DeKalb, Illinois

DeKalb was originally called Huntley's Grove,[4] and under the latter name was platted in 1853.[5] The name is for Baron Johann de Kalb, a major general in the American Revolutionary War.[6] A post office has been in operation at DeKalb since 1849.[7] The development of barbed wire is key in the history of DeKalb. Joseph Glidden, who developed barbed wire, was a historic citizen of DeKalb. Glidden would ultimately be known as the “Father of Barbed Wire”. Glidden began to mass-produce his invention, and eventually sold half of the company to Isaac L. Ellwood. Together, the two formed the Barb Fence Company.[4]

DeKalb is in northern Illinois, roughly 55 miles west of downtown Chicago and 30 miles southeast of Rockford. The Kishwaukee River flows northward through DeKalb.

According to the 2010 census, DeKalb has an area of 14.812 square miles (38.36 km²), of which 14.65 square miles (37.94 km²) (98.91%) is land and 0.162 square miles (0.42 km²) (1.09%) is water.[8]

On August 24, 2007, the Kishwaukee River at DeKalb crested at 15.27 feet (4.65 m) (all-time record 15.8 feet (4.8 m)), causing major flooding. This was only the second time the river has risen above 15 feet (4.6 m) since the level of the river has been recorded.[9]

A home in the neighborhood north of downtown DeKalb, near the Gurler House

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 43,862 people, 15,386 households, and 7,508 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,993.8 people per square mile (1,157.3/km²). There were 16,436 housing units at an average density of 1,121.9 per square mile (433.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.9% white, 12.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 5.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.5% of the population.

There were 15,386 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.2% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.6% under the age of 18, 37.3% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,719, and the median income for a family was $59,671. Males had a median income of $43,819 versus $36,488 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,155. About 19.6% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

• DeKalb is home to the annual Corn Fest, usually held in late August.[12]
• The Egyptian Theatre, built in 1929, is one of a handful of such theatres still extant in the United States.[13]
• The Stage Coach Players, founded in 1947, have a theatre on 5th Street.[14]

DeKalb is home to Northern Illinois University, the city's largest employer and Illinois's third-largest campus.[15] Other large employers include Northwestern Medicine, General Electric, Monsanto (originally as DeKalb Corn), the local school district, and a large retail district along Route 23 (shared with Sycamore) that includes Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Best Buy, Sears, Kohl's, Ross, and dozens of other chain and local stores.

DeKalb is also home to warehouses for several major companies, including Target, 3M, Nestlé, and Panduit, in part due to DeKalb's proximity to major highways such as I-88 and I-39. 3M's complex serves as the distribution hub for three of 3M's four business units and export operations to North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.[16]

In 1984, the intersection of two streets in a popular NIU housing district in DeKalb begot the name of a regional consulting firm, "Greenbrier & Russel"[17] (subsequently acquired by Fujitsu Consulting in 2006[18]). In 2011, DeKalb was the broadcast base of Up and In: The Baseball Prospectus Podcast with Kevin Goldstein and Jason Parks.[19] The town was also the filming location for the 2012 film At Any Price.

The DeKalb Park District is responsible for DeKalb's 44 parks and recreation facilities. Members of the League of Women Voters established the park district in 1935 to address the need for a public swimming pool. The City of DeKalb gave the first four parks to the District: Annie's Woods, Huntley Park, Liberty Park, and Hopkins Park.

In 2000 the district opened the Sports and Recreation Center, a multi-function facility that features an indoor field of over 1 acre, clear-span space with synthetic field turf. The park district provides year-round athletic and recreation programs including day camps, youth baseball and softball, adult softball leagues both indoors and outdoors, swimming lessons, golf lessons, karate, tennis, adult and youth basketball leagues, indoor soccer, fitness classes, and preschool.

