Wheaton is a city located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately 25 miles (40 km) west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of Dupage County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,416. It is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor.

Founding
The city dates its founding to 1837 and 1838, following the Indian Removal Act, when Iain Mirrilees laid claim to 640 acres (2.6 km˛) of land near present-day Warrenville. In 1837, Warren Wheaton laid claim to 640 acres (2.6 km˛) of land in the center of town. Jesse Wheaton later made claim to 300 acres (1.2 km˛) of land just west of Warren's. In 1848, they gave the railroad three miles (5 km) of right-of-way, upon which railroad officials named the depot Wheaton. In 1850, ten blocks of land were platted and anyone who was willing to build immediately was granted free land. In 1853 the lots were surveyed and a formal plat for the city was filed with the county. The city was then incorporated in 1859 with Warren serving as its first President. The city was re-incorporated on March 1, 1890 when the first mayor of the city was selected, Judge Elbert Gary, son of Erastus Gary and founder of Gary, Indiana.

Recent history
Wheaton Center, from the pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks Wheaton, south of Roosevelt Road, including Cantigny Golf Course on the left, Arrowhead Golf Club on the bottom, and Chicago Golf Club in the center.Wheaton has rapidly expanded since the 1950s, although population growth has slowed since the early 1990s, as the city has become increasingly landlocked. Downtown lost much business after the county courthouse facility moved two miles (3 km) west in the early 1990s, but in the decade since the downtown has seen a renaissance of sorts, with the creation of several significant condominium and business developments. One of the most recognizeable landmarks of the city is Wheaton Center, a 758-unit apartment complex on 14 acres in Downtown Wheaton. The six building complex includes two twenty-story high-rise buildings built in 1975.

As south Wheaton began to expand in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, with the Farnham, Stonehedge, Arrowhead, and Scottdale subdivisions, and major shopping districts including Danada Square and Towne Square, it has increasingly become more divided both geographically and sociologically into a Northside and a Southside with Roosevelt Road, which roughly divides the school boundaries. The Northside of Wheaton is most commonly associated with Wheaton North High School, downtown Wheaton, and the community's historic residential district, which in recent years has been the subject of increasing controversy over the number of "teardowns." In Wheaton, there were 74 teardowns in 2004 and in 2005 there were 63. The Southside of Wheaton is most commonly associated with newer homes and subdivisions, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, and the Danada shopping area.

 

Up until 1985, Wheaton had a prohibition on the sale and service of all alcohol products. This applied to all Supermarkets, Convenience stores, restaurants and other establishments. The city's ban had little effect on residents, as many would simply commute to neighboring municipalities to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages. This prompted the city to repeal its ban in an effort to regain a new sales tax medium.

 

According to local realtors, single family housing in Wheaton increased in value by 10 percent in 2004 and 10.1 percent in 2005, continuing a steady increase which has been enjoyed by home owners over the last several years. The 2005 average sale price for a single family home in Wheaton was $409,927.

Higher education
 
Wheaton College is located not far from downtown Wheaton. Its campus features the Billy Graham Center, named for the college's most famous alumnus, which contains a museum dedicated to both the history of American evangelism and the international ministry of Billy Graham. It features conceptual exhibits intended to convey Christian ideas. Wheaton College is also home to the Marion E. Wade Center, which is a major research collection of materials by and about several British authors, some of whom were part of the group known as the Inklings: Owen Barfield, G. K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Dorothy L. Sayers, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. Overall, the Wade Center has more than 11,000 volumes including first editions, critical works, personal letters, manuscripts, audio and video tapes, artwork, dissertations, periodicals, photographs, and related materials.

Well-known graduates of Wheaton include Wes Craven, Dennis Hastert, John Wesley Powell, Billy Graham, and Todd Beamer. Wheaton's science building exhibits the remains of a mastodon,known as the Perry Mastadon, which were discovered in nearby Glen Ellyn.

 

The Rice Campus of the nationally recognized research institution, Illinois Institute of Technology, is located in Southern Wheaton, just east of the Danada Rice Square shopping complex. It is a part of the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor. Although the main campus in the city of Chicago, a sizable student body attends the Rice facility, which specializes in computer and information technology, engineering, business, and technical education.

 

Public schools
The City of Wheaton lies in highly rated Community Unit School District 200, which consists of thirteen elementary schools, four middle schools, and two high schools which continually rate among the top in the Chicago area. Wheaton North was named by Newsweek as one of the top 1,000 schools in the Nation in 2006.

