Winfield, Illinois

Winfield originally tried to become an incorporated village in 1884 under the town name 'Frederick Park.' However, the motion was denied as the town did not have 300 residents as was required for incorporation.[10] When the village was finally incorporated in 1921, the town had a population of 310 people.[11]

The earliest settlers, Erastus and Jude P. Gary came to Winfield in 1832.[12] Winfield was originally known as Gary's Mill after these early settlers, and later, Fredericksburg, owing to a significant German-speaking population. Before 1850 most Winfield residents were migrants from New England but by 1860 half of the residents were from Germany and Alsace-Lorraine.[13] Winfield retained a community of German-speaking farmers until the 1920s.[13] In the late 1800s, the settlement's name was changed again to Winfield after the war hero Winfield Scott.[14][15]

Winfield was home to one of the oldest taverns in the Chicago suburbs, John's Restaurant and Tavern (formerly John's Buffet), founded in 1921 by immigrant John T Karwoski. It closed its doors in December 2017.[16] John Karwoski was instrumental in the political and economic development of Winfield, and it was his guidance and leadership that took a fledgling prairie town clinging to existence after the railroad boom went bust, and turned it into a viable and livable village.[17] Mr Karwoski became the first Chief of the all-volunteer Winfield Volunteer Fire Company in 1935. 45 years later, his son John Karwoski II was made Chief of the expanded Winfield Fire Protection District in 1980.[18]

Winfield was served by The Winfield Glimpses newspaper from October 1947 to October 1976.[19] The Glimpses changed its name to the Winfield Examiner in November 1976 and ran until February 1992. A full collection of these newspapers is available on microfilm at the Winfield Public Library.

Hedges Station "Besch House"

Hedges Station "Besch House" is the oldest remaining train depot in Illinois

Hedges station is the oldest train depot in Illinois. It was built in 1849 on the west side of Church Street, where the police station is currently standing. In 1977 Winfield Township bought the station after all the owners had died. Their plan to demolish the building to construct a parking lot and more village offices was opposed by citizens who wanted the oldest building standing in Winfield to be turned into a historical site instead. After many arguments, the Township decided to move into another location. In 1981 Hedges station was moved to Winfield road, where it is currently located, and is now a museum.[20]

Winfield is located at 41°51′57″N 88°09′25″W (41.8658543, -88.1569256).[4] Winfield is, by and large, surrounded by forests, including several DuPage County Forest Preserves on the north, west, and south. It borders Wheaton to the east and West Chicago to the west.

According to the 2010 census, Winfield has a total area of 3.03 square miles (7.85 km²), of which 2.99 square miles (7.74 km²) (or 98.68%) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (or 1.32%) is water.[26]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 8,718 people, 2,975 households, and 2,403 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,228.3 people per square mile (1,246.7/km²). There were 3,024 housing units at an average density of 1,119.8 per square mile (432.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.60% White, 1.24% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.67% of the population. 22.9% were of German, 12.9% Irish, 10.8% Italian, 9.3% English and 8.6% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,975 households, out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median household income for Winfield in 2016 is $91,731 and per capita income is $42,097. The median household cost is $308,700.[8]

The Village of Winfield is served by three school districts: West Chicago Elementary School District 33 (K-8, serving the north side of Winfield); Winfield Elementary School District 34 (K-8, serving the south side of Winfield); and Community Unit School District 200 (K-12, Wheaton-Warrenville, serving the east side of Winfield). Winfield has no public high school, students from Districts 33 and 34 attend West Chicago Community High School, and students from CUSD 200 attend Wheaton North High School. It has three public elementary/middle schools, Winfield Primary School, Winfield Central School, and Pleasant Hill Elementary School, and one private elementary/middle school, St. John the Baptist Catholic School.

• Christopher Bear (b. 1982), drummer and backing vocalist for Brooklyn-based indie rock group Grizzly Bear (Band) who has also collaborated with The Dirty Projectors and Beach House
• Wes Benjamin (b. 1993), pitcher with the Texas Rangers.
• Alex Benoit (b. 1995), competitive ice dancer, fourth place at 2017 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
• Michael Bowden (b. 1986), former pitcher with Chicago Cubs[39]
• Chris Brown (b. 1981), running back with Houston Texans
• Carolena Carstens (b. 1996), taekwondo olympian
• Rob DeVita (b. 1965), football player for Seattle Seahawks
• Scott Michael Foster (b. 1985), actor
• John Warne Gates (b. 1855), pioneer promoter of barbed wire and founder of The Texas Company, a precursor to Texaco
• Sam Himmelfarb (b. 1904), American artist and commercial exhibit designer, known for his modernist-influenced paintings of everyday people and urban scenes
• Eleanor Himmelfarb (b. 1910), American artist, teacher and conservationist known for semi-abstract paintings referencing the landscape and human figure
• Michael Hodges (b. 1976), American fiction writer
• Frank Kaminsky (b. 1993), basketball player for Phoenix Suns
• Debbie Keller (b. 1975), retired soccer forward and former member of United States women's national soccer team
• Anthony Louis (b.1995), left wing/center for Chicago Blackhawks[40][41]
• Philip Lutzenkirchen (b. 1991), American football tight end, who played at Auburn University, finishing his career as the school's all-time leading receiver in touchdowns among tight ends.
• Andrew Marshall (b. 1984), defender with Crystal Palace Baltimore and Harrisburg City Islanders
• Walt Moryn (1926–1996), outfielder with Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, lived and died in Winfield
• Jarett Park (b. 1981) professional lacrosse player
• Luke Putkonen (b. 1986), former pitcher for Detroit Tigers[42]
• Rob Scahill (b. 1987), pitcher with the Chicago White Sox[43]
• Shealeigh (b. 1998), singer
• Kevin Streelman (b. 1978), golfer on PGA Tour
• Bradie Tennell (b.1998), figure skater, 2018 U.S national champion; 2015 junior national champion
• Nikos Tselios (b. 1979), defenseman with NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Hounds, KalPa (Finland) and Färjestad BK (Sweden); cousin of Chris Chelios
• William M. Whitney (b. 1828), American Politician
• Jonathan C. Wright (b. 1966), State's Attorney for Logan County, Illinois

• Blanchard, Rufus (1882). "Winfield". History of Du Page County, Illinois. Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co. p. 268. OCLC 20159934.

• Official website
• Winfield Park District
• Winfield Historical Society