Aurora IL Moving Companies

Aurora, Illinois

Sitting on the banks of the Fox River, Aurora, Illinois is a city of about 173,000. It is part of the Chicago Metropolitan area but prides itself on its small town feel while being a city with much to do. Anyone moving to Aurora will love its green neighborhoods, good schools and its close proximity to everything Chicago has to offer. The summers are hot and humid, and the winters cold, averaging 29 inches of snow in the winter.

Economy:
The average income for the city of Aurora is slightly higher than for the rest of the state. The cost of living is very slightly above the national average. The unemployment rate is 11 percent. The major employer in the area is Caterpillar which makes heavy machinery. Distribution centers are a major part of the local economy as well. Two major employers are Rush-Copley Medical Center and LTD Commodities.

History:
An area first inhabited by American Indians, the first settler there were the McCarty brothers, who bought land there and opened a mill. In 1834, the Lake brothers started a mill on the opposite side of the Fox River, and two separate communities began. In 1837 a post office was built and this consolidated the two communities into Aurora. The city incorporated in 1857. As the city grew, many manufacturing businesses opened, and in 1856, a railcar construction and repair shop opened. The city always welcomed immigrants and was anti-slavery. The city did well until the railcar shop closed in 1974. Establishing a casino there in 1993 and the city began to prosper once again.

Tourism:
The Phillips Park Zoo is open year round. The Paramount Theatre is a performance arts center that is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Tanner House Museum is a home built in 1857 and is on the National Register of Historic Places as well. The David L. Pierce Art and History Center has several galleries. The Hollywood Casino provides Vegas-style gambling and shows. Downtown Alive is a summer festival featuring live music and food booths. Blues On The Fox is a blues festival that features national blues artists, and is held on the weekend of Father’s Day. The Aurora ArtWalk is held four times a year. The Aurora Regional Fire Museum has exhibits about the history of fire departments in the area. The Ageless Classics is a transportation museum that has historic cars. The African-American Heritage Museum is dedicated to Black veterans and history. The SciTech Hands On Museum shows you all about chemistry and electricity.

Interesting Facts:

• Aurora’s nickname is ‘the city of lights’ because it was one of the first cities in the nation to have electric lights as street lights.
• Aurora is the Roman name for Eos, the goddess of the dawn.
• Aurora is where fictional characters Wayne and Garth of Wayne’s World live.