By Larry Shakman
Located 37 miles west of Chicago, Aurora, Illinois has been named one of the Best Small Cities to Live by Money magazine. With diversified growth over the past two decades, the economy and real estate in Aurora, the unique downtown, accelerated schools, entertainment, cultural and recreational opportunities-and 160,000, wonderful residents add up to a great quality of life.
Predominately positioned in Kane County, property in Aurora may also lie in Kendall, Will, or DuPage County real estate. Aurora's neighborhoods are situated around gorgeous parks, extensive trails, tennis courts, and ball fields. Picturesque and challenging golf courses at Stonebridge Country Club, White Eagle Country Club, Orchard Valley Golf Course, Fox Valley Country Club, Fox Bend Country Club, and Phillips Park Golf Course offer scenic backdrops for beautiful Aurora estate homes. Another 45 courses within 30 miles add manicured natural terrain to the ambience of the area. A diverse tapestry of architectural styles in Aurora real estate reflects the charm of many generations, including the ingenious Sears Mail Order homes.
Some of the state's most beautiful options are right here. People take great advantage of the Fox Valley Park District trails and open spaces by jogging, walking, hiking, blading, biking, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. Rotary Park, Millennium Plaza, and Sesquicentennial Park, and FoxWalk-with its flowers, benches, fountains, and plazas along Stolp Island and the Fox River-as well as forest and wildlife preserves motivate the populace to come outdoors.
Two McCarty brothers founded the town 1837 in the fertile Fox Valley, a natural site for settlers to find fresh water, game, lumber, a growing populace for trading, free schools, and a YMCA! Each developed one side of the Fox River, originally creating two towns and a healthy rivalry noticeable today during high school sporting events.
The historic downtown district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. A link between Aurora's east and west developments, it includes a wide range of businesses and organizations, retail shops, specialty restaurants, apartments, gathering spaces, and cultural and entertainment gems like the Aurora Public Arts Commission, the Historical Society Museum, the Aurora Public Library, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Batvia Depot Museum, the Copley Theatre at North Island Center, the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall, the Hollywood Casino, the legendary Paramount Arts Centre, the Riverfront Playhouse and the SciTech Science and Technology Interactive Center, and the Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures..
The city is the final stop of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line of the Metra commuter rail system, allowing rail service into Chicago. However, also stands on its own two feet as an industrial center, hosting prominent manufacturers such as the Stephens-Adamson Company, Caterpillar Incorporated, and Burlington Northern.
Several public school districts serve the students along with private schools, including three Catholic high schools and one Christian high school. The Illinois Math and Science Academy, a three-year, public residential high school, is one of only three schools in the U.S. of its kind, having achieved the nation's highest ACT math scores in 1998. In 1995, Aurora became the first large city in the U.S. to connect all its schools to the Worldwide Web. Institutions of higher learning include Waubonsee Community College and Aurora University with several more colleges and universities including Northwestern University and De Paul University within a comfortable commute.
The first community to use electric streetlights, the "City of Lights" is the place to be. In a verdant valley within reach of an international airport and metropolitan amenities, you'll find yourself right at home.
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