Wheaton, IL

Situated approximately 25 miles west of Chicago, Wheaton was ranked as the healthiest Chicago suburb in 2005, according to Chicago magazine. It received high marks because of its low crime rate, thriving downtown, and wide-open spaces. The 11-square-mile city with 55,000 residents kicked off a yearlong celebration on July 4, 2008, to mark its sesquicentennial (150th anniversary). The city as a whole is consistently noted for having one of the top school districts in the state and a nationally ranked library. It is home to Wheaton College, one of the top-ranked liberal arts schools in the U.S.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Wheaton accommodates around 19,900 houses, about two-thirds owner occupied

The southwest part of the city, near Butterfield Road and Naperville Road, is the most expensive area for housing. For considerably less, homebuyers can live in the heart of Wheaton's downtown. Another less costly part of Wheaton is east of Naperville Road near Lambert Road and Butterfield.

Downtown Wheaton offers a multitude of shopping points, which runs along the Metra Rail tracks to the south and Wesley Street to the north. Clothing, children's stores, and shoe stores dot the area and are all within walking distance, allowing shoppers to enjoy the scenic historic downtown while shopping. At intervals among these stores are various restaurants with numerous dining options. Several other shopping areas are found within Wheaton's city limits. Danda is near Butterfield and Naperville roads, and Town Square is also on Naperville Road.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The unemployment rate of Wheaton is relatively low at 3.5 percent. The average salary for jobs in the city is $51,678 and the median income of households is $73,385.

Some of the leading industries in the city are education, healthcare services and retail trade.

Some of the leading employers in the city are Wheaton College, Du Page County Board, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and Wheaton Franciscan Services Inc. Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, a 120-bed hospital with only private rooms, is a nonprofit teaching facility. It is the only facility of its kind in the nation, and Marianjoy's programs include rehabilitation for brain injury, spinal cord, orthopedic, stroke, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular issues.

GETTING AROUND

The Metra Rail passenger train runs its Union Pacific West line straight through Wheaton's downtown, stopping at two locations in the suburb. One stop is at College Avenue, which caters to people who are attending Wheaton College; the other stop is at West Street in the downtown. Pace Bus Service buses also transport numerous residents around Wheaton, including to and from the train station. Two nearby tollways provide Wheaton with accessibility to numerous nearby cities. Interstate 88, also known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, or the East-West Tollway, allows for transportation from Chicago all the way to Iowa. Interstate 355, also called the North-South Tollway, is a 20-mile highway that can connect travelers to Interstate 55 in Bolingbrook or Interstate 290 in Itasca.

BEST BETS

DuPage County Fairgrounds: Off Manchester Road, the DuPage Fairgrounds play host to the annual county fair during the middle of July. Featuring entertainers, animals, crafts, and a talent contest during the weeklong fair, this event offers plenty for all ages. When the fair isn't occupying the space, the fairgrounds feature the DuPage County Flea Market.

Wheaton Public Library: Recently remodeled, the library continues to make strides in national rankings. The only Illinois library ranked in the top 10 nationally that caters to a population of between 50,000-100,000 residents, Wheaton's library provides a vast selection, study rooms and numerous computers for patrons to enjoy.

Robert R. McCormick Museum: Originally built in 1896, this 27-room mansion served as the estate for the McCormick Foundation's benefactor until his death in 1955. Today's museum educates visitors about the McCormick family's daily life as they worked to build the Chicago Tribune into one of the country's strongest media outlets.

Cosley Zoo: Located on more than five acres off Gary Avenue, this nationally recognized zoo is composed of numerous domestic farm animals and native Illinois wildlife. Also found on the zoo grounds is a historical train station with a retired Burlington-railroad caboose.

The Downtown Wheaton Association sponsors a three-day weekend sidewalk sale that occurs the last weekend of July. The association also sponsors the annual, popular Spooktacular Downtown Trick-or-Treat event for children at its neighborhood shops on October 31.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Center for History: Located on West Front Street, the building encourages visitors to walk among its exhibits, some of which are interactive. It features a twice-monthly event called Thursdays at the Center, during which an array of historical subjects and events are discussed.

Fine Arts Fair: The Downtown Wheaton Association invites more than 100 artists to its annual festival, at which patrons can view and possibly purchase beautiful art pieces. Held on West Liberty Drive in downtown Wheaton, this free fair takes place on a weekend in the middle of July.

EDUCATION

Wheaton College: This private, four-year, Christian, liberal arts college educates approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Founded in 1860 and situated in the southeastern part of the city, Wheaton College is consistently named one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. It competes in NCAA Division III athletics and is a charter member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.