Joliet, Illinois emerges in the 21^st century as a premier 'destination city.'  From its initial beginnings in 1852 as a tiny mill and factory town, Joliet has flourished into one of the fastest growing cities in Illinois and the nation.

Located only 45 miles southwest of the Chicago Loop, Joliet has grown along with the massive megalopolis' outward expansion.  The growth of the excellent Illinois Interstate Highway and toll way system also added to Joliet's growth.  Today served by Interstates 80 and 55, the additional construction of I-355 cut commuting time considerably.  The Chicago Metra Commuter Rail runs 26 trains daily through Joliet, and the Amtrak station offers nationwide service.       

Joliet sits on the confluence of the mighty Des Plaines and Kankakee Rivers, which then form the Illinois River.  The I & M Canal and the Illinois Waterway System make Joliet a vital transportation hub for freight.  The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway also ships massive tons of freight daily through the city.

Joliet settlers used the powerful Des Plaines River for energy to run mills and factories.  The discovery of huge lodes of limestone in the region led to a strong quarrying industry, lending Joliet the nickname 'Stone City.'  Joliet remained a mill town, factory town and transport hub until the opening of I-355 in 1988.  The easy commute into Chicago made Joliet attractive to the home construction industry, and the growth boom began.  Many urbanites sought to escape the rigors of inner city Chicago living and the population trend into the suburbs accelerated at a startling rate.

Census 2000 showed Joliet's population as just over 105,000.  A special census taken in 2006 reported over 145,000 residents, a dramatic leap.  This makes Joliet the fastest-growing city in the Midwest, and the 14^th fastest in the United States for cities over 100,000, (Census data).  New housing starts average 1,400 per year, a trend expected to continue growing. 

Savvy city leaders brought gambling into Joliet in 1992, in the form of Harrah's Casino and the Empress Casino.  Joliet funnels ninety percent of the gambling revenue back into the community through neighborhood and economic development programs, and support of the local schools, known for their excellence.  Joliet is home to the Route 66 Speedway, a NASCAR certified track, as well as the Autobahn Country Club, complete with a NHRA drag strip.  The Joliet Jackhammers serve as the city's official baseball team.  The Challenge Park Supreme contains 150 acres devoted to paintball, mountain biking and skating, rounding Joliet out as a premier sports enthusiast's paradise.

Joliet can boast of a cultural side also.  The Friends of Community Public Art, an outstanding organization, hosts tours of the more than 125 murals, sculptures and mosaics that grace the streets of the city.  The Joliet Drama Guild has presented their art for more than 70 years, outdoors at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park.  Nothing can compare with the grand and historic Rialto Theater, offering Broadway Shows, concerts and dance.