Des Plaines, IL

Des Plaines (French for "the plains") is a thriving suburb of Chicago, located 17 miles from the Windy City. Adjacent to O'Hare International Airport, the town is named after the Des Plaines River, which runs through it. Adopting the official nickname of the "City of Destiny," Des Plaines recently snagged the last casino license available in Illinois.

First populated in the early 1800s by pioneering settlers, Des Plaines quickly became a home front for many farmers. When the birth and expansion of the railroad hit this burgeoning city, Des Plaines quickly found businesses wanting to establish themselves here. Railroads still abound in the city, and today it possesses the Deval Tower, which is one of the country's more than 175 interlocking railroad switches. Of the more than 58,000 Des Plaines residents, almost half speak a language other than English at home. The top languages spoken in the Des Plaines area include English, Spanish and Polish. In addition, a majority of residents live outside city limits in the unincorporated areas, giving the town a larger population.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Des Plaines' 1,500 businesses are helped by the many means of local transportation. Some of the leading industries in the city are manufacturing, health-care services and social assistance. The unemployment rate of Des Plaines is low (3.9 percent) compared with the national average (8.5 percent).

In December 2008, Des Plaines won the 10th, and last, available Illinois casino license, which could mean big tax revenue for the state.

Major employers in the city are Littelfuse Inc., Schawk Inc., DSC Logistics Inc., UOP LLC, VHT Homes and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Des Plaines accommodates around 23,000 houses, with nearly a 98 percent occupancy rate. The majority of homes are owner occupied.

The walkability of the city is very good. Most of the grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars and movie theatres are situated within one mile of the center of the city.

The Metropolitan Square development is intended to breathe life into Downtown Des Plaines. The project includes a 40,000-square-foot grocery store, more than 55,000 square feet of retail space, and 20,000 square feet of industrial space.

Des Plaines has seen many larger properties within its residential neighborhoods subdivided and/or developed with high end single-family homes. In the northern part of the Des Plaines, industrial land has been redeveloped for multi-family residential complexes. Many of these properties within close proximity to the downtown business district have been developed with mid- to high-end condominium projects.

GETTING AROUND

Although O'Hare International Airport is located right next to Des Plaines, other forms of transportation also bring commerce and residents to the suburb. The railroad still plays a major role in Des Plaines life. The Metra Rail passenger commuter line runs through the city's downtown, as do numerous freight lines. The main railroad lines run east-west through the city, although the freight lines are more abundant than the commuter lines. The city is traversed by two interstate highways, Interstate 90 and Interstate 294, and residents and workers alike can easily travel to and from Chicago and its suburbs in any direction. I-294 connects neighboring states Wisconsin and Indiana with Illinois, and travelers can access them through numerous Des Plaines exchanges.

BEST BETS

McDonald's No. 1 Store Museum: A re-creation of the first McDonald's store opened in 1955, this museum showcases large golden arches that welcome visitors. The food-preparation areas contain original equipment that was used in the early years, and displays feature male mannequins behind the counter. Admission to the museum is free, and a working McDonald's is located right across the street in case visitors start feeling a little hungry.

Des Plaines History Center: Located in a house on Pearson Street, the History Center opened to the public in 1969. This attraction is run by the Des Plaines Historical Society, and a section of the center is geared toward teaching children about the early pioneer life of Des Plaines.

Lake Opeka: Lake Opeka and its park on Lee Street offer a wide variety of outdoor activities visitors can enjoy. Fishing, boating, using the walking path or even playing a round of golf on the 18-hole, par-3 course provide plenty of exercise.

EVENTS

Taste of Des Plaines: This annual event takes place during a three-day weekend in early June. The Taste boasts numerous food booths, an art fair, and the Chase to the Taste 5K run/walk, presenting numerous activities for patrons to enjoy.

River Days Fish Boil: This yearly event, begun by a local business family, is held during August at the outdoor grounds of the Des Plaines History Center. Visitors to the fish boil eagerly anticipate the highlight, which occurs when the fish are almost done cooking in the large pot over the even larger fire: The cook adds kerosene to the fire, causing the fish pot to boil over in a dramatic flourish.

Winter Holiday Gala: The Des Plaines Historical Society hosts this annual event. Special exhibits are featured, and visitors can welcome the holidays while munching on roasted chestnuts or bake sale items.

Day of the Dead: Visitors can join the celebration of El Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead, at the Historical Museum. People can visit indoor "graveyards," pick up candy or decorate Mexican sugar skulls.

EDUCATION

Oakton Community College was established in 1969 and features several associate's degrees for students. Its main campus is found in Des Plaines; its other branch is in Skokie. More than two-thirds of enrolled students attend part time.