DuPage County is located in northeastern Illinois, approximately 25 miles west of downtown Chicago. As of the 2020 census, the population of DuPage County was 928,889 making it the second most populous county in Illinois after Cook County. The county seat is Wheaton.
Population
According to the 2020 census, DuPage County has a population of 928,889 residents. This is an increase of 2.7% from the 2010 census population of 916,924. DuPage is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, which has an estimated population of over 9.5 million.
DuPage County is a suburban county, with most residents living in incorporated municipalities. The largest city is Naperville with a population of 148,449 as of 2019. Other large suburbs include Wheaton (53,914), Downers Grove (49,981), Elmhurst (46,905), Lombard (43,541), Glen Ellyn (27,735) and Carol Stream (40,783). The median age in DuPage County is 37.6 years old.
Economy
DuPage County has a strong and diverse economy. Many major employers are located in the county, particularly in industries such as finance, insurance, manufacturing, education and healthcare. According to the DuPage County Economic Development Corporation, the largest employers in the county are:
- Advocate Health Care (12,702 employees)
- DuPage Medical Group (6,900 employees)
- Amita Health (5,740 employees)
- McDonald’s Corporation (5,000 employees)
- State Farm Insurance Co (4,700 employees)
Other major companies with headquarters or divisions located in DuPage County include Molex, Dover Corporation, Navistar International, John Deere, Ace Hardware and more. The county has a highly educated workforce, with over half of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Some of the largest employment sectors are healthcare, retail trade, professional services, manufacturing and finance/insurance. The unemployment rate as of June 2021 was 5.0%, lower than the national rate of 5.9%. DuPage has a median household income of $91,407, significantly higher than the national median.
Points of Interest
DuPage County is home to many cultural, historic and recreational attractions. Some of the most popular destinations include:
- Morton Arboretum – A famous outdoor arboretum and botanical garden located in Lisle.
- DuPage County Forest Preserves – Over 60 forest preserves offering outdoor recreation.
- Cantigny Park – Located in Wheaton, includes gardens, museums, and a golf course.
- Naper Settlement – Outdoor history museum depicting 19th century Naperville.
- DuPage Children’s Museum – Interactive children’s museum located in Naperville.
- Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria – Famous Chicago deep dish pizza chain found throughout the county.
The county is also home to many higher education institutions including North Central College (Naperville), College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn), and Benedictine University (Lisle).
Sports Teams
While DuPage County does not have any major professional sports teams, there are several minor league and collegiate teams.
- Chicago Steel – Tier 1 junior ice hockey team located in Geneva.
- North Central College Cardinals – NCAA Division III sports teams located in Naperville.
- College of DuPage Chaparrals – NJCAA athletic programs in Glen Ellyn.
Many DuPage County residents are fans of Chicago’s professional sports teams like the Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks.
Local Government
The county government is led by the DuPage County Board and an elected County Board Chairman. The current chairman is Dan Cronin. The DuPage County website provides information on county services and departments.
Most land in DuPage County is incorporated into various municipalities such as cities, towns and villages. These municipalities have their own local governments and services such as police and fire departments, public works, and parks and recreation.