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City of Elgin Illinois

The city of Elgin , zip code 60120 is one of the fastest growing cities in the state of Illinois . Though the population is now just over one hundred thousand in Elgin , it is suspected that at the current rate of growth and expansion, the city could be looking at a population topping one hundred and seventy thousand people within the next twenty five years. That is a considerable number when you realize that the city only encompasses 25 square miles in radius.

What makes Elgin so alluring? Located on the banks of the stunning Fox river, just forty miles northwest of the Windy City of Chicago, the land that Elgin sits on is not as flat as is typical of the state of Illinois . In Elgin , named after a beautiful Scottish Psalm, there are lush valleys, and natural hills, making the area a scenic respite from the flat lands in surrounding areas.

The river provides a lovely accent to the historic homes and buildings in the area, and has done so since the towns inception back in 1836, just a few years after the city of Chicago was born. Since that time, Elgin has been a hub of industry and commerce, dipping its toes in the waters of many different industries in the course of the last hundred and fifty years. Originally touted as the major supplier of dairy products to the bustling city of Chicago and one of the largest suppliers of dairy in the Midwest region of the United States, Elgin was also a major manufacturer of shoes, cars and even bicycles.

The true claim to fame in Elgin industry, however, remains rooted in Illinois history, and is evidenced all around the city. At the end of the 19th century, a major national watchmaker came to Elgin , and the city became synonymous with manufacturing fine time pieces. For fifty years, Elgin was hailed as the largest producer of watches in America. In 1910, the watch making company, in effort to produce time pieces that radiated perfection, built an observatory so that they could time their watches according to the stars. This was challenging, but nevertheless, the quality of the watches made in Elgin necessitated perfection.

The observatory still stands, to this day. In 1964, after watch production was ceased in Elgin , the observatory was opened to the public and a planetarium was added. The observatory has since been donated to the school system, and in recent years has been upgraded with a new sound system, new lighting and reclining seats. Students in Elgin have enjoyed learning about astronomy and constellations for decades now.

Driving or walking through Elgin , Illinois , zip code 60120 , residents must feel like they are living in the past. Elgin is well known for its historic districts, where huge Victorian mansions line the streets. The architecture is splendid and rich in detail. Over six hundred and fifty historic homes and buildings still stand in Elgin , many of which are well over 150 years old. Unfortunately, some of the most acclaimed and breathtaking homes are no longer standing, having fallen into such disrepair back in the 60's that they were eventually torn down, but there are pictorial accounts of these homes to be found in various books written about Elginâ€™s striking architectural landscape.

Each year the city of Elgin , IL hosts its annual historic homes walking tour. Volunteers act as docents, each docent standing in front of the home they have been selected to inform guests about. The docents speak of the architecture, of what makes the home special and of the known history of the home. The walking tour is a long standing favorite among residents of Elgin .

Another annual event that residents and visitors seem to really enjoy is the cemetery walk, where the history of those well known Elgians that rest in peace there is brought to life through actual actors portraying those famous people at their graveside, reading journal entries, letters to their beloveds, and giving factual accounts of what made their life in Elgin a remarkable one. Even if visitors do not know who the person was, the experience is entertaining, and the amount of planning that goes into the event is evident. It is a fun and educational, though slightly somber and strange way to spend the afternoon, as the serene and beautiful cemetery is home to some of the countries most interesting sculptures and mausoleums.

Despite the historical significance of the industries in Elgin , IL eventually the booming manufacturing began to wane. The great depression took its toll on the city, and factories started closing their doors for good. The economy in Elgin survived, and recovered, with new businesses coming in. In the 1990s however, the city regained much of its economic luster with the addition of a single, hugely anticipated riverboat casino. This development was instrumental in bringing not only jobs to the area, but large amounts of money to the city of Elgin itself, for use in restoration, new construction and more.

Though some people were opposed to the casino, once they realized the economic benefits that the city was receiving, most of the naysayers quieted down. The casino has turned out to be the state of Illinois biggest moneymaker, and the city of Elgin has reaped many benefits since the boat has been floating. With 29,000 square feet of gaming space, the casino has over a thousand slot machines and dozens of table games. It also boasts award winning restaurants, including a steak house, a bar, a deli and a buffet.

In addition to all of the money generated for the city of Elgin , the casino has renovated and upgraded a bike trail by the river that winds around casino grounds. It includes a pavilion that provides drinking fountains and air pumps for riders. the bike path is beautifully landscaped and has tremendous scenic appeal. It is a favorite spot for cyclists in the area.

The riverboat has brought in much needed money to renovate and maintain the large, historic parks and nature areas in Elgin , IL zip code 60120 . One such park used to be a dairy farm back in the heyday of dairy production. In 1896 the land was given to the city and turned into a park. The park sits on 112 lush acres, and contains a museum, a zoo, tennis and basketball courts, an aquatic center, picnicking areas and even lagoons. The museum is a testament and tribute to the natural history and anthropology in the area, and provides educational classes and activities for adults and children alike. The zoo houses deer, American bison, elk and other animals and is free to the public.

There is both a trolley museum as well as a fire barn museum in Elgin, each one detailing rich histories and entertaining thousands of visitors each year. In addition to the museums, there are three country clubs in 60120 , each one with its own challenging yet aesthetically pleasing 18 hole golf course. In the winter, when snow covers the ground, one of the country clubs opens up its golf course for sledding, tubing and snowboarding, which the kids really love.

Elgin , IL also boasts a state of the art recreation center for its residents to enjoy. This space contains a large indoor aquatic center, indoor climbing walls, a walking track, and a fitness center, just to name a few of its amenities. The nearby sports complex caters to the health minded residents of Elgin , too, with ten softball diamonds, soccer fields, BMX bike trails and sand volleyball courts. Residents of zip code 60120 never lack in fun and invigorating things to do.

Downtown Elgin has been rejuvenated throughout the last ten years, having turned many of the old historic storefronts and buildings into hip clubs and trendy restaurants. The State Street area boasts dozens of eclectic shops, where visitors can stop and have a bite to eat at one of the cafes along the streets, watch passers by and enjoy the day. There are antique shops, jewelry stores, art galleries and many other interesting places to see.

Harvest market is the gem of downtown Elgin, Illinois, as street vendors put up tents and line the road selling their wares, ranging from organic free range meats to healthy dog treat. Fresh vegetables and fruits, home made jams and preserves, soap and handmade jewelry are also for sale. Shoppers at Harvest Market are bound to find something that will enrich their lives. After an afternoon of shopping, residents can dine downtown if they choose. Elgin has just about every kind of restaurant within its city limits, from sushi to Italian, soul food to steak, and everything in between. There is enough to please even the pickiest palate, and leaving them hungry for more.

Elgin , Illinois , zip code 60120 is wrapped in charm and elegance, picture perfect in so many ways, and it stands on its own as a testament to American idealism and perseverance. Residents of Elgin understand why the city has been ranked as one of the best places to live in the state of Illinois , because they get to experience the city's sparkle every day. Whether it is dining outside by the river, trying their luck on the roulette wheel, biking, hiking, bird watching, golfing or seeing the past come to life right before their very eyes, the people who live in Elgin are proud of their city, and it shows in the level of commitment and high turn out to community events that exists. Volunteers are heroes in Elgin , and there are plenty of them in this very unique and special city.