Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city of 150,445 people in Kendall County, Illinois, founded in 1833.
Why visit Joliet
Townapedia lists 47 museums and landmarks, 90 parks and trails, 193 places to eat, 29 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Rialto Square Theatre, Ninth Street Seven Arch Stone Bridge, Joliet Central High School and Joliet East Side Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 17°F.
Weather in Joliet
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Joliet
Joliet ( JOH-lee-et, -ET) is a city in Will and Kendall counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Chicago, it is the county seat of Will County. Originally settled in 1852 as a steel mill town on the Des Plaines River, Joliet later became known for being the first major city outside of Chicago on U.S. Route 66. It is home to Old Joliet Prison, a historic decommissioned correctional facility that was the largest in the state at the time of its construction.
From the Wikipedia article Joliet, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Rialto Square Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Theater and former movie theater in Joliet, Illinois, United States
102 North Chicago Street, Joliet
Ninth Street Seven Arch Stone Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 6.7 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Lewis University
School · 6.9 mi
Private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university in Romeoville, Illinois
Museums and landmarks47
Joliet Central High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Public school in Joliet, Illinois
201 East Jefferson Street, Joliet
Joliet East Side Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Park in Illinois, United States of America, United States of America
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Upper Bluff Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
Brandon Road Lock and Dam
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Lock & dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet Township, Will County, Illinois
Briscoe Mounds
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.7 mi
Archaeological site in Channahon, Illinois
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.6 mi
Canal in Illinois, United States of America
Downtown Plainfield Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.0 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
Fitzpatrick House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.0 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Flanders House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.2 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Hiram B. Scutt Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Building in Illinois, United States
Illinois and Michigan Canal
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.5 mi
Canal
Jacob H. Henry House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Historic house in Joliet, Illinois, United States
35 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds90
Duly Health and Care Field
Sports field and stadium · 3.7 mi
1 Art Schultz Drive, Joliet
78 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes193
7 Brew
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.5 mi
2421 West Jefferson Street, Joliet
Su-Th 05:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 05:30-23:00
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 2.9 mi
1724 Plainfield Road, Crest Hill
Mo-Sa 04:30-22:00; Su 05:00-22:00
Black Sheep Craft Kitchen
Restaurant · Polish, American · 4.5 mi
21125 Division Street, Crest Hill
Tu-Fr 11:00-19:00
Chuck E. Cheese
Restaurant · Pizza · 4.8 mi
Birthday parties and pizza.
3250 Chicagoland Circle, Joliet
11:00-21:00; Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-22:00
Cracker Barrel
Diner · American · 1.9 mi
1511 Riverboat Center Drive, Joliet
Su-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 07:00-22:00
Critical Grind Board Game Cafe
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.8 mi
852 Sharp Drive
Mo-Tu, Th 09:00-21:00; We 09:00-15:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-18:00
Friaco’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
Restaurant · Mexican · 3.4 mi
1321 Illinois Route 59, Shorewood
Mo, Su 11:00-21:00; Tu-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-23:00
Papa Magoo's Bar & Grill
Bar and pub · American · 5.7 mi
14285 County Line Road, Shorewood
Mo-Su 11:00-02:00
Double "J" Sports Bar
Bar and pub · 1.8 mi
1001 Essington Road, Joliet
Mo-Th 11:00-02:00; Fr 11:00-03:00; Sa 10:00-03:00; Su 10:00-02:00
Maciano's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.9 mi
850 Brook Forest Avenue, Shorewood
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
181 more on the map.
History
In 1673, Louis Jolliet, along with Father Jacques Marquette, paddled up the Des Plaines River and camped on a huge earthwork mound, a few miles south of present-day Joliet. Maps from Jolliet's exploration of the area showed a large hill or mound down river from Chicago, labeled Mont Joliet. The mound has since been flattened due to mining.
