1835Education
The community continued its growth, although the one-room schoolhouse built a mile outside town in 1835 would become the state's last surviving one-room schoolhouse when it clos...
1849Infrastructure
In 1849, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (predecessor of the C&NW) reached the site of present-day West Chicago, then continued northwest to Elgin.
1850Architecture
In 1850, the Aurora Branch Railroad (predecessor of the CB&Q) built southwest, making America's first railroad junction point west of Chicago.
1854Architecture
In 1854, the G&CURR opened the “Dixon Air Line” branch West thru Geneva.
1855Infrastructure
It was formerly named Junction and later Turner, after its founder, John Bice Turner, president of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) in 1855.
1857History
Meanwhile, in 1857, Dr.
1873Government
By 1873, the community had taken on a substantial and permanent character, so the residents incorporated as the Village of Turner.
1888Architecture
In 1888, a new railroad, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, built a freight line through town.
1896Military
As part of the effort to attract industry, the community changed its name in 1896 to the Village of West Chicago.
1909Infrastructure
In 1909, one more railroad came to West Chicago.
1910Economy
By 1910, the population was 2,378 and several new industries had located here, including the Borden's milk condensing plant, the Turner Cabinet Company and the Turner Brick Comp...
1937Infrastructure
Soon bought by the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad, the “country trolley” was lightly used, and abandoned in 1937.
1967Government
Kerr-McGee, which had bought the facility in 1967 and operated it until 1973, settled with the city and cleaned up the waste.
1976Government
This prairie was discovered by then-mayor Richard Truitt in 1976 during one of his frequent walks in the open land west of the city.
1998History
The movie Reach the Rock, written by John Hughes, was filmed in downtown West Chicago in 1998.
2017Economy
General Mills had a production facility in West Chicago until 2017.
2020History
== Demographics ==
As of the 2020 census there were 25,614 people, 7,838 households, and 6,035 families residing in the city.
2025Government
After winning election on April 1, 2025, Daniel Bovey was sworn in as mayor of West Chicago on May 5, 2025.