Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately 25 miles (40 km) west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,416.
Founding
The city dates its founding to the period between 1831 and 1837, following the Indian Removal Act, when Erastus Gary laid claim to 790 acres (3.2 km2) of land near present-day Warrenville. In 1837, Warren Wheaton laid claim to 640 acres (2.6 km2) of land in the center of town. Jesse Wheaton later made claim to 300 acres (1.2 km2) of land just west of Warren's. In 1848, they gave the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad three miles (5 km) of right-of-way, upon which railroad officials named the depot Wheaton. In 1850, ten blocks of land were platted and anyone who was willing to build immediately was granted free land. In 1853, the lots were surveyed and a formal plat for the city was filed with the county. The city was then incorporated in 1859 with Warren serving as its first President. The city was re-incorporated on March 1, 1890, when the first mayor of the city was selected, Judge Elbert Gary, son of Erastus Gary and founder of Gary, Indiana.
Establishment as county seat
In 1857, the Illinois state legislature authorized an election to be held to decide the question of whether the DuPage county seat should remain in Naperville or be moved to the more centrally located Wheaton, which was on the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. Naperville won the election by a vote of 1,542 to 762. Hostility between the two towns continued for the next decade and another election was held in 1867, that Wheaton narrowly won by a vote of 1,686 to 1,635. At a cost of $20,000, the City of Wheaton quickly built a courthouse to house a courtroom, county offices and a county jail. The building was dedicated on July 4, 1868.However, animosity between the two towns continued, and in 1868, as records were moved from the old Naperville courthouse to the new one in Wheaton, Naperville refused to turn over remaining county records, prompting a band of Civil War veterans from Wheaton to conduct what came to be known as the Midnight Raid on the Naperville courthouse. As Wheatonites fled back on Wheaton-Naperville Road, Napervillians were able to secure some last remaining records, which were taken to the Cook County Recorder in Chicago for safekeeping. During this time, Naperville was mounting a lawsuit against Wheaton accusing election judges of leaving their posts during the vote. As the courts deliberated the fate of the county seat, the records were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Shortly thereafter, Wheaton was officially proclaimed the county seat.As demand for space increased, the courthouse was rebuilt in 1887 at a cost of $69,390, modeled after the courthouse in Aledo. This structure was used for the next 94 years until the county's rapid growth prompted the building of a brand new complex. The old courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and was formerly used by National–Louis University until National–Louis moved to Lisle in 2004. It is currently being developed into luxury condominiums.On November 2, 1990, the courthouse moved to a building about two miles (3 km) west in a new 57-acre (230,000 m2) complex at the corner of County Farm Road and Manchester Road. It was built at a cost of $52,500,000 and includes a 300,000-square-foot (30,000 m2) judicial building. In 1992, the county sued the architect and contractor for $4 million after several employees became ill from the ventilation system. In the end, however, the county received only $120,000 for minor repairs and the jury sided with the defendants, finding that the alleged problems were caused, primarily, by the county's negligent operation and maintenance of the ventilation system.
Other institutions
In 1873, Charles M. Barnes set up a small shop in his home as a part of his printshop. Barnes & Noble would later be established when Barnes' son William partnered with G. Clifford Noble in 1917 in New York City. The company has since grown to more than 900 stores in all fifty states, including one in Wheaton's Towne Square shopping complex which has since been closed.Built in 1926, the national headquarters of the Theosophical Society in America on a 42-acre (170,000 m2) estate located on the north side of Wheaton. Wheaton is also the North American Headquarters for the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Established in 1972 by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and Clinics is a rehabilitation hospital located on the west side of Wheaton on Roosevelt Road, half a mile south of the DuPage County Government Center. Marianjoy is a nonprofit teaching hospital, dedicated to the delivery of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Recent history
Wheaton has rapidly expanded since the 1950s, although population growth has slowed since the early 1990s, as the city has become increasingly landlocked. Downtown lost much business after the county courthouse facility moved two miles (3 km) west in 1990, but in the decade since, the downtown has seen a renaissance of sorts, with the creation of several significant condominium and business developments. One of the most recognizable landmarks of the city is Wheaton Center, a 758-unit apartment complex on 14 acres (57,000 m2) in downtown Wheaton. The six building complex includes two twenty-story high-rise buildings built in 1975.In 1887, Wheaton prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages, a ban which lasted until 1985 and applied to all supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and other establishments.
Geography
Wheaton is located at 41°51′22″N 88°06′30″W / 41.85611°N 88.10833°W / 41.85611; -88.10833 (41.8560218, -88.1083010).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29.2 km²). 11.2 square miles (29.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 sq mi or 0.35%) of it is water.Wheaton is the sister city of Karlskoga, Sweden. Karlskoga Street, located along the southern edge of Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton, is named after the Swedish City.
Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 55,416 people, 19,377 households and 13,718 families residing in the city. A special census taken in 2006 estimated the population to be over 60,000. The population density was 4,938.5 people per square mile (1,907/km²). There were 19,881 housing units at an average density of 1,771.7/sq mi (684.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.85% White, 4.85% Asian, 2.82% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% of the population.In August, 2010, the City of Wheaton was listed among the 'Top 25 Highest Earning Towns' on CNNMoneyMagazine.com - purporting an average family income of $113,517. See: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/moneymag/1007/gallery.best_places_top_earning_towns.moneymag/25.htmlThere were 19,377 households of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.20.Age distribution was 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.According to a 2007 estimate, the median household income was $85,249, and the median family income was $107,552. Males had a median income of $74,871 versus $48,485 for females. The per capita income for the city was $36,147. Below the poverty line are 2.3% of the population and 2.1% of the families. Of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Higher education
Wheaton College is located not far from downtown Wheaton. Its campus features the Billy Graham Center, named for the college's most famous alumnus, which contains a museum dedicated to both the history of American evangelism and the international ministry of Billy Graham. It features conceptual exhibits intended to convey Christian ideas.Wheaton College also home to the Todd M. Beamer student center, which was dedicated on October 1, 2004 to honor the memory of Todd Beamer, American Hero from flight 93 and two other Wheaton alumni who died in the September 11th attacks.The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology is also located in Wheaton, and is home to the Center for Professional Development and offers technology-oriented education and training for working professionals.
Private schools
Several of the private schools in Wheaton are located near the town center, in addition, St. Francis High School is on the far west side and Wheaton Academy moved to West Chicago in 1945.St John Lutheran Schoolserves 256 students inpreschoolthrougheighth grade.
St Michael Elementary School serves 580 students in preschool through eighth grade.
Wheaton Christian Grammar School serves 563 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
St. Francis High School, serves 726 students inninththroughtwelfth grade.
Wheaton AcademyinWest Chicagoserves 632 students in ninth through twelfth grade.
Wheaton Montessori School serves children ages 3-12 and is the only Montessori school accredited by theAssociation Montessori Internationalin the western Chicago suburbs.
Public Schools
Wheaton is part of Community Unit School District 200 and Community Consolidated School District 89.High Schools:Wheaton North
Wheaton Warrenville South
Middle Schools:Monroe
Franklin
Edison
Hubble
Elementary Schools:Sandburg
Pleasant Hill
Emerson
Whittier
Wiesbrook
Lowell
Bower
Hawthorne
Johnson
Lincoln
Longfellow
Madison
Washington
Briar Glen
Pre-schools:Jefferson
Toddler's Campus Pre-school
One elementary school that's located in the southeastern part of Wheaton, Briar Glen Elementary School, is part of Glen Ellyn Community Consolidated School District 89.
Parks and golf
The Wheaton Park District has received the National Gold Medal for Excellence by the National Park & Recreation Association three times in the past fifteen years.It boasts 52 parks covering more than 800 acres (3.2 km2), including:The 135-acre (0.5 km2) Lincoln Marsh, with over 300 species of plants and animals, and a regionally acclaimedropes course.
Cosley Zoo, a free-admission zoo which was founded in 1974.
Two public swimming pools, including Rice Pool and Water Park with threewater slides.
The 27-hole Arrowhead Golf Club, which was built in 1927 and completely renovated throughout the 1990s. A new clubhouse built in 2004-2005 makes it a place to go.
TheChicago Golf Clubis a prestigious private golf club on the southside of Wheaton. It is the oldest 18-hole golf course in the nation and one of the five original clubs that founded theUnited States Golf Associationin 1894. It has hosted numerousU.S. OpenandU.S. Amateur Golf Championshipsin its history. In 2005, it was host to theWalker Cup.
Cantigny Park and Golf Courseis the former estate ofChicago TribuneownerRobert R. McCormick, is in southwestern Wheaton. The park contains a championship 18-hole public golf course that was the site of the 2007 US Amateur Public Links. The park also contains two museums, one relating to theChicago Tribune, and the other devoted to theFirst Divisionof theUnited States Army, as Robert McCormick was acolonelin the First Division duringWorld War I.
The Danada Forest Preserve and Equestrian Center is located on the site of the former estate ofDaniel F. and Ada L. Rice, after whom Danada is named.In the 1940s the Rices added a barn to the estate to house horses. In 1965, their horseLucky Debonairwon theKentucky Derby. The Danada Farm estate was acquired by the county in 1980 and 1981.
TheIllinois Prairie Pathruns throughout Wheaton, including the intersection of theAurora BranchandElgin Branch, just west of downtown near the railroad tracks.
Fairgrounds
Wheaton is home to the DuPage County Fairgrounds. Organized in 1954, the DuPage County Fair Association hosts the annual DuPage County Fair in late July. The fair annually attracts major entertainers, such as Ashlee Simpson, Plain White T's (2007), Travis Tritt, Jesse McCartney, Jars of Clay, Corbin Bleu (2008), The Academy Is..., The Original Wailers (2009), and Danny Gokey (2010).
