St. Charles, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Charles, Illinois
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Downtown St. Charles, with the Fox River and Municipal Center/City Hall)
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| Nickname(s):
STC (local abbreviation), St. Chuck
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| Motto(s):
Pride of the Fox
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Location of St. Charles in Kane and DuPage Counties, Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| County | Kane | ||
| Founded | 1834 (as Charleston; changed to St. Charles in 1839) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 15.01 sq mi (38.87 km2) | ||
| • Land | 14.41 sq mi (37.32 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.60 sq mi (1.55 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 33,081 | ||
| • Density | 2,295.86/sq mi (886.43/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| Area code(s) | 630 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-66703 | ||
St. Charles is a city in DuPage and Kane counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located about 40 miles west of Chicago. The city sits on Illinois Route 64. In 2020, about 33,081 people lived there.
St. Charles's official slogan is "Pride of the Fox." This name comes from the Fox River, which flows right through the middle of the city. St. Charles is part of a "tri-city area" with Geneva and Batavia. These are all similar-sized towns west of Chicago.
Contents
History of St. Charles
Early Beginnings
St. Charles was once home to a Pottawatomie Native American community. A city park now honors these first residents. After the Black Hawk War in 1832, the Fox Valley area was opened for American settlers.
Evan Shelby and William Franklin were the first to claim land in St. Charles in 1833. They returned in 1834 with their families from Indiana. Many other families joined them that same year. The town was first called Charleston. But since another city in Illinois already had that name, it was changed to St. Charles in 1839. St. Charles officially became a city on February 9, 1839.
Underground Railroad Connections
Some stories say that homes in St. Charles were part of the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. While there are no tunnels or secret doors found, a group called the Kane County Anti-Slavery Society was active here. This group worked to end slavery. The Wheeler House, built in 1837, is thought to be the most likely place connected to the Underground Railroad in town.
How Transportation Shaped St. Charles
In its early days, St. Charles was quite isolated. It took three days to travel to Chicago. The Fox River was not deep enough for large boats. In the 1850s, St. Charles started building a plank road to Sycamore. However, the town turned down an offer for a railroad line. This line was then built in nearby Elgin instead.
Because of this, St. Charles stayed small for a while. It did not get a railroad until 1871. A direct train connection to Chicago came later, in the 1880s. Streetcar lines were built through the city in 1896. A direct road to Chicago, now Route 64, was built in 1920. Today, four Illinois state routes run through St. Charles. These include Routes 64, 38, 25, and 31.
COVID-19 Pandemic Impact
In April 2020, the Kane County Health Department ordered a meat processing plant to close. This happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was an example of how the pandemic affected the meat industry in the United States.
St. Charles Geography
St. Charles covers about 15 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The Fox River flows right through the downtown area. Pottawatomie Park is the largest park in St. Charles. It is a popular spot for both visitors and local residents.
People of St. Charles
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,822 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,533 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,690 | 10.2% | |
| 1900 | 2,675 | 58.3% | |
| 1910 | 4,046 | 51.3% | |
| 1920 | 4,099 | 1.3% | |
| 1930 | 5,377 | 31.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,870 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 6,709 | 14.3% | |
| 1960 | 9,269 | 38.2% | |
| 1970 | 12,945 | 39.7% | |
| 1980 | 17,492 | 35.1% | |
| 1990 | 22,501 | 28.6% | |
| 2000 | 27,896 | 24.0% | |
| 2010 | 32,974 | 18.2% | |
| 2020 | 33,081 | 0.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, St. Charles had 33,081 people living there. There were 12,342 households. About 32.9% of these households had children under 18. Most households were married couples. The average age in the city was 41.3 years.
Economy and Jobs
Major Employers
Here are some of the top employers in St. Charles:
- St. Charles Community School District
- RR Donnelley & Sons
- Omron Automotive
- City of St. Charles
- Armour-Eckrich Meats LLC
- Jewel/Osco
Piano Making History
Making pianos was a big industry in St. Charles in the early 1900s. The Cable Company, a large piano maker, built a factory here in 1901. This factory employed up to 500 workers. It brought materials like ivory from India and wool from Australia. Pianos made here were sold all over the world.
The factory closed in 1937. The building was later used for furniture making. In 1986, it became an outlet mall. The building was torn down in 2000. Now, condominiums and other buildings stand there.
Arts and Culture in St. Charles
St. Charles offers many fun activities and cultural spots. The Kane County Fairgrounds hosts the Kane County Fair every July. It also has a Flea Market each month. The annual Dragon Boat festival takes place in Potawatomi Park in June.
Lincoln Park, in downtown St. Charles, is the main spot for the Scarecrow Festival in October. St. Charles is also home to the Fox Valley Concert Band.
Theaters and Historic Places
The Arcada theatre is a famous place in the Fox River valley. Many well-known performers have appeared there. Other local theaters include Steel Beam Theatre and Vero Voce Theater.
The historic Hotel Baker opened in 1928. It is a symbol of the rich history of downtown St. Charles. The Chicago Tribune newspaper named downtown St. Charles one of the region's "Top 10" places. It is known for its dining, arts, shopping, and nightlife.
Libraries and Museums
The St. Charles History Museum has a small museum. It shows artifacts from the community's past. The museum is in an old Texaco service station built in 1928.
The St. Charles Public Library is one of the best libraries in the U.S. It has many books, DVDs, CDs, and online resources. It also has a collection for learning about family history.
Q Center and Scarecrow Weekend
St. Charles is home to the Q Center, a large conference site. It was once a college and then a training center. Now, it hosts meetings and learning events for big companies from around the world.
St. Charles also hosts an annual Scarecrow Weekend. During this event, over 100 handmade scarecrows are displayed. The Great Western Trail also passes through the town.
Education in St. Charles
Public schools in St. Charles are run by the Community Unit School District 303. The district has thirteen elementary schools. There are two middle schools: Thompson and Wredling. The city also has two high schools: St. Charles East High School and St. Charles North High School.
The Glenwood School for Boys and Girls has a campus in St. Charles. St. Patrick Catholic School also has two locations in the city. St. Charles is part of Community College District 509, served by Elgin Community College.
Notable People from St. Charles
- Edward J. Baker: A wealthy person who helped fund many buildings in St. Charles.
- Ethan Cutkosky: An actor.
- John F. Farnsworth: A Union Army general and U.S. congressman. He was a friend of Abraham Lincoln.
- Helmut Jahn: A famous architect.
- Dallas Jenkins: An actor.
- Jenny McCarthy: An actress who lives in St. Charles.
- Michael J. Nelson: A comedian and writer.
- Tyler Nubin: An NFL football player.
- Donnie Wahlberg: An entertainer who lives in St. Charles.
- Brian Wilson: A singer from the Beach Boys who lived in St. Charles.
- Rick Wohlhuter: An Olympic bronze medalist in running.
- Randy Wright: A former professional football quarterback.
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See also
In Spanish: St. Charles (Illinois) para niños
