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Joliet is located primarily in Will County, 40 miles southwest of Chicago (the community straddles Will and Kendall counties).  The Des Plaines River and the adjacent Illinois & Michigan Canal flow through the center of Joliet, providing access to destinations both east and west.  The City of Joliet incorporated in 1852 at the end of a gold rush and began a period of significant development.  The industrial development thrived due to the water access.

Once an industrial city, the community has reinvented itself as a tourist destination with a strong and diversified economy.  Joliet now has a population over 126,000 and remains one of the fastest growing areas in Illinois and the United States.  New housing starts have averaged over 1,400 per year and the outlook anticipates a slight acceleration over the next few years.  The new population numbers show that Joliet has become a destination city with the entire country beginning to notice.  More people moving into the City create a broader tax base for the residents…and more new homes built in Joliet create more jobs.  In addition to being a great place to live, Joliet is also a great place to play.  Millions of people visit Joliet each year to enjoy its two casinos, NASCAR track, NHRA drag strip, new baseball stadium, Water Park, library and museum.

Joliet has always been known as a small town next to Chicago, but with the terrific transportation availability, Joliet is closely connected to Chicago.  The METRA commuter rail system provides convenient travel to and from downtown Chicago, with 26 commuter trains leaving Joliet to Chicago daily.  Local bus service is provided by PACE, offering service and connections throughout Joliet and regional destinations.  AMTRAK provides rail travel service throughout the nation.  The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern railroad moves freight in and out of Joliet.

Will County is among the top three growing counties in the state of Illinois. Joliet is helping to fuel this growth.  Joliet has increased in population and landmass as it has recently been annexing much of the unincorporated property in the north and northwest of downtown Joliet.  Many of the older farms in the area have been steadily converted into much desired development for housing and commercial real estate.  Joliet has an AAA bond rating and has begun construction of a new water and treatment center north and west of the downtown area.

With the continued influx of residents and businesses to the area, Joliet is committed to managed growth which includes investing in the outlying areas.  The mission of the Joliet City Center Partnership is to promote the economic development, marketing, management and social programming necessary to ensure the realization of the City Center Master Plan.  The City Center Partnership has developed a variety of programs and incentives to assist both new and existing businesses.

(Source: City of Joliet Official Website)

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