Travel guideHistorySightsNightlifeMap

Naperville History, Illinois

Naperville is a highly affluent city of the metropolitan area of Chicago in Illinois, USA. The very famous Joseph Naper was the founder of this beautiful city along with originator of the DuPage River, 1831. Naperville village was duly incorporated in the year 1857. Families such as the Scotts, Paines, Hobsons and Napers came originally from northeast and later they were coupled by Germans, Scots, English and Pennsylvanians in the 1840s. Together they constructed seven churches, out of which four of them held their services in German.

As time passed by, this amazing city of Naperville served as a crucial stop of 2 primary routes, running all the way from Chicago, Galena and finally to Ottawa. By the year 1832, about 180 locals had constructed stores, the hotel of Pre-Emption House, gristmills and sawmills. Soon the city became a county seat while the DuPage County was established in the year 1839. The city’s development for the coming century was bounded to the Chicago rail connection. In the year 1870, the North Western College or the North Central College transferred to this city in order to serve and offer aid to the members as well the community of North America’s Evangelical Association. Also, the city saw the flourishing of the stone quarries, offering building and construction material to Chicago and that too after the 1872 disastrous fire. The largest employer of the city, Kroehler Manufacturing Company shipped its furniture by means of rail to Chicago along with its important markets.

Between the periods of 1890 to 1920, the locals started receiving city services like sewers, telephones, electricity and water. Then this beautiful city developed to having a population of 12,933 in the year 1960. Naperville remained unaware of the growth till 1954, when the plans for the East-West road were declared. The route that surrounded the Naperville’s northern edge and also involved an interchange connected this city to the downtown Chicago through the Eisenhower Expressway. Due to this latest access, the retail, service, industrial and residential industries saw a boom around and in the city. Further, Naperville developed in the year 1993 following areas like Chicago and Aurora. The very popular Naper Settlement was founded in the year 1969 and transported the historical structures all across the region and served as a main point for this amazing city’s community. Starting in the 1980s, Riverwalk refreshed the city’s downtown region and today it offers acres of paths and parks.