Romeoville, Illinois
Romeoville | |
---|---|
Village of Romeoville | |
Fitzpatrick House (1842), on the grounds ofLewis University | |
Nickname: "Stone City" | |
Motto: Where Community Matters! | |
![]() Location of Romeoville in Will County, Illinois | |
Country | United States |
State | Illinois |
County | Will |
Township | DuPage,Lockport,Plainfield,Wheatland |
Incorporated | January 19, 1895 |
Government | |
• Mayor | John Noak |
Area | |
• Total | 20.16 sq mi (52.21 km2) |
• Land | 19.13 sq mi (49.55 km2) |
• Water | 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2) |
Elevation | 630 ft (190 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 39,863 |
• Density | 2,083.80/sq mi (804.58/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6(CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5(CDT) |
ZIP Code(s) | 60446, 60491 |
Area codes | 815/779and630/331 |
FIPS code | 17-65442 |
GNISfeature ID | 2399114[3] |
Website | http:// romeoville.org/ |
Romeovilleis a village inWill County,Illinois,United States.The village is located 26 mi (42 km) southwest ofChicagoon the Gateway Wetlands, directly west of theDes Plaines River.Per the2020 census,the population was 39,863.[4]It is located in the southwest suburban area of Chicago nearInterstate 55andInterstate 355.
History
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/EAST_PORTAL_LOOKING_WEST_-_Romeo_Road%2C_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal_Bridge%2C_Spanning_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal%2C_Romeoville%2C_Will_County%2C_IL_HAER_ILL%2C_99-ROM%2C_1-4.tif/lossy-page1-220px-EAST_PORTAL_LOOKING_WEST_-_Romeo_Road%2C_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal_Bridge%2C_Spanning_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal%2C_Romeoville%2C_Will_County%2C_IL_HAER_ILL%2C_99-ROM%2C_1-4.tif.jpg)
Romeoville was one of the last areas of Will County occupied by Native Americans. The village ofRomeowas first settled on September 14, 1835, on Isle a La Cache, a small island in theDes Plaines River.Around this time, the first bridge was built to allow access to the island from the west bank of the river. In 1848, theI&M Canalwas finished, drawing new residents to the area. On January 19, 1895, residents of Romeo voted to incorporate and changed the village's name to Romeoville. The community, along with nearbyJoliet,became known as "Stone City" in reference to its prosperouslimestonequarries. TheIllinois State Capitolin Springfield was unveiled in 1888, and is constructed entirely of Romeoville limestone.Lewis Universitywas established on the outskirts of town in 1934.
Romeoville is home toCitgo'sLemont Refinery.The refinery was constructed in 1922 across the river from the village. It was later the site of the1984 Romeoville petroleum refinery disaster.
In 1950, Romeoville had approximately 46 homes and a population of 147. The village remained sparsely populated until 1957, when over 600 acres (240 ha) ofwetlandsalongIL-53became the Hampton Park Subdivision. An additional 400 acres (160 ha) were added in 1964, as Romeoville's population slowly grew. On October 5, 1990, the first interchange onI-55and Weber Road was built, connecting the village to the rest of theChicago metropolitan area.Over the following decade, the area along Weber Road quickly became suburbanized as several new housing developments were completed. Romeoville was one of fastest-growing communities in Illinois throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The population grew rapidly, and the village experienced an influx of over 25,000 new residents in two decades.[5]
On September 16–17, 2023, a family of four, consisting of two adults and two children, were killed in amass shootingat their home in Romeoville; their three dogs were also killed. Police believed the killings were a targeted attack.[6][7]The shooter, identified as 31-year-old Nathaniel Huey Jr., was tracked down with his fiancée atCatoosa, Oklahoma,on September 20. During an attempted traffic stop, Huey fled but eventually crashed his vehicle. Afterwards, he fatally shot his fiancée and then himself.[8]
Geography
[edit]According to the 2010 census, Romeoville has a total area of 18.759 square miles (48.59 km2), of which 18.44 square miles (47.76 km2), comprising 98.3%, is land and 0.319 square miles (0.83 km2), comprising 1.7%, is water. Romeoville borders the neighboring communities ofBolingbrook,Plainfield,Crystal Lawns,Crest Hill,LockportandLemont.[9]
Climate
[edit]Romeoville is home to aNational Weather Serviceforecast office,although bulletins issued by said office begin, "The National Weather Service in Chicago..."[10]
Demographics
[edit]Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 113 | — | |
1910 | 98 | −13.3% | |
1920 | 74 | −24.5% | |
1930 | 133 | 79.7% | |
1940 | 170 | 27.8% | |
1950 | 147 | −13.5% | |
1960 | 3,574 | 2,331.3% | |
1970 | 12,888 | 260.6% | |
1980 | 15,519 | 20.4% | |
1990 | 14,074 | −9.3% | |
2000 | 21,153 | 50.3% | |
2010 | 39,680 | 87.6% | |
2020 | 39,863 | 0.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 2010[12]2020[13] |
2020 census
[edit]Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[12] | Pop 2020[13] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Whitealone (NH) | 19,992 | 16,654 | 50.38% | 41.78% |
Black or African Americanalone (NH) | 4,545 | 5,362 | 11.45% | 13.45% |
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH) | 61 | 32 | 0.15% | 0.08% |
Asianalone (NH) | 2,486 | 2,718 | 6.27% | 6.82% |
Pacific Islanderalone (NH) | 3 | 2 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
Some Other Racealone (NH) | 53 | 121 | 0.13% | 0.30% |
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial(NH) | 657 | 1,166 | 1.66% | 2.93% |
Hispanic or Latino(any race) | 11,883 | 13,808 | 29.95% | 34.64% |
Total | 39,680 | 39,863 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Economy
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Chicago_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal%2C_Romeoville%2C_IL%2C_ComEd_substation.jpg/220px-Chicago_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal%2C_Romeoville%2C_IL%2C_ComEd_substation.jpg)
Romeoville is home to over 600 businesses.[14]In 2013, the village won a Gold Medal from the International Economic Development Council and Atlas Integrated in the High Performance Economic Development category. They earned the award by creating 1,560 jobs during 2012–2013, which was the most for a town with a population between 25,001 and 100,000.[15]
Top employers
[edit]According to the village website,[16]the top employers in the village are:
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Amazon | 1,824 |
2 | Valley View School District 365U | 1,300 |
3 | Green Core | 1,200 |
4 | PDV Midwest Refining CITGO | 803 |
5 | Aryzta | 600 |
6 | Ulta Beauty | 543 |
7 | Walmart | 537 |
8 | RTC | 530 |
9 | Magid Glove and Safety | 529 |
10 | Lewis University | 525 |
Other major employers include Kehe Foods, FedEx Ground, and the Village of Romeoville.
