Carol Stream, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carol Stream, Illinois
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Veterans Memorial
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| Motto(s):
"A great place to live and work"
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Location of Carol Stream in DuPage County, Illinois
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 Carol Stream, Illinois
Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Carol Stream, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Carol Stream, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| County | DuPage |
| Townships | Bloomingdale, Milton, Wayne |
| Incorporated | 1959 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.44 sq mi (24.44 km2) |
| • Land | 9.12 sq mi (23.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.32 sq mi (0.82 km2) 3.50% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 39,854 |
| • Density | 4,369.96/sq mi (1,687.23/km2) |
| Up 27.50% from 1990 | |
| Standard of living | |
| • Per capita income | ,152 (median: ,893) |
| • Home value | 7,485 (median: 0,400 (2000)) |
| ZIP Codes |
60116, 60122, 60128, 60132, 60188, 60197, 60199
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| Area code(s) | 630 |
| Geocode | 17-11332 |
| FIPS code | 17-11332 |
Carol Stream is a village located in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. It's a suburb of Chicago, meaning it's a smaller town near the big city. The village was officially started on January 5, 1959. It was named after Carol Stream, the daughter of its founder, Jay Stream. In 2020, about 39,854 people lived there.
Contents
History of Carol Stream
The area where Carol Stream is now located has a long history. In 1853, a church called St. John Wahlund Catholic Church was built there. Later, in 1952, a local farm was even shown on TV!
How Carol Stream Got Its Name
Many people think Carol Stream was named after a small river. But that's not true! It's one of the few places in America named after a real, living person: Carol Stream. She was the daughter of the town's founder, Jay Stream.
Jay W. Stream (1921–2006) was a military veteran and businessman. He wanted to create a town where people could live and work without having to travel far to Chicago. In 1957, he started buying farmland near Wheaton, Illinois, to build his new community.
The story of the name is quite special. In 1957, Carol was in a serious car accident. Doctors thought she might not recover. To give her good news and help her recovery, Jay decided to name the new town after her. Carol woke up from her coma four months later. She later said she thought it was "odd and silly" at first that a town was named after her! Carol Stream never actually lived in the town named after her, moving to Arizona in 1957. She passed away on January 18, 2020.
One of the middle schools in town, Jay Stream Middle School, is named after her father, the founder.
Important Moments in Carol Stream
Here are some key dates in Carol Stream's history:
- 1959: The village of Carol Stream is founded by Jay Stream. The first village board meeting happens on February 12.
- 1962: The Carol Stream Public Library opens.
- 1975: Janice Gerzevske becomes the first woman elected Village President (like a mayor).
- 1976: The Gretna Station Museum opens as part of the United States Bicentennial celebrations.
- 1987: Ross Ferraro is elected Mayor and serves for 20 years.
- 1992: A large regional post office opens in Carol Stream.
- 1998: The Town Center, a central gathering place, is dedicated. It's later named the Ross Ferraro Town Center.
- 2006: Jay Stream, the founder, passes away.
- 2007: Frank Saverino becomes the new Mayor.
- 2009: Carol Stream celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- 2020: Ms. Carol Stream, the person the town is named after, passes away.
Geography of Carol Stream
Carol Stream covers a total area of about 9.44 square miles (24.44 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 9.12 square miles (23.62 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.32 square miles (0.82 square kilometers), is water.
People of Carol Stream
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 836 | — | |
| 1970 | 4,434 | 430.4% | |
| 1980 | 15,472 | 248.9% | |
| 1990 | 31,716 | 105.0% | |
| 2000 | 40,438 | 27.5% | |
| 2010 | 39,711 | −1.8% | |
| 2020 | 39,854 | 0.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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According to the 2020 census, Carol Stream had 39,854 residents. The village is home to people from many different backgrounds and cultures.
The average age of people in Carol Stream in 2020 was about 40 years old. The median income for a household was around $89,820, which means half of the households earned more than this and half earned less.
Economy and Jobs
Carol Stream has a strong economy with many businesses. This means there are lots of job opportunities for people living in the village.
Top Employers in Carol Stream
Here are some of the largest employers in Carol Stream:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | Hearthside Food Solutions, LLC | 650 |
| 2 | FIC America Corp. | 494 |
| 3 | Grunt Style LLC | 400 |
| 4 | FedEx | 369 |
| 5 | American Litho Inc. | 350 |
| 6 | Diamond Marketing Solutions Group Inc. | 335 |
| 7 | Office Depot | 280 |
| 8 | Windsor Park | 265 |
| 9 | AJ Antunes & Co. | 265 |
| 10 | Tyndale House Publishers | 260 |
Other notable companies based in Carol Stream include the Christian publishers Tyndale House and Christianity Today International. The United States Postal Service also has a large mail processing center here.
Arts and Culture
The Carol Stream Public Library is a key cultural spot, founded in 1977. It offers conference rooms, a "create and learn" center, a cafe, and an outdoor patio.
Parks and Recreation
The Carol Stream Park District manages 36 parks in the community. These parks offer many ways to have fun and stay active! Some of the parks and facilities include:
- Armstrong Park, named after astronaut Neil Armstrong.
- Aldrin Community Center, named after astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
- Fountain View Recreation Center, with a gym, swimming, and a workout area.
- Simkus Recreation Center
- Bark Park (for dogs!)
- Coral Cove Water Park
- McCaslin Park
- Elk Trail Recreation Center
- Veterans Memorial Plaza
- Coyote Crossing Mini Golf
The Great Western Trail (Illinois), a popular path for walking and biking, also runs through Carol Stream.
Education in Carol Stream
Most students in Carol Stream attend schools in the Consolidated School District 93, which serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. After 8th grade, students go to high school in a different district. Many attend Glenbard North, which is part of the Glenbard Township High School District 87.
Some parts of the village are served by the Elgin Area School District U46, which is one of the largest school districts in Illinois. Students in this area might attend Spring Trail Elementary and then Eastview Middle School in Bartlett, Illinois. For high school, they go to Bartlett High School.
The western part of Carol Stream is served by Benjamin School District 25, a smaller district. High school students from this area attend West Chicago Community High School. A few southeastern parts of Carol Stream go to schools in Wheaton, like Franklin or Monroe Middle School, and then to Wheaton North High School.
Transportation
Carol Stream has several main roads that help people get around. North Avenue is a very important east-west road that goes all the way to Chicago. Other major roads include Army Trail Road and Geneva Road (east-west), and Gary Avenue and County Farm Road (north-south).
A train line from the nearby Illinois Central Railroad serves the main industrial area of Carol Stream. The old Gretna Railway Station, which was renamed Carol Stream in 1962, has been preserved and moved to the Carol Stream Park District. It now serves as a museum and home for the Carol Stream Historical Society.
Pace also provides bus service (Route 711) connecting Carol Stream to Wheaton and other places.
Notable People from Carol Stream
- Justin Jackson, a running back for the Detroit Lions football team.
- Doris Karpiel, an Illinois state legislator and businesswoman, lived in Carol Stream.
- Eric Petersen, an actor, grew up in Carol Stream.
See also
In Spanish: Carol Stream (Illinois) para niños
