ZIP Code 60432

Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Chicago. At the 2020 census, the city was the third-largest in Illinois, with a population of 150,362. Joliet developed along the Des Plaines River, and its downtown is located in the river valley. The city has a sprawling, irregular shape that extends into nine different townships, more than any other Illinois city. It has a hot summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) with hot, humid summers, and cold winters with moderate to heavy snowfall. In 1673, Louis Jolliet, along with Father Jacques Marquette, camped on a huge earthwork mound, a few miles south of present-day Joliet. In 1833, following the Black Hawk War, Charles Reed built a cabin along the west side of the Desplaines River. Today, Joliet has a "west side" and a "far west side" (which includes all city limits in Kendall County). This has given rise to a newly referenced "Central Joliet" portion of the city, which essentially is all land west of the river and east of Interstate 55. This new reference may soon change the current meaning of "westside" to west of I-55. In the 2010 census, 147,433 people, 48,019 households, and 34,900 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,288.3 inhabitants per square mile (883.5/km²).

History

Joliet is the primary city name, but also Crest Hill are acceptable city names or spellings, Cresthill, Stateville on the other hand no longer accepted or obsolete and are no longer used as a designation. The official name is City of Joliet. In 1673, Louis Jolliet, along with Father Jacques Marquette, camped on a huge earthwork mound, a few miles south of present-day Joliet. In 1833, following the Black Hawk War, Charles Reed built a cabin along the west side of the Des Plaines River. Across the river in 1834, James B. Campbell, treasurer of the canal commissioners, laid out the village of "Juliet", a corruption of "Joliet" that was also in use at the time. Just before the economic depression of 1837, Juliet incorporated as a village, but to cut tax expenses, Juliet residents soon petitioned the state to rescind that incorporation. Joliet was reincorporated as a city in 1852. Cornelius Covenhoven Van Horne was active in getting the city its first charter, and because of this, he was elected Joliet's first mayor. When the city later built a new bridge, it was named the VanHorne Bridge. The city's name was changed to Joliet in 1845, reflecting the original name of the village. The name Joliet is now used to refer to the city's central business district, which is located on the banks of the Chicago River. It is also the name of a street in the city, which was named after a local businessman. The town's name is now Joliet, Illinois, and was once known as Joliet Township. It was also known as the town of Joliet until it was incorporated in 1847.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Joliet has a total area of 62.768 square miles (162.57 km²) Joliet developed along the Des Plaines River, and its downtown is located in the river valley. It has a hot summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) with hot, humid summers, and cold winters with moderate to heavy snowfall. The city has a sprawling, irregular shape that extends into nine different townships. They are: Joliet, Plainfield, Troy, New Lenox, Jackson, Channahon, and Lockport in Will County, and Na-Au-Say and Seward in Kendall County. Joliet also has a "west side" and "east side", referring to areas in relation to the river. This has given rise to a newly referenced "Central Joliet" portion of the city, which essentially is all land west of the Desplaines River and east of Interstate 55. This new reference may soon change the current meaning of "West side" to west of I-55. Joliet is located on the Illinois River, which runs through the center of the town. It is the only city in Illinois to have a lake as its main source of water supply, and the only one in the state to have an active lake system. It also has one of the highest murder rates in the United States, with more than 10 murders per 100,000 residents in 2010. The town has a population of 6,000.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, 147,433 people, 48,019 households, and 34,900 families were residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 67.48% White, 15.98% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.93% Asian, 11.34% from other races, and 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 27.84% of the population. Joliet is home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet, with Bishop Ronald Aldon Hicks. The House of Netjer is of the Kemetic Orthodoxy, a nationwide ancient Egyptian religious organization dedicated to the reconstruction of the traditional Egyptian (Kemetic) Polytheistic religion. The city's diverse faith community represents over 60 denominations and offers residents services at more than 150 churches, synagogues, and houses of worship. From April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011, Joliet was the fastest-growing city in the Midwestern United States and the 18th-fastest growing city among incorporated places with more than 100,000 people. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males. In 2015, the median income for a household in theCity was $60,976, and for a family was $69,386. About 10.4% of families and 12.2% of people were below the poverty line, including 16. 2% of those under age 18.

