Aurora

Aurora is about 35 miles west of downtown Chicago. Nestled comfortably on the banks of the Fox River, Aurora is ideally situated on the edge of the city’s vast metropolitan area and the state of Illinois’ fertile, lush and green farmland. The city has blossomed from a humble mill town in 1834 to the state’s second most populous city, with more than 180,215 people calling Aurora home, according to the 2020 U.S. census. One of the brightest spots in Aurora’s history is the fact that in 1881, it became the first city in America to utilize electric lights for its public streets, thereby earning the moniker the “City of Lights.”

Shopping and Dining

With the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago only 35 miles away, Aurora’s residents are blessed with virtually limitless shopping and dining options. But they don’t have to leave town to have an incredible amount of stores and restaurants from which to choose. Some of Aurora’s largest and most popular shopping destinations include the Chicago Premium Outlets, Northgate Shopping Center, West Aurora Plaza and Westfield Fox Valley Shopping Mall. The city offers just about any type of restaurant you could want. Everything from family dining cafes, pizza joints, and bar and grills, to multicultural ethnic eateries and upscale fine dining establishments. Aurora is also home to a number of diverse shops and boutiques at which you can search for antiques, as well as other rare and specialty items. There are also several locations at which a farmer’s market can be found.

Parks and Recreation

Even though Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois and located within the Chicago metropolitan area, it is about as far from a concrete jungle as you can get. The City of Aurora’s Department of Parks & Recreation develops and maintains several neighborhood parks, two municipal golf courses, a zoo and an aquatic center. In addition to those services and amenities, Aurora offers a 40-acre woodland forest preserve, myriad walking, biking and jogging trails and convenient access to the Fox Valley Park District. A massive nature lover’s paradise, the Fox Valley Park District not only contains more than 150 parks, 41 miles of multi-purpose trails and pathways, 24 lakes, and 50 baseball and softball fields, but it also encompasses 22 miles of riverbank, 37 shelters, 83 playgrounds, the Red Oak Nature Center, Blackberry Farm, two water parks and an athletic center. Another notable feature provided by the Fox Valley Park District is aid and other services for disabled people. The district accomplishes much of this through its membership in the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA).

Living

Entertainment, culture and history are an integral part of life in Aurora. All three of these can be found at just one of the city’s most beloved and famous attractions: the world-class Paramount Theatre. This illustrious sparklingly beautiful venue opened in 1931 on Stolp Island, a historic landmark that also is home to a number of businesses, a public library and several of the city’s government offices. The Paramount Theatre was the first building outside of Chicago to be air-conditioned. Although its undergone some rather significant renovations over the years, it has found its way onto the National Register of Historic Places. If you appreciate fine craftsmanship and artistic flair in regards to architecture, you will fall in love with Aurora and the surrounding area. Architectural treasures to be discovered include structures designed by such legends as Frank Lloyd Wright, Bruce Goff and George Grant Elmslie. One of Aurora’s largest employers is also one of its most thrilling attractions. The Hollywood Casino is a gaming facility that covers more than 53,000 square feet near the Fox River. It offers several gambling options, such as blackjack, slot machines and craps, as well as two restaurants and an incredible amount of movie memorabilia. Some of the city’s other major employers are Caterpillar, the Rush-Copley Medical Center and the Indian Prairie School District.

Schools, Health, Transportation

Aurora’s city limits cover the counties of Will, Kendall, DuPage and Kane. Six school districts serve the area. They are Aurora East, Aurora West, Indian Prairie, Batavia, Oswego Community Unit and Kaneland Community Unit. There are two main hospitals providing healthcare services to Aurora’s residents and visitors: Provena Mercy Medical Center and Rush-Copley Medical Center. Some others in the area are Delnor Hospital, Edward Hospital and a Level 1 Trauma center at Good Samaritan in the nearby community of Downers Grove. In addition to Interstate 88 and several other highways and byways, Aurora is the last stop for the Metra commuter rail system’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe line, which brings people to and from metro Chicago. Pace and Greyhound provide bus service in and around Aurora, as well as to some of the surrounding communities. The city owns and operates the Aurora Municipal Airport, which was designed to be a reliever airport for the major airports that serve Chicago: O’Hare and Midway.