 

High Schools
Wheaton North
Wheaton Warrenville South

Middle Schools
Edison
Hubble
Franklin
Monroe
 
Elementary Schools
Jefferson Preschool
Bower
Briar Glen
Emerson
Hawthorne
Johnson
Lincoln
Longfellow
Lowell
Madison
Pleasant Hill
Sandburg
Washington
Whittier
Wiesbrook
 

Private schools
Most private schools in Wheaton are located in downtown Wheaton, with the exception of Wheaton Academy, which moved to West Chicago in 1945. St. John's is located about three blocks from Wheaton College and Wheaton Christian Grammar School adjacent to Wheaton College.

St John Lutheran School serves 256 students in preschool through eighth grade.

St Michael Elementary School serves 580 students in preschool through eight grade.

Wheaton Christian Grammar School serves 563 students in kindergarten through eight grade.

St. Francis High School, serves 726 students in ninth through twelfth grade.

Wheaton Academy in West Chicago serves 566 students in ninth through twelfth grade.

Leisure and recreation
 
Cosley Zoo, part of the Wheaton Park District
The Illinois Prairie Path in Wheaton.

Parks and golf
The Wheaton Park District has received the National Gold Medal for Excellence by the National Park & Recreation Association three times in the past fifteen years. It boasts 52 parks covering more than 800 acres (3.2 km˛), including: The 135-acre (0.5 km˛) Lincoln Marsh, with over 300 species of plants and animals, and a regionally acclaimed ropes course.

Cosley Zoo, a free-admission zoo which was founded in 1974. Two public swimming pools, including Rice Pool and Water Park with three water slides.

The 27-hole Arrowhead Golf Club, which was built in 1927 and completely renovated throughout the 1990s. A new clubhouse built in 2004-2005 makes it a place to go.

The Chicago Golf Club is a prestigious private golf club on the southside of Wheaton. It is the oldest 18-hole golf course in the nation and one of the five original clubs that founded the United States Golf Association in 1894. It has hosted numerous U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur golf championships in its history. In 2005, it was host to the Walker Cup.

Cantigny Park and Golf Course is the former estate of Chicago Tribune owner Robert R. McCormick, is in southwestern Wheaton. The park contains a public 18-hole golf course, and two museums, one relating to the Chicago Tribune, and the other devoted to the First Division of the United States Army, as Robert McCormick was a colonel in the First Division during World War I.
The Danada Forest Preserve and Equestrian Center is located on the site of the former estate of Daniel L. and Ada Rice, after whom Danada is named. In the 1940s the Rices added a barn to the estate to house horses. In 1965, their horse Lucky Debonair won the Kentucky Derby. The Danada estate was acquired by the county in 1980 and 1981.

The Illinois Prairie Path runs throughout Wheaton, including the intersection of the Aurora Branch and Elgin Branch, just west of downtown near the railroad tracks.

Fairgrounds
Wheaton is home to the DuPage County Fairgrounds on Manchester Rd. Organized in 1954, the DuPage County Fair Association hosts the annual DuPage County Fair in late July. The fair annually attracts major entertainers, with Ashlee Simpson, Travis Tritt, and Jesse McCartney scheduled to perform in July 2006.

Public library
The Wheaton Public Library is frequently ranked as one of the top 10 libraries in the nation compared to other libraries serving similarly sized populations. It has recently undergone an addition as well as significant renovations to bring the square footage up from 74,000 to 120,000. The library now adjoins serene Adams Park. The new library addition/renovation features the Park View Commons, where food and beverages can be purchased from vending machines. The Quiet Reading Room, located on the second floor, features a fireplace and comfortable seating. There is also a special area created just for teens. Four private study rooms are available for small groups. The total circulation in 2005 was 1,164,465, including 343,684 hardcover books and 28,894 paperback books.

Theater
Wheaton is also home to the historic Wheaton Grand Theater, built in 1925. In recent years, the theater and volunteers have begun a restoration to its original state, complete a with lighted dome ceiling dotted with stars, and a newly painted floor. It celebrated its grand reopening on May 11, 2002, and on August 25, 2005, the Theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Shopping
Downtown Wheaton is home to perhaps one of the narrowest stores in the Chicago area. The Popcorn Shop on Front Street was formerly an alley between two buildings, and features the exposed brick walls of its neighbors. The store has been around since the 1920s, and currently sells candy for as little as 2˘ a piece and, of course, fresh popcorn.

Rail
 
Wheaton train station, rebuilt in 2000The Union Pacific/West Line runs through Downtown Wheaton and has been a staple of Wheaton since its founding. Metra has two stops along the line in Wheaton, one at College Avenue serving Wheaton College, and another at West Street in the heart of Downtown Wheaton. It passes under a bridge just west of Downtown, and over County Farm Road, just north of the DuPage County Government Complex.

