Geneva, Illinois

History

Two Native American trails crossed through Geneva. The Potawatomi people lived in the Geneva area, with their main chief, Waubonsee, leading a group that gathered just north of Aurora.

Geneva was first settled in the 1830s on an important route from Chicago. Daniel Shaw Haight was the first European settler in Geneva. Haight sold his claim in 1835 to James and Charity Herrington, who were influential in the creation of the town of Geneva. A local's connections with Col. Richard Hamilton, a prominent Cook County politician, led to the naming of Geneva as county seat in 1836. The town was platted a year later and was probably named after Geneva, New York. Before the name Geneva was chosen, the names LaFox, Big Spring, and Herrington's Ford were used. A courthouse and jail were among the first major works. Geneva was incorporated as a village in 1867. While its site as a county seat attracted attention, the village's location on the Fox River provided the most economic opportunities. Early goods manufactured in Geneva included cheese, butter, milled grains, and packed meat. The railroad connection in 1853 provided increased industry demand; by 1900, Appleton Manufacturing, Howell Foundry, Bennet Milling Co., and Pope Glucose Co. became major employers. This resulted in major civic improvement projects such as pumping stations and water mains in 1896. Geneva was particularly noted for its flux of Swedish immigrants, who comprised half the population by 1900. Geneva was connected to other Fox Valley communities a year later through the Aurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric Company.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Geneva has a total area of 10.20 sqmi, of which 9.97 sqmi (or 97.67%) is land and 0.24 sqmi (or 2.33%) is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census there were 21,393 people, 7,925 households, and 5,942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,096.53 PD/sqmi. There were 8,533 housing units at an average density of 836.24 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 87.56% White, 0.66% African American, 0.27% Native American, 2.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races, and 7.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.30% of the population.

There were 7,925 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.77% were married couples living together, 11.48% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.02% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 2.74.

The city's age distribution consisted of 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $116,083, and the median income for a family was $136,083. Males had a median income of $76,533 versus $43,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $52,697. About 3.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Historical sites

Fabyan Windmill is an authentic, working Dutch windmill dating from the 1850s. The five-story wooden smock mill with a stage, which stands 68 ft tall, sits upon the onetime estate of Colonel George Fabyan, but is now part of the Kane County Forest Preserve District. The windmill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Riverbank Laboratories is an acoustical testing agency founded by Wallace Clement Sabine in 1918. The acoustical laboratory building was funded and built by Colonel George Fabyan at his Fabyan Villa in Geneva. The facility housed a cryptology team that deciphered codes from the works of Sir Francis Bacon, Shakespeare, and enemy military communications. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 2003. The Fabyan Villa Museum houses photographs, the Fabyans' personal artifact collections, and original furnishings.

Sacred Heart Seminary Shrine is a stone and mosaic religious Chapel in Geneva. It is located near Sacred Heart Monastery. The shrine was established in 1925 when a piece of the land along the river was sold to the Society of Jesus.

Elizabeth Place, or the Henry Bond Fargo House, is a historic residence in Geneva, in the Mission Revival style. The house was owned by Henry Bond Fargo, a local businessman who brought several early industries to Geneva. It is listed on the NRHP.

Sports

Geneva has been home to the Kane County Cougars since 1991 when the Wausau Timbers relocated from Wausau, Wisconsin. The Cougars currently play at Northwestern Medicine Field. Originally members of the Midwest League, Major League Baseball removed their affiliation status during the nationwide minor league reorganization. The Cougars joined the American Association of Professional Baseball. In 2015 the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League moved to Geneva from Bensenville, Illinois and played at Fox Valley Ice Arena. In 2023, the Steel franchise was purchased by the Wirtz Corporation, the owners of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Education

Geneva School District 304 includes the following schools:

Elementary education schools

• Harrison Street Elementary School (built in 1929)
• Williamsburg Elementary School (built in 2008)
• Heartland Elementary School (built in 2002)
• Mill Creek Elementary School (built in 1996)
• Fabyan Elementary School (built in 2008)
• Western Avenue Elementary School (built in 1964)

Middle schools

• Geneva Middle School South (built in 1994)
• Geneva Middle School North (built in 2006)

High schools

• Geneva High School (built in 1958)

Media

Movies filmed in Geneva include:

• • Harry and Tonto* (1974); filmed outside Geneva Courthouse and Geneva Motel.
• Road to Perdition (2002); filmed in downtown Geneva.
• Novocaine; filmed at Geneva Motel.
• The Resurrection of Gavin Stone; filmed at Dodson Place.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways include State Routes 25, 31, and 38.

Geneva is served by the Pace bus system.

Geneva Station is on the Union Pacific West Line of the Metra commuter rail system; it provides service to downtown Chicago.

Notable people

· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability. · The article must mention how they are associated, whether born, raised, or residing. · Their occupation/notable event · Alphabetical by surname All others will be deleted without further explanation

Academia and science

• Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892–1980), cryptanalyst and author
• E. Philip Howrey (1937–2011), economist and professor
• Edmund Beecher Wilson (1856–1939), American geneticist Arts
• Gower Champion (1919–1980), theater director, choreographer and dancer
• Diego Cortez (1946–2021), filmmaker and art curator
• Niykee Heaton (born 1994), singer
• Wolfgang Hoffmann (1900–1969), architect
• Stu Linder (1931–2006), film editor
• Michael J. Nelson (born 1964), comedian and writer
• Joan Taylor (1929–2012), actress Business
• George Fabyan, (1867–1936), businessman
• Jervis Langdon Jr., railroad executive
• Dale Shewalter (1950–2010), educator Media
• Sam Smith (born 1948), sportswriter
• Bob Woodward (born 1943), investigative journalist Politics
• Steven Andersson (born 1964), politician
• James G. Fair (1831–1894), businessman and politician
• S. Louis Rathje (born 1939), judge
• Dan Ugaste, politician
• Wayne Wallingford (born 1946), politician Sports
• Varney Anderson (1886–1941), baseball player
• Sid Bennett (1895–1971), American football player
• Ben Kanute (born 1992), triathlete
• Kevin McDowell (born 1992), triathlete
• Gabby Perea (born 2002), artistic gymnast
• Bob Zeman (1939–2019), American football player

References

References

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3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
4. {{GNIS. 2394875
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18. Location taken from National Register of Historic Places: NRIS 79000843 (June 4, 1979).
19. {{NRISref
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47. Wassner Flynn, Sarah. (August 3, 2016). "Meet Ben Kanute". [[United States Olympic Committee]].
48. (July 25, 2021). "Geneva Native Kevin McDowell Places 6th in Men's Triathlon – A Record for an American Man".
49. "Gabrielle Perea". [[USA Gymnastics]].