In 1833, following the Black Hawk War, Charles Reed built a cabin along the west side of the Des Plaines River. Across the river in 1834, James B. Campbell, treasurer of the canal commissioners, laid out the village of "Juliet", a corruption of "Joliet" that was also in use at the time. Just before the economic depression of 1837, Juliet incorporated as a village, but to cut tax expenses, Juliet residents soon petitioned the state to rescind that incorporation.
In 1845, local residents changed the community's name from "Juliet" to "Joliet", reflecting the original name. Joliet was reincorporated as a city in 1852. Cornelius Covenhoven Van Horne was active in getting the city its first charter, and because of this, he was elected Joliet's first mayor. When the city later built a new bridge, it was named the Van Horne Bridge. Joliet went on to build a system of four more Moveable drawbridges along the river to allow for the passage of large shipping boats.
From the History section of Joliet, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay29
Harrah's Joliet Hotel & Casino - A Caesars Rewards Destination
Motel and hotel · 3.3 mi
151 North Joliet Street, Joliet
Churches and places of worship94
Christ Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
First Presbyterian Church of Christ
Church · Presbyterian · 2.5 mi
805 Western Avenue, Joliet
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.3 mi
655 Springfield Avenue, Joliet
Shopping32
Gas and EV charging35
Schools, colleges and libraries101
Joliet Catholic Academy
School · 2.5 mi
1200 North Larkin Avenue, Joliet
Healthcare13
Action Behavior Centers - ABA Therapy for Autism
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.4 mi
712 Essington Road, Joliet
Express Med Spa Shorewood
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.0 mi
707 West Jefferson Street, Shorewood
Map of Joliet
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 17°F | 2.0 in | 5.0 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 20°F | 1.8 in | 6.2 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 29°F | 2.3 in | 2.1 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.9 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 63°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.5 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 1.9 in | 3.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Joliet Brandon Rd Dam (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
Kendall County has had 7 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)
- 2008-10-03: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2006-12-29: Snow (Snowstorm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Joliet Regional Airport (JOT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Rockdale 1 mi southeast, about 2 min by car
- Shorewood 3 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Crystal Lawns 4 mi north, about 6 min by car
- Preston Heights 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Crest Hill 4 mi north, about 7 min by car
- Sunnyland 4 mi north, about 6 min by car
- Ridgewood 6 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Fairmont 6 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Ingalls Park 6 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Romeoville 8 mi north, about 13 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
- Joliet Illinois Skyline, Dennisyerger84, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joliet Police Vehicle MP 24 562, Illinois_Roadbuff (Rogue Jr), CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2015-05-11 10 30 37 View south along Illinois Route 7 at the entrance to Interstate 80 eastbound in Joliet, Illinois, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joliet Regional Airport, Joliet, Illinois (11004361593), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- US 52 WB past Midland Avenue Joliet, Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Portillo's Pick Up (Joliet, Illinois) 1, Retail Thriller, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Brandon Road Bridge over lock channel - Joliet, Illinois (2012), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 09, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 05, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 01, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 01 (cropped), Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 02, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 04, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 06, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 07, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 03, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus - Joliet 08, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet IL, 23 Nov 2012, Immewnity, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Joliet East Side Historic District 2012-09-29 11-58-45, Bwheelerrtrm, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Joliet Township High School 1, QuartierLatin1968, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Joliet Upper Bluff HD 1, Smallbones, CC0
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Tire on Corvette Wheel (7082248513), artistmac, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Unknown Unmarked Illinois State Police Troop 3 Vehicle 01, Illinois_Roadbuff (Rogue Jr), CC BY-SA 4.0
- US 52 WB past IL 7, Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0
- IL 7 NB past US 52, Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0
- IL Bears License Plate, Tholle33, CC0
- Helipad - panoramio, Pintsmasher, CC BY 3.0
- DuPage River, Shorewood, Illinois (11004138155), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus 2022 1, Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus 2022 2, Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus 2022 Pano, Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
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