Economy

As of 2013, the rate of unemployment in Joliet was around 8.6%. The city is evolving from a steel and manufacturing suburb to a commuter suburb in the Chicago metropolitan area. The Rialto Square Theatre, also known as the 'Jewel of Joliet', has been called one of the world's 10 most beautiful theaters. Some new migrants to the Chicago area are working in bordering Cook County (the nation's second-most populous county) and living in Jolie. The 1999 film Stir of Echoes starring Kevin Bacon had scenes shot on at the Rial to Square Theatre. According to the city's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are: Harrah's Casino, Joliet Slammers baseball (DuPage Medical Group Field), Hollywood Casino, and the Illinois Youth Center Joliet, a juvenile correctional facility of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, opened in April 1959. The city's largest employer is the Chicago Cubs, which has a team of approximately 4,000 players. The largest employer in the town is the Illinois State Police, with a population of around 2,000. The town's largest employers are the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department, which have a total of more than 1,000 employees. The population of the city is around 3,000, with the majority of its residents living in or near the downtown area. It is located on the Illinois River, which runs through the city. The downtown area has been the scene of many famous incidents, including the hypnotism scenes in the movie "Dig" in which James saw the word 'Dig' on the screen.

Arts and culture

Among local landmarks are the Rialto Square Theatre, the Joliet Area Historical Museum and Route 66 Visitors Center as well as the Chicagoland Speedway (NASCAR) and the Route 66 Raceway (NHRA) Joliet is the only city in Illinois to have two casinos. The Jacob A. Henry Mansion is a three-story, red-brick, Second Empire/Italian Renaissance-style structure built on a Joliet limestone foundation in 1873 (completed in 1876) The largest stone ever quarried lies in the sidewalk under the front entry gate. The Louis Joliet Mall is located near the intersection of I-55 and U.S. Route 30. The former Joliet Arsenal (now the site of both the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie) is in nearby Elwood. The Joliet Prison has been featured in both television shows and movies. One such television series filmed there was Prison Break. The prison was also used for the opening scenes in the 1980 movie, The Blues Brothers, which starred John Belushi as "Joliet" Jake Blues and Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues. The first Dairy Queen store opened in Joliet. The location is now occupied by Universal Church. The building was originally built for the Universalist Unitarian Church of Joliet, but the church sold the building in 1993, and it is no longer home to the congregation. The structure is a local landmark, part of the East Side National Register District and individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sports

Joliet is home to three high schools that bear its name: Joliet Central, Joliet West, and Joliet Catholic Academy (JCA), in addition to the closed Joliet East. JCA has been a major football powerhouse for many years and has won more state football titles than any other team in the state, with 14 as of 2018. Chicagoland Speedway hosts annual events from NASCAR. Route 66 Raceway features National Hot Rod Association events on its drag strip. Joliet Slammers of the independent Frontier League play their home games at DuPage Medical Group Field. The Slammers won the 2011 Frontier League Championship in their first season as a team. Autobahn Country Club, also located in Joliet, has held the SCCA World Challenge, Atlantic Championship, and Star Mazda Championship races since 2009. The number of people in the city during major races is double that of the official figure. During major races, the large influx of fans means that the number of fans in the town is double the official figures. The city is also home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, which has one of the largest military bases in the country. The U.N. Peacekeeping Force is based in the Joliet area of Illinois, and has been based there since the 1950s and 1960s. The United States Air Force has been stationed in the area since the 1970s and 1980s, and is based at the Chicago Air Force Base since the 1980s.

