Oswego, Illinois

For other uses, see Oswego (disambiguation).
Village of Oswego, Illinois

Location in the Chicago metropolitan area
Country United States
State Illinois
Counties Kendall
Government
 • Village President Gail Johnson
Area
 • Total 15.63 sq mi (40.5 km2)
 • Land 15.53 sq mi (40.2 km2)
 • Water 0.11 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation 577 ft (176 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 30,355
 • Density 2,025/sq mi (781.9/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Website http://www.oswegoil.org/

Oswego /ɒsˈwiːɡoʊ/ is a village in Kendall County, Illinois, United States. The village population, according to the 2010 census, is 30,355. Its population has more than doubled since the 2000 census count of 13,326. With that growth, Oswego is the largest municipality located completely within Kendall County.

Oswego is known to some Chicago area residents for the town dragstrip, open from 1955 until 1979, where muscle cars were raced by drivers from all over the Midwest. The drag days are celebrated today even though the strip has been closed for decades.

Geography

Oswego is located at 41°41′26″N 88°20′30″W / 41.69056°N 88.34167°W / 41.69056; -88.34167Coordinates: 41°41′26″N 88°20′30″W / 41.69056°N 88.34167°W / 41.69056; -88.34167 and straddles the Fox River.

According to the 2010 census, the village has a total area of 15.63 square miles (40.5 km2), of which 15.53 square miles (40.2 km2) (or 99.36%) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km2) (or 0.70%) is water.[1]

History

In 1833, William Smith Wilson, his wife Rebecca, and his brother-in-law Daniel Pearce moved to the area now known as Oswego.[2] The land was officially owned by the local Potowatomi, Ottawa, and Chippewa tribes, but the US Government removed the Native Americans when the government started surveying the land along the Fox River in Kendall County. In 1842, they placed the land for sale at a price of $1.25 an acre.[2]

After the sale of the land, two men from New York, Lewis Brinsmaid Judson and Levi F. Arnold, laid out the village and named it Hudson.[2] However, when a post office was established, its location was given as Lodi.[2] Confusion over the official name of the area led to a decision in January 1837, when the citizens then gathered and chose the permanent name of Oswego.[2] The ford across the Fox River in the town allowed Oswego to grow economically and as a town. Many years later with the invention of the automobile, Oswego continued to see growth as it was a hub for three different state highways (Illinois Route 25, Illinois Route 71, and Illinois Route 31). These have allowed Oswego to grow to what it has become today.[2]

Downtown

Downtown Oswego is home to historic buildings and homes, as well as shops and restaurants. The village of Oswego launched a project to enhance and restore the historic downtown district. This project included significant infrastructure and streets-cape improvements, such as the installation of brick paves, sidewalks, landscaping, and decorative streetlights and benches. Hudson Crossing Park, located along the Fox River, opened in October 2004 where many children and families enjoy the scenery. The Waubonsee Creek Promenade, which stretches from Main Street to the new park, is the final phase of the downtown enhancements. In 2008, the village celebrated its 175th anniversary.

Several festivals are hosted in Oswego, including the annual Drag Strip Days, Prairie Fest, Wine on the Fox, the Christmas Walk, and the Memorial Day Parade. The village also hosts the Oswego Country Market every Sunday from May through October.[3]

Awards and recognition

Oswego was ranked #58 in 2011 on CNN/Money Magazine’s Top 100 Best Towns to live.[4] CNN Money ranks these towns based on their job opportunities, schools, safety, economic strength and more. Kendall County has continuously been ranked as one of the fastest-growing counties and a place of rapid job growth.[5]

Education

The Oswego Community Unit School District 308 serves Oswego, Boulder Hill, Montgomery, Plainfield, Aurora, Yorkville and Joliet. It operates the following schools:

It also contains the area's Opportunity School. [6]

Portions of Oswego are within the Yorkville Community Unit School District 115, which operates Yorkville High School.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880663—
1890641−3.3%
1900618−3.6%
1910600−2.9%
192067612.7%
193093237.9%
19409784.9%
19501,22024.7%
19601,51023.8%
19701,86223.3%
19803,02162.2%
19903,87628.3%
200013,326243.8%
201030,355127.8%
Est. 201433,099[8]9.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there are 13,326 people, 4,476 households, and 3,692 families residing in the village. The population density is 781.9/km² (2,024.5/mi²). There are 4,591 housing units at an average density of 269.4/km² (697.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 93.49% White, 1.79% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 4.99% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 4,476 households out of which 47.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.0% are married couples living together, 6.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% are non-families. 14.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.96 and the average family size is 3.30.

In the village, the population is spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 96.5 males and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village is $71,502, and the median income for a family is $75,929. Males have a median income of $55,580 versus $32,484 for females. The per capita income for the village is $27,204. 2.8% of the population and 1.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.4% of those under the age of 18 and 3.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

In the 2010 census, the village had 30,355 residents versus 13,326 residents in the 2000 census.[11]

Notable people

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files for Places – Illinois". United States Census. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History". OswegoIL.org. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Visit Us". OswegoIL.org.
  4. ↑ "Money Magazine "Best Places to Live 2011"". BestPlaces.net. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Christie, Les (16 June 2010). "Fastest growing counties in the U.S.". Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "District Building Information". Community Unit School District 308.
  7. ↑ "About Our School District" (Archive). Yorkville Community Unit School District 115. Retrieved on June 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ "About Us". OswegoIL.org. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  12. ↑ Musician Robinson B. Murphy, Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient

External links

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