Montgomery, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Montgomery, Illinois
Village
Village Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Montgomery in Kendall County, Illinois
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Counties	Kane, Kendall
Townships	Aurora (Kane), Bristol (Kendall), Oswego (Kendall), Sugar Grove (Kane)
Settled	1832
Incorporated	February 17, 1858 (1858-02-17)
Area
• Total	9.55 sq mi (24.72 km2)
• Land	9.30 sq mi (24.08 km2)
• Water	0.25 sq mi (0.64 km2)
Elevation	663 ft (202 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,262
• Density	2,178.94/sq mi (841.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	60538
Area codes	630/331
FIPS code	17-50218
GNIS feature ID	2399387
Wikimedia Commons	Montgomery, Illinois

Montgomery is a small village in Illinois, USA. It is part of the larger Chicago area. The village is located in both Kane and Kendall counties. It's like a smaller town (a suburb) near the big city of Chicago. Montgomery is about 45 miles southwest of Chicago. In 2020, about 20,262 people lived there.

History of Montgomery

Early Settlers

The first European settler to arrive in this area was Jacob Carpenter. He came from Ohio in November 1832. A few years later, in 1835, Daniel S. Gray visited the area. His brother, Nicholas Gray, had already settled nearby. Daniel Gray decided to move there too. In 1836, after his family moved from New York, he built the first wooden house. It was located near the Fox River in what is now Montgomery.

Founding the Village

Daniel Gray is known as the founder of Montgomery. He bought a lot of land from the government. At first, the settlement was called "Graystown." But Daniel Gray convinced other settlers to name it "Montgomery." This name came from Montgomery County, New York, where many of the early settlers were from.

Daniel Gray started many businesses in Montgomery. He opened a tavern, a store, and a warehouse. He also built a foundry and a fabrication shop. One of his most important businesses was a stone grain mill. Daniel Gray was planning even more businesses, but he passed away in October 1855. He still owned most of the land in the village when he died. His family continued to sell the land, and the village kept growing.

Becoming an Official Village

On February 17, 1858, Montgomery officially became an incorporated village. This meant it had its own local government. Daniel Gray's son, Ralph Gray, was chosen as the first village president. For many years, the population of Montgomery stayed around 300 people.

Growth in the 20th Century

Throughout the 1900s, Montgomery grew slowly but steadily. Several important companies opened here. Lyon Metal started in Montgomery in 1904. This company helped with the war effort during World War II. The Caterpillar factory, located near Montgomery, has been making large machines called wheel-loaders since 1959.

Another big company was Western Electric. Their Montgomery plant made telephone parts. This factory later became Lucent Technologies. It closed in 1995. In 1962, this factory employed about 1,500 people.

Geography of Montgomery

Montgomery is located in the southern part of Kane County. It is also in the northern part of Kendall County. The village is next to Aurora to the north and east. To the south, it borders Oswego and Boulder Hill. To the southwest, it is next to Yorkville.

The Fox River flows right through the village. Major roads also pass through Montgomery. U.S. Route 30 goes through the village. It leads southeast to Plainfield and northwest to Sugar Grove. Illinois Route 31 runs along the west side of the Fox River. It connects Montgomery to Aurora and Oswego. Illinois Route 25 runs along the east side of the Fox River, also connecting to Aurora and Oswego.

In 2010, Montgomery covered about 9.5 square miles. Most of this area was land, with a small part being water.

Population and People

Montgomery has grown quite a bit over the years. In 2000, about 5,471 people lived there. By 2010, the population had jumped to 18,438. In 2020, it reached 20,262 people.

Who Lives in Montgomery?

People from many different backgrounds live in Montgomery. In 2010, most residents were White. There were also significant numbers of African American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino people. The number of Hispanic or Latino residents has grown quite a lot.

Many families live in Montgomery. In 2010, about 62.8% of households were married couples. About 22.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 3 people. The average family had about 3.5 people.

Most people living in Montgomery are between 18 and 64 years old. About a third of the population is under 18. A smaller number of people are 65 or older. Most homes in Montgomery are owned by the people who live in them.

Fun Things to Do

Montgomery Park

Montgomery Fest

One of the most exciting events in Montgomery is the annual Montgomery Fest. It happens every year on the second weekend in August. The fest usually includes a fun parade. There are also many activities for families and kids. The festival ends with a big fireworks show.

Schools in Montgomery

Students in Montgomery attend schools in five different school districts. These include West Aurora, East Aurora, Oswego, Yorkville, and Kaneland school districts. This means students might go to different schools depending on where they live in the village.

Famous People from Montgomery

• Philip Keck: He was a lawyer, judge, and politician in New York. He lived on a farm in Montgomery for a time with his uncle.
• Carole Mathews: She was an actress. She appeared in a TV show called The Californians. She was also named Miss Chicago in 1938.
• Sean Rash: He is a professional ten-pin bowler. He used to live in Colorado but now lives in Montgomery.

See also

In Spanish: Montgomery (Illinois) para niños