Education
[edit]K–12 education
[edit]Romeoville residents attend the following schools:
Valley View School District 365U
- Valley View Early Childhood Center
- Beverly Skoff Elementary School
- Irene King Elementary School
- Kenneth L. Hermansen Elementary School
- Robert C. Hill Elementary School
- A. Vito Martinez Middle School
- John J. Lukancic Middle School
- Romeoville High School
- St. Andrew the Apostle School
Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
- Eichelberger Elementary School
- Creekside Elementary School
- Lakewood Falls Elementary School
- John F Kennedy Middle School
- Indian Trails Middle School
- Plainfield East High School
Lockport Township High School District 205
Higher education
[edit]- Joliet Junior College– Romeoville Campus
- Rasmussen College– Romeoville Campus
- Lewis University– Main Campus
Government
[edit]Mayors
[edit]Mayors of Romeoville | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Years in Office | Mayor | ||||
1895–1899 | Louis Hamann[17] | ||||
1899–1903 | John J. Keig[17] | ||||
1904–1905 | Henry Brockman[17] | ||||
1906–1907 | George Garden[17] | ||||
1907–1909 | George Farrell[17] | ||||
1910–1915 | Edward Swanson[17] | ||||
1915–1919 | Joseph Startz[17] | ||||
1919–1920 | John Mitchell[17] | ||||
1921–1927 | Fred Boehme[17] | ||||
1928–1929 | Anthony Startz[17] | ||||
1929–1969 | Neal Murphy[17] | ||||
1969–1973 | John O'Hara[17] | ||||
1973–1977 | Dewey "Red" Chambers[17] | ||||
1977–1981 | Donald Kennedy[17] | ||||
1981–1985 | Howard Trippett[17] | ||||
1985–1993 | John Strobbe[17] | ||||
1993–1997 | Sandra Gulden[17] | ||||
1997–2009 | Fred Dewald[17] | ||||
2009–present | John Noak[17] |
Infrastructure
[edit]Transportation
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Romeovillemetra.jpg/220px-Romeovillemetra.jpg)
- Metrastationon theHeritage Corridorline.
- Lewis University Airportfor basic aircraft to Boeing Business class.
- Pacebus route 834.
Major highways
[edit]Major highways in Romeoville include:
Interstate Highways |
US Highways |
Notable people
[edit]- Gerald Coleman,played goalie for theLake Erie MonstersandTampa Bay Lightning.
- Egotistico Fantastico,pro wrestler
- Oliver Gibson,DT, played with thePittsburgh Steelersand theCincinnati Bengals.
- Sandra Navarro Gillette,singer who charted a 1994 worldwide hit single, graduated fromRomeoville High School.
- Antonio Morrison,LB, played with theIndianapolis ColtsandGreen Bay Packers.
- Byron Stingily,OT, played with theTennessee Titansand Pittsburgh Steelers.
References
[edit]- ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 15,2022.
- ^"USGS detail on Newtown".RetrievedOctober 21,2007.
- ^"Village of Romeoville".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.
- ^"Romeoville village, Illinois".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedApril 15,2022.
- ^"History | Romeoville, IL".romeoville.org.RetrievedJune 17,2023.
- ^Romine, Taylor; Mascarenhas, Lauren; Razek, Raja; Parks, Brad (September 19, 2023)."Family of four shot dead at home, rattling quiet Illinois neighborhood, 'not a random incident,' according to police".CNN.RetrievedSeptember 21,2023.
- ^Plana, Antonio (September 19, 2023)."Family of 4 fatally shot in Chicago-area home was likely targeted, Romeoville police say".NBC News.RetrievedSeptember 21,2023.
- ^Pathieu, Diane; Ward, Tre; Kawash, Maher (September 21, 2023)."New details emerge about Romeoville murder suspect fiancée who also named person of interest".WLS-TV.RetrievedSeptember 21,2023.
- ^"G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedDecember 25,2015.
- ^"NWS Forecast Office Chicago, IL".September 11, 2019.
- ^"Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades".US Census Bureau.
- ^ab"P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Romeoville village, Illinois".United States Census Bureau.
- ^ab"P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Romeoville village, Illinois".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"ArcGIS Web Application".
- ^"High Performance Economic Developers: The Winners!".
- ^"Our Top Employers | Romeoville, IL".
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrs"Mayoral History".City of Romeoville.