Parks and recreation

Four golf courses are located in the city of Joliet. The Rock Run and Joliet Junction Trails are roughly northsouth routes. The I and M Canal State Trail stretches about 60 miles to Peru, Illinois, for longer bike rides. The city has a large Cinemark theatre, and several miles of bike trails. It also has the Midwest's only six-person slide in a park called Splash Station. It was the site of a Potowatami Indian village, and a marked burial plot is inside the grounds. It is home to over 640 acres (260 ha) of land that provide a habitat for abundant wildlife and outdoor recreation. There is also a seven-acre dog park in Joliet, as well as a number of hiking trails and trails for families to enjoy the city's natural beauty. It's also home to a large public library, with many free Wi-Fi hotspots and a large number of free outdoor activities for children and families. It has a small number of public parks, including a large park with a pond, a playground, and an open space for outdoor activities, such as hiking and swimming. The town also has a few golf courses, including the Inwood Golf Course and the Woodruff Golf Course, which is located on the outskirts of the city. It features a large lake, which can be accessed by a paved road that runs through the center of the town. There are also several bike trails that can be used as a 16-mile loop through the city, including one that runs from Joliet to Peru.

Education

Joliet is home to Joliet Junior College, the nation's first public community college. Joliet area High Schools include Joliet Catholic Academy, Joliet Central High School, and Joliet West High School. The Job Corps of the U.S. Department of Labor has operated the Joliet Job Corps Center on the campus of the former Joliet East High School since the early 1980s. The Joliet Public Schools District 86 is the largest public school district in the city, with almost all public-school students attending the district. The district also includes Joliet Township High School District 204, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, Oswego Community Unit School District 308, and Minooka Community High school District 111. The city is also home to the University of St. Francis, a private college with more than 1,000 students. It is also the home of the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bulls, and the Chicago Blackhawks. The Chicago Cubs are the Chicago Bears, the Illinois Blackhawks, and Chicago Cubs Chicago Bears. The Illinois State Police are based in Joliet and patrol the city's downtown area. The City of Joliet has a population of more than 2.5 million people, the third largest in the state after Chicago and Chicago Dunes. The town has a reputation for being a good place to live and to do business. It also has a history of being a leader in the fight against childhood obesity and childhood illnesses. It was the site of the World War II-era Battle of the Bulge, which ended in 1945.

Infrastructure

Joliet lies on both sides of the Des Plaines River, a major waterway in Northern Illinois. U.S. Highways 6 (the Grand Army of the Republic Highway), 30 (the Lincoln Highway), 45, 52, and 66 (Route 66) all ran through the city. The phrase "Crossroads of Mid-America", found on the Joliet seal, is an allusion to the intersection of I-80 and I-55. Joliet currently has one hospital within its city limits: Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center (also known as St. Joe's), located on the west side. Silver Cross Hospital, now located in neighboring New Lenox, was located on Joliet's east side. These were the only two hospitals in the history of the existence of Will County until AMITA Bolingbrook Adventist Hospital opened in January 2008. The Joliet Regional Airport is located off Jefferson Street near Interstate 55. Lewis University Airport is Located to the north in the nearby village of Romeoville and is owned by the Jolie Regional Port District. Amtrak serves Joliet Union Station daily via its Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle routes. Service consists of four Lincoln Service round-trips between Chicago and St. Louis, and one Texas Eagle round-trip between San Antonio and Chicago. Three days a week, the Eagle continues on to Los Angeles. All patients were transferred to the new hospital on February 26, 2012, and the old facility was completely vacated and later demolished.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Joliet, Will County, Illinois = 77. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 36. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 69. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Joliet = 3.7 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 150,362 individuals with a median age of 32.3 age the population grows by 17.51% in Joliet, Will County, Illinois population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,310.31 residents per square mile of area (892.02/km²). There are average 2.73 people per household in the 35,882 households with an average household income of $42,678 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 12.40% of the available work force and has dropped -4.37% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 21.06%. The number of physicians in Joliet per 100,000 population = 98.7.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Joliet = 35.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 17 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 116. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 189. 85 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 13.8 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 43, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Joliet, Will County, Illinois which are owned by the occupant = 59.04%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 50 years with median home cost = $111,870 and home appreciation of -12.63%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $18.40 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,458 per student. There are 18.6 students for each teacher in the school, 1435 students for each Librarian and 994 students for each Counselor. 4.78% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 8.13% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 3.98% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).