Highway
Two Illinois State Routes run east/west through Wheaton:

Illinois Route 38, also known as Roosevelt Road, runs through the center of Wheaton. On its route are many car dealerships, restaurants, Hubble Middle School, St. Francis High School, and Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. Downtown Wheaton is about half a mile north.
Illinois Route 56, also known as Butterfield Road, runs through southern Wheaton. On its route is the Danada Shopping complex (among other shopping complexes), DuPage County Forest Preserves including the Danada House and equestrian area, Arrowhead Golf Course, subdivisions, including Stonehedge and Arrowhead, and Wheaton Warrenville South High School.

Other roads include:

Blanchard Street, a north-south road runs from just south of the Union Pacific/West Line to its intersection with Naperville Road at the north end of the Danada complex.
County Farm Road, a north/south road runs from Roosevelt Road at St. Francis High School through Geneva Road, passing by the DuPage County Government Complex.

Gary Avenue, a north/south road runs from downtown Wheaton at Front Street through Geneva Road. On its route are Cosley Zoo, the Lincoln Marsh, and Wheaton North High School. It serves, along with Main Street, as a primary route to Carol Stream and Bloomingdale.
Geneva Road, an east/west road at the northern border of Wheaton, which includes Wheaton Bowl, Wheaton North High School, and the national headquarters of the Theosophical Society in America on its route. It serves as a route to Winfield, West Chicago and further to the west, Glen Ellyn to the east.

 

Main Street, a north/south road that runs from southernmost Wheaton through Geneva Road where it continues as Schmale Road, which serves, along with Gary Avenue, as a primary route to Carol Stream and Bloomingdale to the north.

 

Naperville Road, a north/south road runs from Butterfield Road in the south to just past Roosevelt Road in central Wheaton. It primarily runs through the Danada Shopping complex and the Farnham subdivision and serves as a primary route to Warrenville and Naperville to the south.
President Street, a north/south road runs from its intersection with Blanchard Street north of the Danada complex through Geneva Road, passing through the Union Pacific/West Line Roosevelt Road. Its route runs near

Wheaton College.

 

Human Powered
The Illinois Prairie Path goes through the heart of Wheaton and connects it to Glen Ellyn as well as Winfield

Notable residents
Notable former and current residents of Wheaton include:

 

Entertainment
Jim Belushi, actor, current star of the ABC sitcom According to Jim.

 

John Belushi, actor, noted for his work on Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers, and Animal House

 

Wes Craven, director, noted for creation of many horror films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, which is actually a street within Wheaton's city limits .

Dennis Dugan, actor and director, noted for Can't Buy Me Love, The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, and Problem Child.

 

Brian McCann, actor/writer/comedian, currently writes and performs various characters on Late Night with Conan O'Brien .

Media
Robert D. Beck, News Director of Wyoming Public Radio

Bob Woodward, Washington Post Reporter, noted for breaking the Watergate scandal.

John Drury, Retired ABC 7 Chicago news anchor

Robert R. McCormick, Past, President of the Chicago Tribune.

Politics
Joe Birkett, DuPage County State's Attorney, 2006 Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois

 

Peter Roskam, Republican member of the U.S. Congress of Illinois' 6th congressional district

Sam Skinner, former Secretary of Transportation under George H. W. Bush

 

Sports

Kent Graham, NFL quarterback, 1986 National High School Quarterback of the Year for Wheaton North

Harold "Red" Grange, NFL running back, known as the Wheaton Ice Man and the Galloping Ghost

 

Chuck Long, NFL quarterback, current coach of San Diego State University football

Nikos Tselios, hockey player and cousin of NHL great Chris Chelios

 

Randy Pfund, former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, played for the Wheaton College basketball team.

Other
Edwin Hubble, astronomer, after whom the Hubble Space Telescope is named

 

Grote Reber, astronomer, inventor of the radio telescope

Phil Vischer, the creator of the children's show Veggie Tales

 

Geography
Wheaton is located at 41°51′34″N, 88°6′26″W (41.859562, -88.107181)GR1.

 

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.2 km˛ (11.3 mi˛). 29.1 km˛ (11.2 mi˛) of it is land and 0.1 km˛ (0.04 mi˛ or 0.35%) of it is water.

Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 55,416 people, 19,377 households, and 13,718 families residing in the city. A speacial census taken in 2006 estimated the population to be over 60 thousand. The population density was 1,907/km˛ (4,938.5/mi˛). There were 19,881 housing units at an average density of 684.1/km˛ (1,771.7/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 89.85% White, 4.85% Asian, 2.82% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% of the population.

 

There were 19,377 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.20.

 

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

 

The median income for a household in the city was $88,385, and the median income for a family was $104,475. Males had a median income of $74,871 versus $48,485 for females. The per capita income for the city was $36,147. Below the poverty line are 2.3% of the population and 2.1% of the families. Of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.