Located 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago and 45 minutes from Midway Airport, Joliet is one of the fastest growing cities in Illinois and in the United States, with a population of 145,000. Originally called Juliet, it was incorporated as a city in 1852 and its quarries once served as an important source of limestone for Chicago...
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Located 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago and 45 minutes from Midway Airport, Joliet is one of the fastest growing cities in Illinois and in the United States, with a population of 145,000. Originally called Juliet, it was incorporated as a city in 1852 and its quarries once served as an important source of limestone for Chicago and other cities. Adjacent towns include Lockport, Mokena, New Lenox, Crest Hill, and Romeoville. Joliet serves as the county seat of Will County and is also incorporated in Kendall County. Some of the town's main attractions in Joliet's City Center are Harrah's Casino and Hotel, Joliet Jackhammers baseball, which is played at Silver Cross Field, and the Rialto Theatre, which has been called one of the world's most beautiful theatres. The popular venue offers various types of entertainment including plays, musicals, opera and dance, as well as country, rock, and comedy acts. The Joliet Park District oversees three golf courses and provides a variety of programs for persons of all ages. The riverboat Empress Casino is another well-known attraction in Joliet, as is the Chicagoland Speedway, which plays host to annual NASCAR events and the Indy Racing League. For shopping, residents can visit the Westfield Louis Joliet Mall located on Route 30. In recent years, new housing in Joliet has increased dramatically, and homes in older neighborhoods are being rehabilitated. The city's downtown area has undergone a total revitalization with the rebuilding of downtown facades and the refurbishing of the Des Plaines Riverfront. In fact, since 1990, the number of residential building permits issued by the city of Joliet has increased by over 150 percent. Joliet is home to four high schools: Joliet Catholic Academy, Joliet West, Joliet Central, and Plainfield South High School. Other educational institutions in Joliet include Joliet Junior College, the nation's first public community college, and the University of Saint Francis.
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