Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city of 114,934 people in Cook County, Illinois, founded in 1835.
Why visit Elgin
Townapedia lists 46 museums and landmarks, 145 parks and trails, 169 places to eat, 14 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cinemark Spring Hill Mall, Judson University, Elgin Public Museum and Elgin Academy.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 32 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Elgin
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Elgin
Elgin is a city in Cook and Kane counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located 35 mi (56 km) northwest of Chicago along the Fox River. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 114,797, making it the sixth-most populous city in the state.
From the Wikipedia article Elgin, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Judson University
School · 2.5 mi
Christian college in Elgin, Illinois
Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park
Monument and historic site · 4.9 mi
American amusement park
Museums and landmarks46
Elgin Public Museum
Museum · 3.3 mi
Museum in Illinois, United States
225 Grand Boulevard
Jan off; Sa-Su 12:00-16:00; PH off
Elgin Academy
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
College preparatory school in Elgin, Illinois
350 Park Street, Elgin
Elgin Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
Elgin Tower Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Building in Illinois, United States
100 East Chicago Street, Elgin
Hemmens Cultural Center
Museum · 2.0 mi
Theatre in Elgin, Illinois, United States
45 Symphony Way, Elgin
Corron Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Farm in Kane County, Illinois
Dundee Township Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Observatory in Illinois, United States of America
Gifford-Davidson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Larkin Home for Children
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Former orphanage in Elgin, Illinois
Library Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.3 mi
Building in Illinois, United States
34 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds145
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Wing Park Golf Course
Golf course · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
1000 Wing Street, Elgin
Hawthorne Hills Nature Center
Hiking and trails · 0.6 mi
67-acre nature center with trails, meadows & ponds for hiking & wildlife-watching any time of year.
28 Brookside Drive, Elgin
08:00-sunset
Carpenter Park, Carpentersville
Park · 5.3 mi
Park in Chicago suburbs
Blackhawk Park
Park · 2.8 mi
Blackhawk Park, originally referred to as Kingsport Villages Park, is an 8-acre park on the west side of town. Three acres of this is a...
1479 South Blackhawk Circle, South Elgin
Bluff Spring Fen
Hiking and trails · 4.0 mi
160-acre nature preserve with wetland habitats, prairie, endangered species & hiking trails.
945 Bluff City Boulevard, Elgin
Burnidge Woods Park
Park · 1.9 mi
A 22 acre wooded parcel, acquired in 1973, with an established hiking loop.
2050 Banks Drive, Elgin
Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve
Hiking and trails · 3.7 mi
This wildland habitat with a meandering creek offers multi-use trails & a horseback riding area.
39W993 Russell Road, Elgin
Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve
Hiking and trails · 4.6 mi
A large wood carved statue of Blackhawk is situated at this preserve's entrance. This is also the historical burial site of unknown...
35W003 State Route 31, South Elgin
133 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes169
Alexander's Cafe
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake, Sandwich · 3.1 mi
1725 North State Street
Mo-Su 07:00-14:30
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 2.5 mi
95 Clock Tower Plaza, Elgin
Mo-Fr 00:00-24:00; Sa 00:00-22:00; Su 05:00-24:00
Mr. Cesar's Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.7 mi
1188 North McLean Boulevard, Elgin
Mo-Sa 10:00-22:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.2 mi
310 South McLean Boulevard, Elgin
Su 06:00-18:00; Tu-Sa 05:00-21:00
Tatsu Ramen House
Restaurant · Ramen · 3.8 mi
2490 Bushwood Drive, Elgin
Mo-Fr 11:00-14:00, 16:00-21:00; Sa 15:00-21:00
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · 3.3 mi
1169 Dundee Avenue, Elgin
Mo-Th 04:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 04:00-22:00; Su 05:00-21:00
157 more on the map.
History
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the Black Hawk Indian War of 1832 led to the expulsion of the Native Americans who had settlements and burial mounds in the area and set the stage for the founding of Elgin. Thousands of militiamen and soldiers of Gen. Winfield Scott's army marched through the Fox River valley during the war, and accounts of the area's fertile soils and flowing springs soon filtered east.
In New York, James T. Gifford and his brother Hezekiah Gifford heard tales of this area ripe for settlement, and they traveled west. Looking for a site on the stagecoach route from Chicago to Galena, Illinois, they eventually settled on a spot where the Fox River could be bridged. In April 1835, they established the city, naming it after the Scottish tune "Elgin".
From the History section of Elgin, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay14
Churches and places of worship73
Memorial Washington Reformed Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
39W732 Highland Avenue, Hampshire
First Universalist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
St. Mary's Church of Gilberts
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 5.3 mi
Elgin Evangelical Free Church
Church · Evangelical · 1.5 mi
1900 Big Timber Road, Elgin
First Congregational Church UCC
Church · United Church Of Christ · 2.3 mi
256 East Chicago Street, Elgin
Shopping33
Gas and EV charging42
Schools, colleges and libraries80
Healthcare22
Elgin Mental Health Center
Hospital · 2.4 mi
750 South State Street, Elgin
DaVita Cobblestone Dialysis
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.9 mi
836 Dundee Avenue, Elgin
Fletcher Drive Medical Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.1 mi
745 Fletcher Drive, Elgin
Map of Elgin
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 14°F | 2.0 in | 9.5 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 17°F | 1.9 in | 8.0 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 26°F | 2.4 in | 3.7 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 4.0 in | 0.8 in |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 41°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 2.7 in | 1.4 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 2.2 in | 8.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Elgin (3 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
Cook County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-09-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng (Flood)
- 2023-11-20: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2023-08-15: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
DuPage County Airport (DPA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 10 miles away.
- Carpentersville 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Campton Hills 8 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- Algonquin 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
- Bartlett 9 mi southeast, about 15 min by car
- Hoffman Estates 9 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Lake in the Hills 10 mi north, about 16 min by car
- Hanover Park 10 mi southeast, about 16 min by car
- Huntley 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Geneva 11 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Carol Stream 13 mi southeast, about 21 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
- Downtown Elgin aerial view, 2018, SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Race and ethnicity 2020 Elgin, IL, CensusDots, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Larkin Home For Children (Elgin, Illinois), Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Elgin, United States - panoramio (8), Person1, CC BY 3.0
- Elgin, United States - panoramio (9), Person1, CC BY 3.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1798, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1799, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1802, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1801, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1800, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1803, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1797, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1804, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1795, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1796, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1794, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1793, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Elgin, United States - panoramio, Person1, CC BY 3.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1792, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1791, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Big Timber Road Station Elgin Illinois 2019-1790, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Elgin, United States - panoramio (7), Person1, CC BY 3.0
- Elgin, United States - panoramio (6), Person1, CC BY 3.0
- Elgin, United States - panoramio (1), Person1, CC BY 3.0
- Memorial Washington Reformed Presbyterian Church, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elgin Tower Building - January 2011, Lillerphoto, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elgin Academy Old Main, Smallbones, Public domain
- Wing Park Golf Course, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Teeple Barn, Sue P, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dundee Township HD - St. James Episcopal Church 01, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CountryTeaRoomEastDundeeIL, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Universalist Church (Elgin, IL) 06, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elgin Observatory, Smallbones, Public domain
- St Marys Gilbert Ill, Smallbones, Public domain
- Elgin Spring Douglass HD, Smallbones, Public domain
- DunhamCastle, Otherbeach ( talk )BJS, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ora Pelton House (Elgin, IL) 07, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Robert and Elizabeth Muirhead House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Library Hall in Carpentersville, Illinois, Smallbones, Public domain
- Gifford-Davidson House (8483822865), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
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