Winfield, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Winfield, Illinois
Village
Village of Winfield, Illinois
Town Center
Etymology: Gen. Winfield Scott
Motto(s):  "Growing Smart; In Harmony With Nature"
Location of Winfield in DuPage County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	DuPage
Townships	Milton, Winfield
Incorporated	April 18, 1921 (1921-04-18)
Government
• Type	Mayor-trustee
Area
• Total	3.13 sq mi (8.09 km2)
• Land	3.09 sq mi (8.00 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation	768 ft (234 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,835
• Density	3,182.85/sq mi (1,228.85/km2)
• Density (2019)	3,034.8/sq mi (1,171.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	60190
Area codes	630, 331
FIPS code	17-82400
GNIS feature ID	2399715

Winfield is an incorporated village located in Milton and Winfield Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,080 at the 2010 census and as of 2019, the estimated population was 9,636.

Winfield is home to Central DuPage Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the Chicago suburbs. Winfield has a Metra station on the Union Pacific/West Line, which provides regular commuter rail service to Chicago. Attractions adjacent to Winfield include the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Kline Creek Farm, a living history farm located on the west side of County Farm Road between Geneva and St. Charles Roads; and the McCormick Foundation's Cantigny Park, which includes public gardens, museums, golf courses, picnic grounds and hiking trails. Cantigny is located on the east side of Winfield Road, just south of Illinois Route 38, also known as Roosevelt Road. Winfield also enjoys parks and recreational services provided by the Winfield Park District. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County also owns and operates several other open space areas surrounding Winfield. Winfield is considered to be among the safest towns in Illinois.

History

The Village of Winfield was incorporated as a village in 1921, but has roots from the 1830s, originally known as Gary's Mill after early settler Eurastus Gary, and later, Fredricksburg, owing to a significant German-speaking population. In the late 1800s, the settlement’s name was changed again to Winfield after the war hero Winfield Scott.

Winfield is home to one of the oldest taverns in the Chicago suburbs, John's Restaurant and Tavern (formerly John's Buffet), founded in 1921 by immigrant John T Karwoski, grandfather of the current owner, John Karwoski III. John Karwoski was instrumental in the political and economic development of Winfield, and it was his guidance and leadership that took a fledgling prairie town clinging to existence after the railroad boom went bust, and turned it into a viable and livable village. Mr Karwoski became the first Chief of the all-volunteer Winfield Volunteer Fire Company in 1935. 45 years later, his son John Karwoski II was made Chief of the expanded Winfield Fire Protection District in 1980.

Winfield is also home to another remnant of the past, called Schmidt's Pond. In the late 1800s, Peter Schmidt dug a pond to provide a place to harvest ice in the Winter. Schmidt used the ice for his meat market, but also provided ice to the village in general. The property which is located between Park Street and Summit Avenue, just south of Town Center Winfield, also featured an ice house to store the harvested ice. While the ice house has since been turned into a private residence, the pond survives. The pond almost all but disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s due to lowering water tables, but has since returned, thanks in part to the village hooking up to Lake Michigan for its primary water use and a rising water table. The pond is home to many ducks, geese, muskrat, crayfish, frogs, toads and fish, and while the pond is on private property, it can be seen from Park Street and Summit Avenues.

Winfield was served by The Winfield Glimpses newspaper from October 1947 to October 1976. The Glimpses changed its name to the Winfield Examiner in November 1976 and ran until February 1992. A full collection of these newspapers is available on microfilm at the Winfield Public Library.

Hedges station is the oldest train depot in Illinois. It was built in 1849 on the west side of Church Street, where the police station is currently standing. In 1977 Winfield Township bought the station after all the owners had died. Their plan to demolish the building to construct a parking lot and more village offices was opposed by citizens who wanted the oldest building standing in Winfield to be turned into a historical site instead. After many arguments, the Township decided to move in to another location. In 1981 Hedges station was moved to Winfield road, where it is currently located, and is now a museum.

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  Historic John's Restaurant and Tavern is at right in the central business district.

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  The Metra train station connects Winfield commuters with Chicago.

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  Central Dupage Hospital on Winfield Road serves county residents.

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  Interior of St. John's Catholic church built in 1867.

Geography

Winfield is located at 41°51′57″N 88°09′25″W (41.8658543, -88.1569256). Winfield is, by and large, surrounded by forests, including several DuPage County Forest Preserves on the north, west, and south. It borders Wheaton to the east and West Chicago to the west.

According to the 2010 census, Winfield has a total area of 3.03 square miles (7.85 km²), of which 2.99 square miles (7.74 km²) (or 98.68%) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (or 1.32%) is water.

West Branch DuPage River Trail

In September 2016 trail construction began on a the Winfield Mounds Trail Segment of the West Branch DuPage River Trail. This segment will go through Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve, downtown Winfield and West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve. This system will link The Illinois Prairie Path with existing trails to the southwest Naperville trail system creating a north-south connection that will provide recreational users more route options.

In addition to providing activated spaces for recreation and appreciation of nature within Forest Preserves adjacent to Winfield, the 3 mile long trail segment is also intended to rejuvenate businesses in downtown Winfield.

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  Cyclists and hikers enjoy the nearby Illinois Prairie Path - Elgin Branch.

