Darien, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darien
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
City
|
||
| City of Darien | ||
Rocky Glen Falls
|
||
|
||
| Motto(s):
"Gateway to Waterfall Glen"
|
||
Location of Darien in DuPage County, Illinois.
|
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Illinois | |
| County | DuPage | |
| Township | Downers Grove | |
| Incorporated | 1969 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council–manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.28 sq mi (16.27 km2) | |
| • Land | 6.17 sq mi (15.98 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2) 1.90% | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 22,011 | |
| • Density | 3,566.84/sq mi (1,377.25/km2) | |
| Standard of living | ||
| • Per capita income | $39,795 (median: $89,836) | |
| • Home value | $231,382 (median: $214,500 (2000)) | |
| ZIP code(s) |
60561
|
|
| Area code(s) | 630 and 331 | |
| Geocode | 17-18628 | |
| FIPS code | 17-18628 | |
Darien is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 22,011. A southwestern suburb of Chicago, Darien was named after the town of Darien, Connecticut. Darien is just north of I-55 and Historic U.S. Route 66 (now Frontage Road). The entire south edge of the town borders Waterfall Glen.
Contents
History
The first people to settle in Darien came from New England via the Erie Canal and Great Lakes. Among the first to arrive was the Andres Neiman family. They settled along an old stagecoach line in 1835. Andres served as Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, Assessor, Dog Catcher, and County Commissioner. He also established the Andres Inn, near what is currently the intersection of Lemont Road and I-55; the inn served the 15 stagecoaches that traveled the stagecoach line, and included a tavern and a post office. Andres named the area "Cass."
Andres and Father Beggs built the First Cass Church, which was a log cabin design. The church's cemetery, located west of where the church stood (west of Bailey Road and north of Frontage Road), can still be seen today. The church was also used as a school house.
Elisha and Eliza Smart settled in Darien in 1838 with their 10 children. Elisha joined the Gold Rush and left for California, returning seven years later as a very rich man. He bought more land and donated it, on which a new Cass Church was built in 1870.
John and Hannah Oldfield came to Cass in 1850. Mr. Oldfield raised cattle and increased his land holdings to 2,000 acres (8.1 km2).
In 1881, a man named Franklin Blanchard opened a cheese factory. The factory was eventually moved or closed; a McDonald's restaurant now occupies the factory's original location.
Martin Madden was an Irish immigrant who arrived at the Cass area during the late 19th century. He became a member of the Chicago City Council and later was elected to the House of Representatives and served in the United States Congress. In 1903, Mr. Madden built a home to look like the White House in Washington D.C. he called it Castle Eden. Today Castle Eden is part of the Aylesford Retreat Center of the Carmelite Fathers.
A group of German Lutherans from Europe came to the area near 67th and Clarendon Hills Road in 1859. They built the first St. John Lutheran Church and laid out the cemetery behind the church. Today the cemetery is still located at 67th and Clarendon Hills Road. In 1899, a new church was built on the northeast corner of Cass and 75th Street. The Church was located where the Taco Bell and Buona Beef Restaurant now stand. In 1969, the second church was torn down and the present St. John's Lutheran Church was built west of Cass and north of 75th Street.
A school was built on the northwest corner of Cass and 75th street in 1860. It was the first Lace School. It burned down in 1924, and was replaced with the present building. It is now a museum which is open on the first Sunday of each month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
By 1890, the Village of Lace was established. The important location at that time was the triangle bordered by Cass Avenue, Plainfield Road and 75th Street. It was called "The Point". The Point included the Town Hall, General Store, Blacksmith Shop and the office of Dr. Roe. A Post Office had been established at The Point in 1884.
The future city of Darien was originally part of the Lace and Cass communities. Residents of the Marion Hills, Brookhaven, Farmingdale and Hinsbrook subdivisions wanted to incorporate as a single city; this finally happened in 1969. When the incorporation committee reached an impasse on an acceptable name for the new city, acting mayor Sam Kelly suggested the name "Darien". He had visited Darien, Connecticut, and found it to be a very pleasant and attractive community. Today, Darien is known as "A Nice Place to Live". Darien in Illinois is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable; Darien in Connecticut is pronounced with the accent on the last syllable.
Geography
According to the 2010 census, Darien has a total area of 6.303 square miles (16.32 km2), of which 6.18 square miles (16.01 km2) (or 98.05%) is land and 0.123 square miles (0.32 km2) (or 1.95%) is water.
Darien's City Hall used to be totally underground until 1994, when it was lifted up. Now only 75% is underground. Darien's City Hall is surrounded on three sides by the village of Downers Grove.
Darien is bordered by the cities of Downers Grove, Westmont, Woodridge, Lemont, and Willowbrook, and it has easy access to the three major thoroughfares crossing Chicago's southwest suburbs: Interstate 55, Interstate 355, and Interstate 294.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 7,789 | — | |
| 1980 | 14,956 | 92.0% | |
| 1990 | 18,341 | 22.6% | |
| 2000 | 22,860 | 24.6% | |
| 2010 | 22,086 | −3.4% | |
| 2020 | 22,011 | −0.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
|||
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 17,063 | 15,882 | 77.26% | 72.15% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 695 | 738 | 3.15% | 3.35% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 15 | 4 | 0.07% | 0.02% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,603 | 2,855 | 11.79% | 12.97% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 15 | 0.02% | 0.07% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 21 | 70 | 0.10% | 0.32% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 299 | 597 | 1.35% | 2.71% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,386 | 1,850 | 6.28% | 8.40% |
| Total | 22,086 | 22,011 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Other Dariens in the United States
- Darien, Connecticut
- Darien, Georgia
- Darien, New York
- Village of Darien, Wisconsin
- Town of Darien, Wisconsin
Education
Hinsdale Township High School District 86 operates Hinsdale South High School in Darien. Part of Darien also attends Downers Grove South High School. Eisenhower Junior High School and Cass Junior High School operate in Darien along with Lace Elementary School, Mark-DeLay Elementary School, Concord Elementary School, and Elizabeth Ide Elementary School.
Local Private Schools include Our Lady of Peace and Kingswood Academy (prior to eighth grade).
Notable people
- Rudy Fratto (born 1943), alleged high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit
- Doug Lussenhop (born 1973), musician, video editor, and comedian associated with comedy duo Tim & Eric
- Manu Raju, journalist
- Barbara Alyn Woods (born 1962), actress from One Tree Hill and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
See also
In Spanish: Darien (Illinois) para niños