Public library
The Wheaton Public Library is frequently ranked as one of the top 10 libraries in the nation compared to other libraries serving similarly sized populations. It has recently undergone an addition as well as significant renovations to bring the square footage up from 74,000 to 120,000. The total circulation in 2005 was 1,164,465, including 343,684 hardcover books and 28,894 paperback books. The previous public library was converted to the DuPage County Historical Museum.
Theater
Wheaton is also home to the historic Grand Theater, built in 1925. In recent years, the theater and volunteers have begun a restoration to its original state., complete a with lighted dome ceiling dotted with stars, and a newly painted floor. It celebrated its grand reopening on May 11, 2002, and on August 25, 2005, the Theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a sense of growing pessimism that the theater will ever get restored due to lack of progress and funds. However, there was cause for hope when on January 23, 2010, when many cast members of the off-Broadway show 'Jersey Boys' did succeed in raising approximately $50,000 for restoration.
On July 10, 2010, The Grand Theater Corp had to surrender the deed to the building, to Suburban Bank and Trust Co, due in part, to being delinquent on a $800,000 loan, carried by Suburban Bank and Trust Co. The bank is now in the process of selling off the building.
Shopping
Downtown Wheaton is home to perhaps one of the narrowest stores in the Chicago area. The Popcorn Shop on Front Street was formerly an alley between two buildings, and features the exposed brick walls of its neighbors. The store has been around since the 1920s, and currently sells candy for as little as 2¢ a piece and, of course, fresh popcorn.The Town Square Shopping Center, located on Naperville Road, two miles (3 km) North of I-88 & one mile (1.6 km) South of Roosevelt Road in Wheaton, is also a venue for shopping. The outdoor mall features several clothing boutiques and restaurants, such as Williams-Sonoma, Ann Taylor, American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic, Express, Sports Fan, the Gap, L'anne Restaurant, Noodles & Company, and now Qdoba.
Religion
Wheaton has 45 churches located within city limits and an additional 30 places of worship in the outlying unincorporated areas, representing nearly 40 religious denominations. The Genus Edition of Trivial Pursuit states that Wheaton has 'more churches per capita than any other town in America.'On March 18, 2002, St. Michael Catholic Church in downtown Wheaton was destroyed by arson by a Wheaton resident and parishioner, now serving 39 years in prison. He has lost his appeal, but still maintains his innocence. The church has since been rebuilt, which reopened on March 18, 2006 at a cost of $13 million.
Rail
The Union Pacific/West Line runs through downtown Wheaton and has been a staple of Wheaton since its founding. Metra has two stops along the line in Wheaton, one at College Avenue serving Wheaton College, and another at West Street in the heart of downtown Wheaton. It passes under a bridge just west of downtown, and over County Farm Road, just north of the DuPage County Government Complex.Formerly, Wheaton was also served by the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad. The CA&E right-of-way now constitutes the Illinois Prairie Path.
Highways
Two Illinois State Routes run east/west through Wheaton:Illinois Route 38, also known as Roosevelt Road, runs through the center of Wheaton. On its route are many car dealerships, restaurants,St. Francis High School, and Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. Downtown Wheaton is about half a mile north.
Illinois Route 56, also known as Butterfield Road, runs through southern Wheaton. On its route is the Danada Shopping complex (among other shopping complexes), DuPage County Forest Preserves including the Danada House andequestrianarea, Arrowhead Golf Course,subdivisions, includingBriarcliffe,Stonehedge,ArrowheadandScottdale, along withWheaton Warrenville South High School.
Other roads include:Blanchard Street, a north-south road runs from just south of the Union Pacific/West Line to its intersection with Naperville Road at the north end of the Danada complex.
County Farm Road, a north/south road runs from Roosevelt Road at St. Francis High School through Geneva Road, passing by the DuPage County Government Complex.
Gary Avenue, a north/south road runs from downtown Wheaton at Front Street through Geneva Road. On its route are Cosley Zoo, the Lincoln Marsh, and Wheaton North High School. It serves, along with Main Street, as a primary route toCarol StreamandBloomingdale.
Geneva Road, an east/west road at the northern border of Wheaton, which includes Wheaton Bowl,Wheaton North High School, and the national headquarters of theTheosophical Society in Americaon its route. It serves as a route toWinfield,West Chicagoand further to the west,Glen Ellynto the east.
Main Street, a north/south road that runs from southernmost Wheaton through Geneva Road where it continues as Schmale Road, which serves, along with Gary Avenue, as a primary route toCarol StreamandBloomingdaleto the north.
Naperville Road, a north/south road runs from Butterfield Road in the south to just past Roosevelt Road in central Wheaton. It primarily runs through the Danada Shopping complex and theFarnhamsubdivision and serves as a primary route toWarrenvilleand Naperville to the south.
President Street, a north/south road runs from its intersection with Blanchard Street north of the Danada complex through Geneva Road, passing through the Union Pacific/West Line Roosevelt Road. Its route runs near Wheaton College.
