Overview

Introduction to West Chicago, Illinois

West Chicago, Illinois, in Du Page county, is 4 miles W of Wheaton, Illinois and 28 miles W of Chicago, Illinois. The city is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.

West Chicago History

West Chicago was first settled in by Europeans in the 1830s. However, Alonzo Harvey, who visited the area in 1842, was the first permanent settler of West Chicago. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad first entered the area around 1849. The area was initially named Turner, after the president of the G&CU, John B. Turner. He donated his land for the construction of a Congregational church in 1855. The Turner Public School was opened in 1873 and was renamed the Northside School in 1887. The name Turner was changed to West Chicago in 1896. It was incorporated as a city in 1906.

West Chicago and nearby Attractions

  • West Dupage Park Forest Preserve
  • Cosley Zoo
  • Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve
  • DuPage Children's Museum
  • First Division Museum
  • Kline Creek Farm

Things To Do In West Chicago

While staying in West Chicago, you can plan a day trip to the Kline Creek Farm at Timber Ridge Forest Preserve. The Reed - Keppler Park and West Chicago Prairie County Forest Preserve are also worth visiting. The Fox River Trolley Museum, DuPage Children's Museum and Cosley Zoo are also nearby.

West Chicago Transportation

Air transportation is available from Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

West Chicago Higher Education

Wheaton College, Elgin Community College, North Central College, and Elmhurst College offer opportunities for higher studies to residents of West Chicago.

Demographics

People

Total Population27,328
Male Share of the Population51.6%
Female Share of the Population48.4%
Senior Citizens9.6%
Employed Population 16+13,378
Age of the Population34

Families

% of people married53.4%
Average household size4

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher26.5%
Median Earnings25+$32,918
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$22,118
Median Earnings With High School Degree$33,593

Wealth

Median Family Income$80,354
% Above Poverty Level88.4%
% Below Poverty Level11.6%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time23 minutes
% Working from Home2.5%
% Walking and Biking to Work2.9%
% Using Public Transportation2.3%

Housing

People Living Alone15.3%
Median Gross Rent$1,077
Median House Value$243,500

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)55.4%
German12%
Italian6.8%
Irish6.4%
Polish4.7%
English4.5%
Swedish1.4%
Arab1.2%
Iraqi1%
Dutch0.9%
French Except Basque0.9%
Norwegian0.8%
Scottish0.6%
Russian0.5%
Hungarian0.5%
Czech0.5%
Lithuanian0.3%
Iranian0.3%
Canadian0.2%
Greek0.2%
Luxemburger0.2%
Albanian0.2%
Slovak0.2%
Welsh0.1%
West Indian0.1%
Trinidad Tobago0.1%
Ukrainian0.1%
Austrian0.1%
Danishn0.1%
Croatian0.1%
African0.1%
Swiss0.1%
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West Chicago Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyDupage County, DuPage County
Standard Zip Codes60185
P.O. Box Zip Codes60186
Phone Area Codes630, 31
Time ZoneAmerica/Chicago
Approximate Latitude41.88
Approximate Longitude-88.22

West Chicago Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationWHEATON 3 SE
Distance8.1 miles
Jan Temp14 to 32 F
Apr Temp38 to 63 F
Jul Temp63 to 87 F
Oct Temp42 to 67 F
Annual Precip37.9 inches
StationCHICAGO OHARE INTL AP
Distance16.2 miles
Jan Temp14 to 30 F
Apr Temp38 to 58 F
Jul Temp63 to 84 F
Oct Temp42 to 62 F
Annual Precip36.2 inches
StationJOLIET BRANDON RD DAM
Distance26.8 miles
Jan Temp14 to 30 F
Apr Temp37 to 60 F
Jul Temp63 to 85 F
Oct Temp41 to 64 F
Annual Precip36.9 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Carol Stream39,989$95,104
Geneva21,799$127,764
Warrenville13,311$94,760
Wayne1,009$48,750
Wheaton53,480$124,278
Winfield9,708$127,101

West Chicago Public Libraries

West Chicago Public Library District
118 WEST WASHINGTON STREET
West Chicago, Illinois
(630) 231-1552

library logo

More Information for Librarians

West Chicago Public Schools

Benjamin Middle School
28w300 Saint Charles Rd
ZIP: 60185
(630) 876-7820
Middle
Total Enrollment 299
Community High School
326 Joliet St
ZIP: 60185
(630) 876-6200
High
Total Enrollment 1930
Currier Elementary School
800 Garys Mill Rd
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-6600
Primary
Total Enrollment 518
Early Learning Center
300 E Forest Ave
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-6000
Primary
Total Enrollment 156
Educare Of West Dupage
851 Pearl Rd
ZIP: 60185
(630) 957-5500
Primary
Total Enrollment 36
Gary Elementary School
130 E Forest Ave
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-6010
Primary
Total Enrollment 567
Indian Knoll Elem School
N645 Indian Knoll Rd
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-6020
Primary
Total Enrollment 411
Norton Creek Elementary School
2033 Smith Rd
ZIP: 60185
(331) 228-2700
Primary
Total Enrollment 426
Pioneer Elem School
615 Kenwood Ave
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-6040
Primary
Total Enrollment 442
Trinity School
331 George St
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-7324
Primary
Total Enrollment 166
Turner Elem School
750 Ingalton Ave
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-6050
Primary
Total Enrollment 396
Wegner Elementary School
1180 Marcella Ln
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-6400
Primary
Total Enrollment 509
West Chicago Middle School
238 E Hazel St
ZIP: 60185
(630) 293-6060
Middle
Total Enrollment 1292

West Chicago Private Schools

Wheaton Academy
900 Prince Crossing Rd
ZIP: 60185
Secondary
Total Enrollment 638
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