Des Plaines is approximately seventeen miles from downtown Chicago. Located in the heart of the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Des Plaines residents are within minutes of all major transportation centers including, Chicago’s O’Hare International airport, Metra Commuter Train (which connects commuters to Amtrak), Pace Suburban Bus System, CTA "L" and Interstates 90, 94, and 294. The city has a population base of 58,720. In addition to an ethnically diverse community, the city is home to several Fortune 500 companies as well as many industrial, commercial, retail and service businesses -- giving residents low property taxes with a wide variety of city services. The city covers 15.85 square miles.

The City of Des Plaines operates under the Mayor-City Council form of government. The Council acts as the City’s legislative body, enacting the laws and establishing the policies that govern the city. The Council consists of a part-time Mayor and the Alderman representing each of the eight individual wards. A full-time City Manger oversees the day-to-day operation of the city. Des Plaines is committed to ongoing development within its city, including revitalizing the downtown area. In 2000 the city opened its doors to a brand new state-of-the-art library along with a new retail district signaling the beginning of a renaissance in Des Plaines. Downtown redevelopment and new economic growth offer bright prospects for the future of Des Plaines.

History

The Des Plaines River Valley was occupied by the Potawatomi, Ottawa, and Chippewa Indians immediately prior to the arrival of the first settlers from the East during the second quarter of the nineteenth century. Following the Treaty of Chicago in 1833, pioneers from new England and New York began farming the prairie that would eventually become Des Plaines. German immigrants, seeking economic and political freedom, arrived in the area in large numbers during the 1840's and 1850's. German was the second language in many Des Plaines homes and churches.

The present site of Des Plaines was determined during the 1850's by the Illinois and Wisconsin Land Company, a group of land speculators engaged in building a railroad from Chicago to Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1857, when the Chicago, St. Paul and Fond du lac Railroad introduced daily train service between Janesville and Chicago, a subdivision plat was recorded for the "Town of Rand," named for Socrates Rand, one of the first settlers in the area. The CSP & FDL Railroad which was purchased by the Chicago and North Western in 1859, named its station here "Des Plaines" and, in 1869, the name of the subdivision was changed to correspond with the name of the station.

The Village of Des Plaines was incorporated in 1869 and the federal census of the following year shows that the village had grown to a population of 800. Des Plaines was reincorporated in 1873 and was officially organized in 1874 with the election of the first village board. Franklin Whitcomb, a local brick manufacturer, was the first Village President.

Schools

Recreation

Two park districts and the Cook County Forest Preserve maintain approximately seven hundred acres of parks and open space. Picturesque lakes, adventure miniature golf, family aquatic centers, state-of-art fitness centers, bike and hiking paths, 18 hole Par 3 golf course, horseback riding trails and the world's largest non-residential YMCA provide outstanding leisure and recreational service to the community.

Library

The Des Plaines Public Library, offers more than 200,000 publications, videos, audios books, art works, compact discs, computer searches, plus seasonal reading clubs, bus tours to cultural events, children's programs, book discussions, crafts, and informative programs/lectures for all ages.

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