%Elgin Well-Paid Single Men

Comparative Profile of Elgin, IL

Comparing Elgin to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Illinois (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Children Under 5 Years Old1010
Male Share of the Population99
Racial Diversity910
Well-Paid Single Men79
Well-Paid Single Women68
Senior Citizens32
Age of the Population21
Female Share of the Population22

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Average Household Size910
Portion of People Married75

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Median Family Income78
People Above Poverty65
People in Middle Class or Better66
College Educated Adults58

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Public Transportation Use78
Short Commute Times45
Walking and Biking to Work47
Working at Home44

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals69
Housing Recently Built58
Affordability of Rents53
People Living Alone44
Seasonal and Vacation Housing35
Affordability of Property Taxes22

Detailed pages on related topics: Elgin colleges • Elgin travel • Elgin mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Elgin CollegesElgin Colleges
Elgin colleges and trade schools.
Elgin Hotels & TravelElgin Hotels & Travel
Elgin hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Elgin MortgageElgin Mortgage
Elgin property, mortgage, and real estate.

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