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  Klein Creek flows through Winfield from north to south.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	164		—
1930	445		—
1940	567		27.4%
1950	714		25.9%
1960	1,575		120.6%
1970	4,285		172.1%
1980	4,422		3.2%
1990	7,096		60.5%
2000	8,718		22.9%
2010	9,080		4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,080 people, 3,538 households, and 2,579 families residing in the village. The racial makeup of the village was 94.0% White, 0.1% African American, 0.9% Native American, 7.5% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0% of the population. 29.2% were of German, 20.3% Irish, 13.4% Polish, 12.5% Italian, and 11.3% English ancestry, according to Census 2010.

There were 3,538 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.08. The average density of housing units was 1,183.28 per square mile (456.87/km²).

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 89 males.

As of the 2019 census estimates, the population density was 3,034.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,171.7/km²). The median household income for Winfield in 2019 was $102,750 and per capita income was $51,612. The median household cost was $297,400.

Education

The Village of Winfield is served by three school districts: West Chicago Elementary School District 33 (K-8, serving the north side of Winfield); Winfield Elementary School District 34 (K-8, serving the south side of Winfield); and Community Unit School District 200 (K-12, Wheaton-Warrenville, serving the east side of Winfield). Winfield has no public high school, students from Districts 33 and 34 attend West Chicago Community High School, and students from CUSD 200 attend Wheaton North High School. It has three public elementary/middle schools, Winfield Primary School, Winfield Central School, and Pleasant Hill Elementary School, and one private elementary/middle school, St. John the Baptist Catholic School.

Winfield Central School

Winfield Central School is located in downtown Winfield. Winfield Central School educates students from 5th to 8th grade. In 2020, there were 210 students whom attended Winfield Central School and 101 students that attended the Elementary school. Winfield's Elementary school is located directly across the street from its Central School. The middle school students are enrolled in physical education, one year of art, one year of music, two years of STEAM (science, technology, art, and mathematics), as well as a Spanish course every year (6-8). Winfield Central School offers many extra curricular activities such as: World beat, Band, Basketball, Volleyball, Track, Drama, Soccer, Daily Herald Writing Club, etc.

Test Scores 2019:

School average (%) Compared to state average (%)

Subject:	English	Proficiency %: 59	State Average %: 38
Subject:	Math	Proficiency %: 56	State Average %: 32

Notable people

• Christopher Bear (b. 1982), drummer and backing vocalist for Brooklyn-based indie rock group Grizzly Bear (Band) who has also collaborated with The Dirty Projectors, Fleet Foxes, and Beach House
• Wes Benjamin (b. 1993), pitcher with the Texas Rangers.
• Alex Benoit (b. 1995), competitive ice dancer, fourth place at 2017 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
• Michael Bowden (b. 1986), former pitcher with Chicago Cubs
• Chris Brown (b. 1981), running back with Houston Texans
• Carolena Carstens (b. 1996), taekwondo olympian
• Rob DeVita (b. 1965), football player for Seattle Seahawks
• Scott Michael Foster (b. 1985), actor
• John Warne Gates (1855–1911), pioneer promoter of barbed wire and founder of The Texas Company, a precursor to Texaco
• Sam Himmelfarb (1904–1976), American artist and commercial exhibit designer, known for his modernist-influenced paintings of everyday people and urban scenes
• Eleanor Himmelfarb (1910–2009), American artist, teacher and conservationist known for semi-abstract paintings referencing the landscape and human figure
• Michael Hodges (b. 1976), American fiction writer
• Frank Kaminsky (b. 1993), basketball player for Phoenix Suns
• Debbie Keller (b. 1975), retired soccer forward and former member of United States women's national soccer team
• Anthony Louis (b.1995), left wing/center for Chicago Blackhawks
• Philip Lutzenkirchen (b. 1991), American football tight end, who played at Auburn University, finishing his career as the school's all-time leading receiver in touchdowns among tight ends.
• Andrew Marshall (b. 1984), defender with Crystal Palace Baltimore and Harrisburg City Islanders
• Walt Moryn (1926–1996), outfielder with Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, lived and died in Winfield
• Jarett Park (b. 1981) professional lacrosse player
• Luke Putkonen (b. 1986), former pitcher for Detroit Tigers
• Rob Scahill (b. 1987), pitcher with the Chicago White Sox
• Shealeigh (b. 1998), singer
• Kevin Streelman (b. 1978), golfer on PGA Tour
• Bradie Tennell (b.1998), figure skater, 2018 U.S national champion; 2015 junior national champion
• Nikos Tselios (b. 1979), defenseman with NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Hounds, KalPa (Finland) and Färjestad BK (Sweden); cousin of Chris Chelios
• William M. Whitney (1828–c. 1908), American politician
• Jonathan C. Wright (b. 1966), State's attorney for Logan County, Illinois
• Bobcat Goldthwait (b. 1962), Alleged comedian and director

Images for kids

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  Hedges Station "Besch House" is the oldest remaining train depot in Illinois

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  Samuel and Eleanor Himmelfarb Home and Studio, Winfield, Illinois, built 1942, National Register of Historical Places

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  Bridge and path over the DuPage River in the Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve

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  DuPage River flowing through the Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve

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  Wild Turkeys in a neighborhood in Western Winfield