The City of Elgin is 38 miles west of Chicago situated on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County Illinois, with a portion in Cook County Illinois. Established in 1835, the city is named after a Scottish Hymn “The Song of Elgin” by early settlers James T. Gifford and brother Hezekiah Gifford. Home to nearly 106,000 people, Elgin is rich with diverse neighborhoods and cultures, each with its own unique character. Elgin has over 30 neighborhood organizations, several with strong organizations that border Downtown. Elgin is one of the fastest growing communities in Kane County and provides a choice for residents interested in city or suburban living. Elgin offers lifestyle choices few other suburbs provide. With a housing stock that is as diverse as the City itself, residents are sure to find a place to call home. From its four historic districts with majestic Victorian mansions to its many neighborhoods with comfortable single family homes or townhomes, Elgin offers something for everyone.
Strong resident participation and community activism has long been present in Elgin. The Elgin Community Network is an independent, citizen-based organization created to provide a structure for communication, collaboration, and cooperation between neighborhoods, city council, and staff, and to promote resident involvement through the creation of Neighborhood Area Boards (NAB) representing all interests in each area, and one central Elgin Community Network (ECN) consisting of representatives from each of those areas. The Gifford Park Association has hosted historic house tours for 26 years. The Northeast Neighborhood Association has “Blue Tulip” get-togethers each summer that have been made famous in the book Superbia by Daniel D. Chiras & David Wann.
Kane County is in flux as it transitions from a largely rural environment to a suburban one. As the Chicago suburban area sprawls westward and absorbs more farmland, Kane County grows in leaps and bounds. Kane County's population has historically been concentrated on the eastern edge along the Fox River. With parts of Aurora, Elgin and Naperville within its boundaries, Kane County hosts some of the fastest growing communities in Illinois.
Kane County was formed on January 16, 1836; the Illinois legislature named it after Elias Kent Kane, the highly-respected attorney who helped draft the Illinois constitution and was the first Secretary of State. Kane was later elected to the U.S. Senate and represented there until his death in 1835.
The new "Kane County" included what is now DeKalb County and part of the northern portions of Kendall. DeKalb subsequently separated from Kane County in 1837 and Kendall in 1841.
Some quick facts: Population in Kane County as of July of 2008 is estimated at 507,579 (94% urban, 6% rural). County owner-occupied houses and condos: 101,727 Renter-occupied apartments: 32,174
