Located 35 miles southwest of Chicago, Joliet is the fourth largest city in Illinois. Easily accessible by train, bus and car, Joliet is a thriving community that is constantly growing. From spacious areas of land to a bustling downtown city center, there are options for everyone in Joliet. In 1940, doors opened at the first-ever Dairy Queen on 501 North Chicago Street, which is just one aspect of the city's rich history that lives on today. In addition, the limestone buildings are a trademark of the city. Located in Will County, Joliet is a historic community with beautiful Victorian homes and modern apartment complexes.
Joliet apartments for rent have something to offer everyone. The amount of amenities far outweighs many other communities in the area, and the diverse architecture adds a quaint charm. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Joliet has increased greatly in the past two decades. Just more than 79,000 residents lived in Joliet in 1990, but today more than 148,400 people call the city home.
The rich history of Joliet began in 1673 when Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette paddled up the Des Plaines River and camped on a mound that is just a couple miles south of Joliet today. After the Black Hawk War, Charles Reed settled along the west side of the river, and in 1834 James B. Campbell laid out the village named Juliet. Originally, the region was considered part of Cook County, until 1836 when it became the seat of Will County. By 1845, the name changed to Joliet and it was incorporated as a city in 1852. Residents of Joliet used the Des Plaines River, Rock Island Railroad, Illinois & Michigan Canal and a road that followed the Sauk Trail for transportation.
In 1858, the state of Illinois built a new penitentiary in Joliet because of the area's abundance of stone and cell houses. Today the prison is technically located in Crest Hill, a neighboring town, and remains one of the largest correctional facilities in the Chicagoland area.
Joliet emerged with a steel mill in 1869, which later attracted many other industries to the area including wire mills, coke plants, stove companies, horseshoe factories, bridge builders and many more. However, between the 1970s and the early 1980s, the economic climate was quickly dwindling and unemployment was at 26 percent. During the 1990s, the construction of the Joliet raceway and casinos helped boost the economy and continues to do so today.
With easy access to Interstate 55 to Chicago, residents of Joliet can easily travel to the city for employment, but don't need to because there are an abundance of opportunities close by. The top employers in Will County include Provena St. Joseph Medical Center, Silver Cross Hospital, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Stateville Correctional Center and Promenade Bolingbrook.
Students living in apartments in Joliet may attend Joliet Junior College, a local two-year community college that offers associate's degrees in diverse areas of study. JJC is the oldest community college in the nation and is especially known for its culinary program, which many people travel to attend. University of St. Francis is a four-year private college that serves 3,400 students and offers 40 undergraduate programs and 15 graduate degree programs. Another local post-secondary institute is Lewis University in Romeoville, which specializes in aviation.
Living in Joliet is fairly inexpensive as the city has many different options for living that suit anyone's needs. According to Best Places, the overall cost of living is 6 points lower than the national average, food is 6 points higher and utilities are 1 point lower. Similarly, the average rent of an apartment in Joliet is not very expensive. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average cost of an apartment is $826.
There are an abundance of attractions in Joliet, including the Route 66 Raceway, Chicagoland Raceway, Silvercross Field, Challenge Park Extreme and the Rialto Square Theatre. Residents of Joliet can spend their day at a NASCAR race or enjoying a show at the historic theater that hosts a variety of entertainment all year long. Joliet is also home to two casinos: Hollywood Casino and Harrah's Joliet Casino and Hotel. For nature lovers, the Bill Limacher Bicentennial Park is another beloved attraction located on historic Bluff Street in downtown Joliet.
There are plenty of events in Joliet year-round, many of which are at the area's biggest attractions. In addition, Joliet maintains a family-friendly attitude with fun events like the Festival of Trees, numerous 5Ks and the Festival of the Gnomes. During the Halloween season, people come to visit from near and far for one of the best-rated haunted houses around at Statesville Haunted Prison, right by the Stateville Prison.
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