West Chicago, Illinois
West Chicago is a city of 25,395 people in DuPage County, Illinois, founded in 1873.
Why visit West Chicago
Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 44 parks and trails, 51 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Arcada Theater, Charlestowne 18, Andrew Weisel House and Central Geneva Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 16°F.
Weather in West Chicago
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About West Chicago
West Chicago is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,614 at the 2020 census. It was formerly named Junction and later Turner, after its founder, John Bice Turner, president of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) in 1855. The city was initially established around the first junction of railroad lines in Illinois, and today is still served by the Union Pacific West Metra service via West Chicago station.
From the Wikipedia article West Chicago, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Arcada Theater
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Theater and movie theater in St. Charles, Illinois, United States
Museums and landmarks28
Andrew Weisel House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
House in St. Charles, Illinois
Central Geneva Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.6 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
City Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Building in Illinois, United States
Eastside Community Center
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.3 mi
Historic church in Illinois, United States
Elizabeth Place
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Fabyan Villa
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Fabyan Windmill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Windmill in Geneva Township, Kane County, Illinois
Hotel Baker
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
St. Charles, Illinois, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in Kane County
Hunt House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Joel H. Hubbard House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
St. Charles, Illinois, listed on the NRHP in Kane County, Illinois
Judge Isaac Wilson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.2 mi
Batavia, Illinois, NRHP-listed
Louise White School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.3 mi
Historic building in Batavia, Illinois, United States
16 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds44
Turtle Splash Water Park
Sports field and stadium · 0.7 mi
129 West National Street, West Chicago
Su-Sa 11:30-18:30
.jpg){kind=link}
_02.JPG){kind=link}
_05.jpg){kind=link}
_01.jpg){kind=link}
_01.JPG){kind=link}
_05.JPG){kind=link}
_02.JPG){kind=link}
_01.JPG){kind=link}
Pottawatomie Park
Park · 5.3 mi
Park in Kane County, Illinois, United States of America
32 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes51
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 1.6 mi
185 West North Avenue, West Chicago
Mo-Sa 04:00-21:00; Su 05:00-20:30
Cocina De Maria
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.1 mi
Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-17:00
Gorditas Liselena
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.2 mi
Tu-Su 09:00-20:00
39 more on the map.
History
Erastus Gary, of Pomfret, Connecticut, homesteaded 760 acres (310 ha) on the banks of the DuPage River, just south of West Chicago's present day city limits in the 1830s. His son became "Judge" Elbert Henry Gary, the first CEO of America's first billion-dollar corporation, U.S. Steel, and for whom Gary, Indiana, is named. Gary also helped bring brothers Jesse and Warren Wheaton, founders of nearby Wheaton, Illinois, the DuPage County seat, from Connecticut to the Midwest. A pioneer cemetery on the old Gary Homestead, where a sawmill had been built by the Garys, just north of Gary's Mill Road, and north of its terminus at Illinois Route 59, was built over with apartment buildings in the 1960s.
In 1849, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (predecessor of the C&NW) reached the site of present-day West Chicago, then continued northwest to Elgin. In 1850, the Aurora Branch Railroad (predecessor of the CB&Q) built southwest, making America's first railroad junction point west of Chicago. In 1854, the G&CURR opened the “Dixon Air Line” branch West thru Geneva.
From the History section of West Chicago, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship17
Shopping9
Gas and EV charging10
Schools, colleges and libraries60
Wheaton Academy
School · 1.8 mi
900 North Prince Crossing Road, West Chicago
Healthcare3
American Family Medical Center - Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
1865 North Neltnor Boulevard, West Chicago
Map of West Chicago
229 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 16°F | 1.3 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 1.2 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 3.4 in |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.3 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 3.6 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.6 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.8 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 2.2 in |
| Dec | 35°F | 21°F | 1.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for West Chicago Dupage Ap (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
DuPage County Airport (DPA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Carol Stream 5 mi east, about 8 min by car
- St. Charles 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Bartlett 5 mi northeast, about 8 min by car
- Warrenville 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Batavia 6 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
- Geneva 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Hanover Park 7 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Glendale Heights 7 mi east, about 12 min by car
- Bloomingdale 8 mi northeast, about 13 min by car
- South Elgin 8 mi northwest, 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
- 20101219 02 Union Pacific RR, West Chicago, Illinois, David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
- 20101219 03 Union Pacific RR, West Chicago, Illinois, David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
- 20101219 04 Union Pacific RR, West Chicago, Illinois, David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
- CN Wisconsin Central heritage unit at West Chicago, IL August 2025, G Pei, Public domain
- Train crossing in West Chicago, vxla, CC BY 2.0
- Auxilliary Power on a Union Pacific Coal Train at Aurora Street in West Chicago, Illinois (4614435384), vxla, CC BY 2.0
- West Chicago, Illinois - 54694289268, GR_Pei, Public domain
- 19950813 13 Metra UP West Chicago, IL (5371721712), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- West Chicago Metra Station street 2023-10-01, Jacob J Mackenzie, CC BY-SA 4.0
- West Chicago Metra Station track 2023-10-01, Jacob J Mackenzie, CC BY-SA 4.0
- William Beith House (St. Charles, IL) 01, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andrew Weisel House (St. Charles, IL) 05, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Louise White School (Batavia, IL) 01, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Samuel and Eleanor Himmelfarb House and Studio, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- North Geneva HD, Smallbones, Public domain
- Holy Cross Church (Batavia, IL) 01, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Illinois - Elizabeth Place - 20201024154140, John Wong 20, CC BY-SA 4.0
- IsaacWilsonHouse, Teemu08 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kane County - Riverbank Laboratories - 20201024152334, John Wong 20, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fabyan FLWright 1907, Smallbones, Public domain
- Fabyan Windmill-13, Jauerback, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kane Co Courthouse, Smallbones, Public domain
- Hubbard House St Charles, Teemu08 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St. Charles Municipal Building (St. Charles, IL) 02, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DunhamCastle, Otherbeach ( talk )BJS, CC BY-SA 3.0
- TurnerTownHall, Teemu08 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Arcada Theater Building (St. Charles, IL) 02, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hotel Baker (St. Charles, IL) 05, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- City Building (St. Charles, IL) 01, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wayne2011Snow, Otherbeach, CC BY 3.0
- Hunt House (St. Charles, IL) 02, G LeTourneau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pure Oil Station, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- McAuley27, Teemu08 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Geneva School, Smallbones, Public domain
- Pottawatomie Park riverbank in 2018, Dane Vandeputte, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Peek-a-boo at JB Tower (4613816441), vxla, CC BY 2.0
- Illinois Central and JB, GR_Pei, Public domain
- JB Tower, GR_Pei, Public domain
- Leithton Subdivision Friday- CREX 2787, GR_Pei, Public domain
- GR Pei - 54725982960, GR_Pei, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
_01.JPG){kind=link}
_02.JPG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.