DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city of 40,443 people in DeKalb County, Illinois, founded in 1837.
Why visit DeKalb
Townapedia lists 17 museums and landmarks, 50 parks and trails, 86 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC Market Square 10, Egyptian Theater, Ellwood House and Haish Memorial Library.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 13°F, and about 33 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in DeKalb
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About DeKalb
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,290 at the 2020 census. The city is named after decorated Franconian-French war hero Johann de Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War.
From the Wikipedia article DeKalb, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Museums and landmarks17
Ellwood House
Museum · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Illinois, United States
509 North 1st Street, DeKalb
Haish Memorial Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Library in De Kalb, Illinois, United States
309 Oak Street, DeKalb
Mo-Th 09:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 13:00-17:00
Adolphus W. Brower House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Chicago and Northwestern Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Railway station in Sycamore, the United States of America
Egyptian Theatre, DeKalb
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places
Movie theater in DeKalb, Illinois
Ellwood House Museum
Museum · 0.6 mi
Mar 01-Nov 11 Tu-Sa 12:30-16:30; Nov 11-Mar 01 Tu-Fr 12:30-16:30;...
Elmwood Cemetery Gates
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic structure in Sycamore, Illinois
George H. Gurler House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Joseph F. Glidden House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
De Kalb, Illinois, NRHP-listed
Sycamore Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Historic district in Sycamore, Illinois
William W. Marsh House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
5 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds50
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38 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes86
Buffalo Wild Wings
Restaurant · Wings · 2.2 mi
2463 Sycamore Road, DeKalb
Su-Th 11:00-23:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00
Cast Iron Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Tea · 1.4 mi
901 Lucinda Avenue, DeKalb
Mo-Sa 07:00-20:00; Su 07:00-18:00
Elwood Steak & Fish House
Restaurant · Steak House · 1.9 mi
2219 Sycamore Road, DeKalb
Mo off; Tu-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
French Toast Pancake House
Restaurant · Pancake · 0.6 mi
831 South 4th Street, Dekalb
Mo-Th 06:00-14:00; Fr-Su 06:00-14:30
Giordano's Pizzeria - Sycamore
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.2 mi
1840 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Jamrah Middle Eastern Cusine
Restaurant · Middle Eastern · 2.6 mi
2672 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore
Fr-Sa 11:30-20:00; Su 11:30-19:00
Los Rancheros
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.0 mi
2350 Sycamore Road, DeKalb
Mo-Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 11:00-21:00
74 more on the map.
History
DeKalb was originally called Huntley's Grove, and under the latter name was platted in 1853. The name is for Baron Johann de Kalb, a major general in the American Revolutionary War. The first church in DeKalb was organized in 1844. Beginning in 1846, a stage coach traveled from Chicago through DeKalb and Dixon to Galena. A post office has been in operation at DeKalb since 1849. The first railroad reached DeKalb in 1853.
Barbed wire was a key product in DeKalb's history. Joseph Glidden (1813–1906), a DeKalb resident since about 1850, received a patent in 1874 for inventing the conventional double-strand barbed wire that remains in common use around the world today. Glidden and Isaac L. Ellwood (1833–1910) manufactured barbed wire in DeKalb, initially as the Barb Fence Company. Successor companies included the 1881 Superior Barbed Wire Company, which merged into American Steel and Wire in 1898 and finally became United States Steel. Between 1892 and 1898 Glidden and Ellwood played substantial parts in establishing the state teachers college that became Northern Illinois University.
