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Downers Grove, IL

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Downers Grove, IL

Downers Grove is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1832 by Pierce Downer, whose surname serves as the eponym for the village. It is a southwest suburb of Chicago located between I-88 and I-55.

According to the 2010 census, Downers Grove has a total area of 14.457 square miles (37.44 km²), of which 14.31 square miles (37.06 km²) (or 98.98%) is land and 0.147 square miles (0.38 km²) (or 1.02%) is water. Only the DuPage County communities of Bartlett, Aurora, Naperville, and Bolingbrook have larger land areas. Within the town are 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 28 times by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Downers Grove was founded in 1832 by Pierce Downer, a farmer who traveled to Illinois from Rutland, New York, but was originally from Vermont. Downers Grove was named for a lush grove of old-growth bur oak trees surrounding the village, which stood out from the local savanna landscape. Its other early settlers included the Blodgett, Curtiss, Blanchard, Stanley, Lyman, and Carpenter families. The original settlers were mostly migrants from the Northeastern United States and Northern Europe. In 1839, Reverend Orange Lyman, a Presbyterian minister, and his wife Maria Dewey Lyman arrived and built what is believed to be the first home in Downers Grove. The first schoolhouse was built in 1844. In 1846, the Blodgett house was built by Israel and Avis Blodgett. It was the second (or third) home built in Downers Grove. Both the Lyman and Blodgett homes are of cultural significance, as they were both built by abolitionist families and served as former stops on the Underground Railroad.

The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was extended from Aurora to Chicago through Downers Grove in 1864, boosting its population. The town was incorporated in March 1873. Its somewhat unusual spelling ("Apostrophe-free since 1873") remains a minor historical mystery.

Downers Grove places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, with Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital serving as a prominent healthcare provider in the region. The hospital offers a range of medical services, including emergency care, specialized surgeries, and community health programs. Equinox is a high-end fitness club known for its luxurious facilities and personalized services. The club offers a wide range of fitness classes, state-of-the-art gym equipment, personal training, and wellness programs. Planet Fitness is a popular fitness chain known for its affordable memberships and judgment-free environment. The gyms are equipped with a variety of cardio and strength training machines, and members can take advantage of amenities such as massage chairs and tanning. CorePower Yoga offers a range of yoga classes, including hot yoga, yoga sculpt, and power yoga, designed to improve strength, flexibility, and mindfulness. Orangetheory Fitness is a popular group fitness studio offering high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts designed to maximize calorie burn and improve cardiovascular health. Chicago Touch specializes in therapeutic massages tailored to individual needs. Services include deep tissue, Swedish, sports, and prenatal massages.

Top sites in Downers Grove, IL are The Morton Arboretum, Downers Grove Museum, and Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center.

Population: 49,706 (2023). ZIP codes: 60515–60517. Area codes: 630, 331. Elevation: 705 ft (215 m). Area: 14.80 sq mi (38.32 km²).

FAQs

Is Downers Grove, IL a good neighborhood?

Downers Grove is a suburb of Chicago with a population of 49,996. Downers Grove is in DuPage County and is one of the best places to live in Illinois. Living in Downers Grove offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes.

What are the ethnic demographics of Downers Grove, IL?

As of 2021, 11% of Downers Grove, IL residents were born outside of the country (5.54k people). In 2021, there were 14.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (41.6k people) in Downers Grove, IL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.87k Asian (non-Hispanic) and 1.75k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

How expensive is it to live in Downers Grove, IL?

Downers Grove's housing expenses are 101% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 3% lower than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 25% higher than the national average. Downers Grove has grocery prices that are 5% higher than the national average.

Sources

Village of Downers Grove

Wikipedia

Payscale

Datausa

Niche

Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital

Equinox

CorePower Yoga

Orangetheory Fitness

Chicago Touch

The Morton Arboretum

Downers Grove Museum

Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center

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