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Elgin, IL

Frequently asked questions

Elgin, IL

Elgin is a city in Cook and Kane counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located 35 mi (56 km) northwest of Chicago along the Fox River. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 114,797, making it the sixth-most populous city in the state.

Elgin is located at 42°2′18″N 88°19′22″W (42.0384225, −88.3226510).

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Elgin has a total area of 38.60 square miles (99.97 km²), of which 38.03 square miles (98.50 km²) (or 98.52%) is land and 0.57 square miles (1.48 km²) (or 1.48%) is water.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the Black Hawk Indian War of 1832 led to the expulsion of the Native Americans who had settlements and burial mounds in the area and set the stage for the founding of Elgin. Thousands of militiamen and soldiers of Gen. Winfield Scott's army marched through the Fox River valley during the war, and accounts of the area's fertile soils and flowing springs soon filtered east.

In New York, James T. Gifford and his brother Hezekiah Gifford heard tales of this area ripe for settlement, and they traveled west. Looking for a site on the stagecoach route from Chicago to Galena, Illinois, they eventually settled on a spot where the Fox River could be bridged. In April 1835, they established the city, naming it after the Scottish tune "Elgin".

Early Elgin achieved fame for the butter and dairy goods it sold to the city of Chicago. Gail Borden established a condensed milk factory here in 1866, and the local library was named in his honor. The dairy industry became less important with the arrival of the Elgin Watch Company. The watch factory employed three generations of Elginites from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, when it was the largest producer of fine watches in the United States (the factory ceased production in 1965 and was torn down in the summer of 1966) and the operator of the largest watchmaking complex in the world. Today, the clocks at Chicago's Union Station still bear the Elgin name.

Elgin places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, with several healthcare facilities serving the community. Advocate Sherman Hospital, a leading medical institution in the region, provides comprehensive healthcare services to residents. Spavia Day Spa offers a wide range of personalized spa services, including therapeutic massages, skin care treatments, and body wraps. Oxygen Spa Studio focuses on delivering high-quality, customized spa treatments. Midtown Athletic Club is a premier fitness facility offering a wide range of services, including state-of-the-art gym equipment, group fitness classes, tennis courts, and personal training. East Bank Club is one of the largest and most comprehensive fitness centers in the country. It offers extensive workout areas, over 150 group exercise classes per week, swimming pools, a golf center, and racquetball and squash courts. LA Fitness is a well-known chain of fitness centers with multiple locations across Illinois. Facilities typically include a wide variety of cardio and strength training equipment, group fitness classes, personal training services, and amenities such as swimming pools, basketball courts, and saunas.

Top sites in Elgin, IL are Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park, Fox River Trolley Museum, and Villa Olivia.

Population: 114,701 (2024). ZIP codes: 60120, 60121, 60123, 60124. Area codes: 224, 847, 331, 630. Elevation: 810 ft (250 m). Area: 38.60 sq mi (99.97 km²).

FAQs

Is Elgin, IL a good place to live?

Living in Elgin offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Elgin, there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in Elgin and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in Elgin are above average.

What is Elgin, IL famous for?

From its small beginnings in 1864, it eventually became for a time the world's largest watch-manufacturing complex, spreading the name of Elgin across much of the industrialized world. In 1866 Gail Borden founded a condensed milk factory, whose product also became widely known. Other Elgin industries included a large shoe factory and several grain mills.

What are the demographics of Elgin, IL?

The average household income in Elgin is $102,158 with a poverty rate of 9.99%. The median age in Elgin is 35.5 years: 34.6 years for males, and 36.7 years for females. White: 50.56% Other race: 22.17% Two or more races: 14.33% Asian: 6.19%

Sources

City of Elgin

Wikipedia

World Population Review

Encyclopedia Chicago History

Niche

Advocate Sherman Hospital

Spavia Day Spa

Oxygen Spa Studio

Midtown Athletic Club

East Bank Club

LA Fitness

Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park

Fox River Trolley Museum

Villa Olivia

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