Aurora Map
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A Chicago suburb located 40 miles (64 km) west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past 50 years and now spill over into DuPage County, Will County and Kendall County, which in 2010 was cited as the fastest growing county in the United States.[update]
Aurora officially adopted the nickname "The City of Lights" in 1908, because it was one of the first cities in the United States to implement an all-electric street lighting system in 1881. Aurora's downtown is located on the Fox River. As of 2011 the city is undergoing large-scale renovation of its underdeveloped business district Stolp Island. There are plans to add 6,000 housing units along the Fox River.
The Aurora area is home to one of the most impressive architectural collections in the Midwest, featuring structures by Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Bruce Goff and George Grant Elmslie. The Hollywood Casino, a dockside gaming facility with 53,000 square feet (4,900 m2) and 1,200 gaming positions, is located in Aurora. Like its namesake, the casino also houses original movie memorabilia from films such as Wayne's World, Untouchables, Blues Brothers, Twister, Rocky, Titanic and others. Aurora is also home to one of the largest collections of Sears Mail Order Houses (over 50 homes) and Lustron all-steel homes (seven homes). The Farnsworth House, located in Plano, is one of only three Mies van der Rohe residential designs in existence in the United States.
Nearby cities include West Chicago, Yorkville, Winfield, Plainfield, Kaneville.
Map of Aurora, IL
