Minooka, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Minooka, Illinois
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CO&P rail station (1986)
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| Motto(s):
"A nice place to call home"
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Location of Minooka in Will County, Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| Counties | Grundy, Kendall, Will |
| Townships | Aux Sable, Seward, Channahon |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.48 sq mi (24.55 km2) |
| • Land | 9.40 sq mi (24.36 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 597 ft (182 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,758 |
| • Density | 1,356.51/sq mi (523.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
60447
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| Area codes | 815 & 779 |
| FIPS code | 17-49607 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399376 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Minooka, Illinois |
Minooka is a small town, also called a village, located in Illinois, USA. It's special because it sits in three different counties: Grundy, Kendall, and Will. In 2020, about 12,758 people lived there. This was a big jump from 10,924 people in 2010. Minooka is also part of the larger Chicago metropolitan area, which means it's close to the big city of Chicago.
Contents
History of Minooka
Minooka started as a small settlement in 1852. This was when a railroad line was built through the area. Later, in 1869, it officially became a village. The name "Minooka" comes from a Native American word. It means "maple forest" or "good earth."
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad used to have a station in Minooka. This train line helped the town grow.
Geography and Location
The main part of Minooka is in the northeast corner of Grundy County. But the village also stretches into Kendall County to the north and Will County to the east. The village of Channahon is right next to Minooka, to its east and south.
How to Get Around
A major highway, Interstate 80, goes through the northern part of Minooka. You can get on or off at Exit 122. If you drive northeast on I-80, you'll reach Joliet in about 11 miles. Going west for about 45 miles takes you to LaSalle.
To get to Downtown Chicago, it's about 48 miles northeast. You would take Interstates 80 and 55. Another road, U.S. Route 6, runs along the southern edge of Minooka. This road leads east into Channahon and southwest to Morris, which is about 9 miles away.
Land and Water
Minooka covers an area of about 9.48 square miles. Most of this area, about 9.41 square miles, is land. A smaller part, about 0.07 square miles, is water. The DuPage River flows south and forms part of the eastern border of the village. This river eventually joins the Des Plaines River.
Population Changes Over Time
Minooka has grown a lot over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 416 | — | |
| 1890 | 360 | −13.5% | |
| 1900 | 424 | 17.8% | |
| 1910 | 361 | −14.9% | |
| 1920 | 314 | −13.0% | |
| 1930 | 346 | 10.2% | |
| 1940 | 317 | −8.4% | |
| 1950 | 369 | 16.4% | |
| 1960 | 539 | 46.1% | |
| 1970 | 768 | 42.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,565 | 103.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,561 | 63.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,971 | 55.1% | |
| 2010 | 10,924 | 175.1% | |
| 2020 | 12,758 | 16.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 12,758 people living in Minooka. There were 3,685 households, which are like homes where people live. Many of these households, about 50.7%, had children under 18 living there. Most families, about 66%, were married couples.
The average age of people in Minooka was about 33.5 years old. About 28.9% of the population was under 18. This shows that Minooka is a community with many young people and families.
Education in Minooka
Minooka has its own school system. The Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201 is for younger students. It has seven schools and teaches almost 4,000 students.
For older students, there's the Minooka Community High School District 111. This district has two campuses. One campus is for juniors and seniors (11th and 12th graders). The other, newer campus is for freshmen and sophomores (9th and 10th graders).
Famous People From Minooka
Some well-known people have connections to Minooka:
- Carlos Avery: A newspaper publisher and politician from Minnesota who also worked to protect nature.
- Dale Coyne: He owns a team that races Indy Cars.
- Sal Fasano: A former player in Major League Baseball.
- Mike Foltynewicz: Another player who has played in Major League Baseball.
- Tanner Laczynski: A player in the National Hockey League.
- Nick Offerman: A famous actor, known for playing Ron Swanson on the TV show Parks and Recreation.
See also
In Spanish: Minooka (Illinois) para niños