The DeKalb Park District park system has 44 parks totaling over 700 acres: community parks, neighborhood parks, passive parks and linear parks. Notable parks and facilities include:

• River Heights Golf Course
• Buena Vista Golf Course
• Hopkins Park Pool and Community Center
• Nehring Center for Culture and Tourism
• Ellwood House Museum and Park

DeKalb has a council-manager government. Policy is developed by an elected city council and implemented by an appointed professional city manager. The DeKalb City Council is made up of a mayor, elected at-large, and seven alderpersons, elected by ward. Each serves a four-year term, with half the council elected every two years. A city clerk is also elected every four years to serve as the city's official recordkeeper. City council meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of every month.

There are 11 public schools, one private school, one university and one public library.

Northern Illinois University

Altgeld Hall, the first building to be constructed at NIU

Northern Illinois University (NIU) was founded in DeKalb as the Northern Illinois State Normal School in 1895. NIU is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with total enrollment around 20,000 (including about 16,000 undergraduates and 300 law school students),[21][22] which makes NIU the third largest campus in Illinois.[15] NIU is home of the Huskies. Notable NIU alumni include Dan Castellaneta (the voice of Homer Simpson and Krusty the Clown), Jimmy Chamberlin (The Smashing Pumpkins drummer), former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, former Labor Secretary W. Willard Wirtz, Oscar-nominated actress Joan Allen in Pleasantville (film), NFL players Michael Turner, Doug Free, Chandler Harnish, Jordan Lynch and Ryan Diem, former NBA Players Kenny Battle and Paul Dawkins, and actor Steve Harris from David E. Kelley's legal Drama The Practice.

• George Franklin Barber, architect, known as one of the most successful American domestic architects of the late Victorian period. He was born in DeKalb.[23][24]
• A. J. Bramlett, former professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers.[25]
• Dennis J. Collins, Illinois lawyer and state legislator[26]
• Cindy Crawford, model and actress, appeared on hundreds of magazine covers throughout her career and in 1995 was named the world's highest-paid model by Forbes. She was born and raised in DeKalb.[27]
• Joseph B. Ebbesen, optometrist and Illinois state legislator.[28]
• Isaac L. Ellwood, rancher, businessman and barbed wire entrepreneur.[29]
• Fred Eychaner, media mogul and philanthropist. He was raised in DeKalb.[30]
• Joseph Glidden, farmer who patented barbed wire in 1874, which changed the development of the American West.[29]
• Jacob Haish, one of the inventors of barbed wire.[29]
• Barbara Hale, film actress and Emmy Award-winning co-star of Perry Mason television series.[31]
• Mike Heimerdinger, assistant coach for several NFL teams including the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans. He was born and raised in DeKalb.[32]
• Richard Jenkins, actor, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for his performances in The Visitor (2007) and The Shape of Water (2017) respectively. He was born and raised in DeKalb.[33]
• Alan and Dale Klapmeier, co-founders of the Cirrus Design Corporation and 2014 inductees into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. They were raised in DeKalb and graduated from DeKalb High School.[34]
• Doug Mallory, coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He attended DeKalb High School while his father was coach of the Northern Illinois Huskies.[35]
• Karl Nelson, offensive tackle for the New York Giants. He played football for the DeKalb High School Barbs.[36]
• Mel Owens, linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams from 1981 to 1989. He played football for the DeKalb High School Barbs.[37]
• Richard Powers, author and winner of the 2006 National Book Award for Fiction for The Echo Maker.[38]
• Weekend Nachos, powerviolence punk band. They were formed in DeKalb.[39]
• W. Willard Wirtz, United States Secretary of Labor during the Kennedy administration and Johnson administration. He was born and raised in DeKalb where his home is preserved on the campus of Northern Illinois University.[40]

• Haish Memorial Library
• Kishwaukee River
• Northern Illinois University
• Northern Illinois University shooting

Wikimedia Commons has media related to DeKalb, Illinois.

• Official Website
• DeKalb Chamber of Commerce