From the History section of DeKalb, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Motel and hotel · 3.1 mi
1935 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore
Churches and places of worship17
United Pentacostal Church of DeKalb
Church · Catholic · 0.8 mi
1120 South 7th Street, Dekalb
Shopping17
Gas and EV charging15
Schools, colleges and libraries30
Healthcare18
Northwestern Medicine - Kishwaukee Cancer Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.8 mi
10 Health Services Drive, Dekalb
Northwestern Medicine - Kishwaukee Health & Wellness Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.8 mi
626 East Bethany Road, Dekalb
Northwestern Medicine - Outpatient Rehabilitation
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.5 mi
2727 Sycamore Road, Dekalb
Northwestern Medicine - Sycamore Gateway Drive
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.9 mi
1850 Gateway Drive, Sycamore
Northwestern Medicine Ben Gordon Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.9 mi
12 Health Services Drive, Dekalb
Northwestern Medicine - Ear, Nose, Throat, Allergy & Audiology
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.2 mi
2127 Midlands Court, Sycamore
Map of DeKalb
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 13°F | 1.7 in | 10.2 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 17°F | 1.7 in | 8.7 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 2.2 in | 4.4 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.6 in | 1.3 in |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 41°F | 3.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 30°F | 2.3 in | 1.8 in |
| Dec | 34°F | 19°F | 2.0 in | 6.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for De Kalb (1 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
DeKalb 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)
- 2008-10-03: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2007-09-25: 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, 18 miles away.
- Campton Hills 17 mi east, about 27 min by car
- Elgin 23 mi east, about 37 min by car
- Batavia 23 mi east, about 37 min by car
- Belvidere 24 mi north, about 39 min by car
- Aurora 26 mi southeast, about 42 min by car
- Carpentersville 27 mi northeast, about 43 min by car
- Algonquin 27 mi northeast, about 44 min by car
- Rockford 28 mi northwest, about 45 min by car
- Bartlett 29 mi east, about 47 min by car
- Crystal Lake 30 mi northeast, about 48 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
- Egyptian Theatre, Johnnie Tran, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Red Light District Dekalb, IL (50766366018), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street Dekalb Illinois (50766364543), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- DeKalb Theater Illinois 2022-6662, Paul R. Burley, CC0
- El Jimadore Mexican Grill Dekalb IL (50767222897), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The Rice Building in Dekalb (50766364198), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- DeKalb Theater Illinois 2022-6663, Paul R. Burley, CC0
- DeKalb Theater Illinois 2022-6664, Paul R. Burley, CC0
- DeKalb Theater Illinois Brick Detail 2022-6661, Paul R. Burley, CC0
- Dekalb Illinois Old Theater (50297668732), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First United Methodist Church Dekalb, IL, USA (50767103661), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- DeKalb Public Library, Adam Vannatta, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Lutheran Dekalb (50767107551), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ellwood House DeKalb Illinois 2022-6682, Paul R. Burley, CC0
- Haish Memorial Library, IvoShandor at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DeKalbEgyptian7, Andy McMurray, CC BY 2.5
- Sycamore Chicago and Northwestern Depot4, Andy McMurray, CC BY 2.5
- ElmwoodCemeteryGates1, Andy McMurray, CC BY 2.5
- William W Marsh House4, Andy McMurray, CC BY 2.5
- Sycamore Il District Streets1, A McMurray, CC BY 2.5
- GurlerHouse1, Andy McMurray, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Glidden House1, Andy McMurray, CC BY 2.5
- Adolphus W Brower House7, Andy McMurray, CC BY 2.5
- Altgeld Hall and Still Hall along College Ave, Alexbaumgarner, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Playing in the Street One Morning (50767223622), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Gordon's Hardware in 2020 (50767223347), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Light Traffic on Lincoln Highway (50767223957), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Some businesses at the strip (50767223522), Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Just Stop (50766365868), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Universal Church (50766363033), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- So this is how it ended (50767105286), Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Western Wear in Northern Illinois (50767221892), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Empty Spot (50767222587), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Store (50766365538), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Empty Street (50766365168), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Wish I Had The Green Light (50766364973), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cracker Jax (50767103261), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Some kind of coin operated corded iphone (50766364058), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Corner Church (50767220562), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- One of those new hip psychedelic Methodist Churches (50767220652), Joseph Gage from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
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