Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is a city of 179,898 people in DuPage County, Illinois, founded in 1835.
Why visit Aurora
Townapedia lists 43 museums and landmarks, 151 parks and trails, 175 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Classic Cinemas Kendall GDX, Phillips Park Zoo, Aurora Regional Fire Museum and Aurora University.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 16°F, and about 28 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Aurora
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Aurora
Aurora is a city in northeastern Illinois, United States, located along the Fox River. The population was 180,542 at the 2020 census. It is the second-most populous city in Illinois, after Chicago, and the 144th-most populous city in the US. Aurora is the most populous city in Illinois that is not a county seat.
From the Wikipedia article Aurora, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do9
Centennial Beach
Beach · 6.9 mi
Public aquatic park in Naperville, Illinois
Cinemark Tinseltown USA
Cinema and theater · 2.7 mi
320 South Lincolnway Street, North Aurora
Museums and landmarks43
Aurora University
School · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Private university in Aurora, Illinois, U.S
347 South Gladstone Avenue, Aurora
Fox River Pavilion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Former hospital in Illinois, United States
400 East New York Street, Aurora
Two Brothers Roundhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Former roundhouse and train shop at Aurora, Illinois
205 North Broadway, Aurora
Aurora Elks Lodge No. 705
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Building in Illinois, United States
Aurora Historical Museum
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Building in Illinois, United States
Batavia Depot Museum
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.2 mi
Railway station in Batavia, Illinois, United States
Batavia Institute
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.8 mi
Former hospital in Illinois, United States
Big Woods School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic schoolhouse in Aurora, Illinois, United States
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Campana Factory
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.1 mi
Factory in Illinois, United States of America
Col. Ira C. Copley Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Copley Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Former hospital in Aurora, Illinois
31 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds151
Commissioners Park
Park · 6.9 mi
Municipal park in Naperville, Will County, Illinois
139 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes175
AC'S Pub
Bar and pub · 4.0 mi
A pet-friendly bar and grill in Aurora, IL.
2124 Galena Blvd, Aurora
Tu-Th 11:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-26:00; Su 11:00-23:00
Ach-N-Lou's Pizza Pub
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.9 mi
1592 North Farnsworth Avenue, Aurora
Mo 16:00-21:00; Tu-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa 11:30-22:00; Su 15:00-21:00
Amato's Pizza
Restaurant · Italian · 3.0 mi
3150 North Aurora Road, Aurora
Mo-We 11:00-21:00; Th-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 15:00-21:00
Aurora Tap House
Bar and pub · 1.5 mi
Discover the ultimate hangout at Aurora Tap House, the leading bar and lounge serving Aurora, IL, and surrounding areas including...
134 West Downer Place, Aurora
Su 11:00-00:00, Tu-Th 10:00-00:00, Fr-Sa 10:00-02:00
Cooper's Hawk
Diner · American · 3.3 mi
998 US Route 30, Montgomery
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-21:00
Jake’s Bagels
Restaurant · Bagel, Breakfast · 1.1 mi
220 North Broadway, Aurora
Mo-Th 06:00-13:30; Fr 06:00-13:00; Sa 07:00-13:00
M Burger
Restaurant · Burger · 2.7 mi
1650 Premium Outlets Boulevard, Aurora
Mo-Th off; Fr-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00
Pizza Cucina
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.5 mi
12 East Merchants Drive, Oswego
Su,Mo,We-Th 11:00-20:30; Tu 11:00-19:30; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:30
Altiro Latin Fusion
Restaurant · 1.4 mi
1 South Stolp Avenue, Aurora
Tu 16:00-20:00, We 11:00-21:00, Th 11:00-21:00, Fr 11:00-22:00, Sa...
163 more on the map.
History
Before European settlers arrived, there was a Native American village in what is today downtown Aurora, on the banks of the Fox River. In 1834, following the Black Hawk War, the McCarty brothers settled on both sides of the river, but subsequently sold their land on the west side to the Lake brothers, who opened a mill. The McCartys lived on and operated a mill on the east side. Aurora was established with the building of a post office in 1837.
Aurora began as two villages: East Aurora, incorporated in 1845 on the east side of the river, and West Aurora, formally organized on the west side of the river in 1854.
Between 1850 and 1870 a wave of Luxembourgish immigrants settled in Aurora.
