Community profile: St. Charles

Community: St. Charles

How did it get its name? Settled in 1834 and called Charleston, the name was changed in the late 1830s to avoid confusion with the slightly older town in east-central Illinois of the same name.

Incorporation: 1874.

Population: 32,771 (2007 Census Bureau estimate).

Where is it? 40 miles west of Chicago, spanning the banks of the Fox River in east-central Kane County.

Did you know? St. Charles turns 175 years old in 2009, with birthday events planned for later this year. The Arcada Theater, built for $500,000 in the 1920s by local millionaire Lester J. Norris, featured first-run movies and vaudeville acts; it's now a performing arts center with a busy schedule of live entertainment. The $100 million First Street Redevelopment project now under way will add more than 240,000 square feet of office and retail space plus 95 housing units.

The Blue Goose Super Market, an independent downtown grocer in operation for 80 years, stakes a claim as the community's oldest family-owned business.

St. Charles East High School won seven state championships in 1998-99, the most ever won by any Illinois school in a single year.

Famous residents: Though he didn't live here, notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone was reputed to frequent a speak-easy on Illinois Route 25. Also, the impact of the philanthropy and civic involvement of the Norris and Baker families continues today with Delnor Hospital, the Norris Cultural Arts Center, the Hotel Baker and Baker Community Center among community landmarks.

Why it is worth visiting: A popular vacation and resort town in the 1920s and 1930s, the community today is home to the sprawling Pheasant Run Resort and Spa as well as the more genteel downtown Hotel Baker, which opened in 1928 and was recently restored. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The downtown area is noted for antiques shopping; dining choices abound. October's Scarecrow Festival attracts thousands of visitors to view more than 100 handcrafted scarecrows and enjoy a carnival, food and entertainment.

Known in these parts for: A white marble Art Moderne city hall building constructed in 1940 stands prominently at Main Street and the Fox River. In addition to antique shopping on Main Street, the Kane County Flea Market on the Kane County Fairgrounds features up to 1,000 antique and collectibles dealers for monthly shows. Pottawatomie Park, north of downtown on the east bank of the Fox River, was established in 1912 and eventually included a swimming pool, golf course, community center, observation tower and riverboats.

—Jack McCarthy