Aurora, an established community along the beautiful Fox River, is a town that isn't afraid to be a leader. It is know as "The City of Lights" because it was the world's first community to use electric streetlights. It was home to the first free school in the state, the first YMCA building to be constructed in Illinois, and the location for the launching of the Republican party. In 1995, Aurora became the first large city in the U.S. to connect all its schools to the World Wide Web.

Today Aurora is the third largest city in the state of Illinois and is poised to be the second largest by the year 2010. Aurora boasts a healthy business community, over 30 existing retail centers. In addition, there are fifteen major business parks, totaling 4, 040 acres. Six public school districts, a number of private schools, including three Catholic high schools and one Christian high school serve Aurora. The Illinois Math and Science Academy, located in District 129, is one of only three schools in the nation of its kind. Students at this school scored an average of 31.1 on the ACT in 1998, the highest in the nation. Institutions of higher include Waubonsee Community College, Robert Morris College and Aurora University a private, independent institution with an enrollment of more than 2,000 students. This full-accredited university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Contact Information:

Sherman L. Jenkins, Executive Director
Aurora Economic Development Commission
40 W. Downer Place
Aurora, IL 60506
630-897-5500
630-897-0469 (fax)
www.aurora-il.org/AEDC

back to top