The Expansion of Naperville
- Date Range
- 1831 – 2021
- Title
- The Expansion of Naperville
- What occurred
- Naperville was founded in 1831 by Vermont native Joseph Naper. By the next decade, many more people began moving from the Northeast. The key to the growth of Naperville can be attributed to its location. The town became a popular stop between the two major crossroads that came from Chicago. Its county was established eight years after the town was founded, and 3 years before Joe Naper made his first town map layout. Farming and agriculture played a huge role in expansion. The seemingly endless farm land helped power the economy and attract more residents. More and more people moved westward after WW2 into the suburbs. Now, Naperville is considered to be the fourth largest city in Illinois. However, due to the current rapid population growth and expansion, the rich 1800+ year old prairie soil has been constantly disappearing beneath the nearly 200 and counting residential subdivisions which are being constructed. This very soil has been the root to the overall growth of the town. In the present day, more and more farmland is being purchased from farmers and turned into residential neighborhoods and sports fields/parks.
- Location
- Naperville, IL
- Image Citation
- https://www.napersettlement.org/123/City-of-Naperville-History
- Student name(s)
- David Lennon