In 1857, the two towns joined, incorporating as the city of Aurora. Representatives could not agree which side of the river should house the public buildings, so most of them were built on or around Stolp Island in the middle of the river.
From the History section of Aurora, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Quality Inn Aurora - Naperville Area
Motel and hotel · 3.7 mi
4005 Gabrielle Lane, Aurora
Churches and places of worship61
First Methodist Church of Batavia
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 6.0 mi
United Methodist Church of Batavia
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 6.1 mi
Apostolic Church of Faith in Christ Jesus
Church · Apostolic Pentecostal · 1.1 mi
437 East Galena Boulevard, Aurora
Shopping41
Gas and EV charging29
Schools, colleges and libraries114
Aurora Central Catholic High School
School · Catholic · 3.7 mi
1255 North Edgelawn Drive, Aurora
Rosary High School
School · Catholic · 3.6 mi
901 North Edgelawn Drive, Aurora
Healthcare24
Advocate Medical Group Outpatient Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.4 mi
1221 North Highland Avenue, Aurora
Map of Aurora
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 16°F | 1.9 in | 9.1 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 20°F | 1.8 in | 7.9 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 29°F | 2.4 in | 2.6 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 4.0 in | 0.6 in |
| May | 71°F | 50°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 63°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.7 in | 1.3 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 2.2 in | 6.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Aurora Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
DuPage County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2010-08-19: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-10-03: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Aurora Municipal Airport (AUZ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Batavia 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Naperville 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
- Geneva 8 mi north, about 14 min by car
- Bolingbrook 11 mi southeast, about 17 min by car
- Carol Stream 14 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
- Downers Grove 14 mi east, about 23 min by car
- Glen Ellyn 14 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
- Campton Hills 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
- Bartlett 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
- Glendale Heights 15 mi northeast, about 25 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Aurora, Illinois skyline, Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JB Industries on Farnsworth Avenue - Aurora, Illinois (50370883616), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- JB Industries on Farnsworth Avenue - Aurora, Illinois (50370182218), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- JB Industries on Farnsworth Avenue - Aurora, Illinois (50370883366), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Farnsworth overpass bridge - Aurora, Illinois (50371043697), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Best chicken restaurant at the intersection of Farnsworth and New York Street in Aurora, Illinois. (51434867765), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 19961013 09 Metra Aurora, IL (5601756406), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Metal fabricating company in Aurora, Illinois (50370182118), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aurora Metra BNSF Yard, Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20121020 09 @ Aurora Transportation Center (9403165311), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 20131028 95 Metra @ Aurora, Illinois (14470494626), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 20121020 07 CB&Q Caboose @ Aurora Transportation Center (9405923172), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Aurora Transportation Center, Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20121020 06 @ Aurora Transportation Center (9405923446), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Burlington Route 13690 Caboose at Metra Station in Aurora - April 2020, Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 20121020 05 @ Aurora Transportation Center (9405923508), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 20131028 94 Metra & BNSF @ Aurora, Illinois (14493603545), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 19981016 05 BNSF Aurora, IL (6551960647), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 19961013 10 BNSF Aurora, IL (5601171475), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 20080525 05 Aurora Transportation Center (34019101241), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 20080525 06 Aurora Transportation Center (33764711010), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Aurora roundhouse above, Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Aurora's Two Brothers Roundhouse During Pandemic (50726126617), Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Tunnel at Aurora Metra Station (50725302568), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St Charles Hospital Aurora IL, Smallbones, CC0
- Aurora Roundhouse displays (32639742466), Loco Steve from Bromley , UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aurora roundhouse front, Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20131130 84 Pace bus, Aurora, Illinois (14404221030), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Daytime Moon Over the Aurora Fire Museum (49739844142), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 19680727 14 WST 424 Aurora, IL (5861894028), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 19680727 13 WST 424 Aurora, IL (5861342179), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Aurora College Complex, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aurora Roundhouse, Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey., Public domain
- Old Second National Bank (Aurora, Illinois), Kepper66, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Leland Tower from Galena, Cbradshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GARHall, User: (WT-shared) Ethajek at wts wikivoyage, Public domain
- Charles P. Burton House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Campana Factory (Batavia, IL) 01, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 78 81 LaSalle St Aurora IL, Smallbones, CC0
- Louise White School (Batavia, IL) 01, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
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