It was the DuPage River that drew Naperville's very first resident, Joseph Naper, to settle here in 1831. It was our proximity to Chicago and position near major trails and thoroughfares that kept people coming. And it's some of the same things that draw families to Naperville today, but there is so much more.
Naperville has everything to offer new residents. It has the culture and excitement of a larger city and the community spirit of a small town. It has excellent schools and diverse worship options. Naperville has charity and festivity; softball leagues and soccer teams; safe streets and sound government; a thriving economy and a robust downtown. Naperville has a unique ability to engage and acclimate new residents without leaving them lost or overwhelmed.
Naperville's residents have known all along what a special city Naperville is, but now the rest of the country is beginning to sit up and take notice. Naperville has been named "#1, #2, or #3 Kid Friendliest City" by Zero Population Growth since 1997. Modern Maturity magazine named Naperville among the top ten places to retire in the country; and Home Computing magazine named Naperville among the top five cities in the country to start a home based business.
In short, it's not just geography that makes Naperville a great place to settle; it's commitment, dedication and spirit...and it's catching.
With a 2002 population of more than 133,000, Naperville is one of the largest cities in Illinois and is one of the fastest-growing communities in the country. Naperville is a master-planned community that enjoys economic prosperity, outstanding educational opportunities and high-caliber cultural events. Expanding and diverse high technology, research, and commercial businesses all foster Naperville's continued growth. Naperville's population is expected to reach approximately 160,000 by the year 2010.
In 1966, AT&T located a branch of Bell Laboratories in Naperville, beginning a period of growth that continues today. The Amoco Research Center, now the bp Amoco Research Center, was developed in Naperville in 1969. Naperville's East-West Corporate Corridor is now home to such corporate giants as Lucent Technologies, bp Amoco, Ondeo Nalco Company, Nicor Gas Company, and the new Tellabs International Corporate Headquarters. Companies such as General Motors, Chrysler-Mopar, Crate & Barrel, Nabisco Food Company, and Laidlaw, are among the thousands of businesses that make up Naperville's diverse and vibrant business community.
Businesses are attracted to Naperville by its excellent business climate and outstanding quality of life. Just 28 miles west of downtown Chicago, Naperville's transportation infrastructure offers easy access to major interstate highways, O'Hare International and Midway airports, and passenger and freight railroad systems. Naperville provides outstanding public services, with one of the lowest tax rates in the Chicago Metro region. Naperville's locally owned and operated electric service provides low rates, with an average outage rate 2.5 to 3.6 times shorter, as compared to the six largest investor-owned utilities in Illinois. Also, Naperville is the only community in the world that has fully accredited Police, Fire, and Emergency Communications departments, which demonstrates the community's passionate attention to public safety.
Naperville has the unique distinction of being named the #1, and subsequently #2, "Most Kid-Friendly City in America" by Zero Population Growth. Naperville School District 203 was named BEST SCIENCE STUDENTS IN THE WORLD, and placed 6th BEST IN MATH IN THE WORLD, based on a study released in 2001 by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Outstanding school testing scores, graduation rates in the ninety percentile, talented and dedicated teachers, are the hallmark of both School Districts 203 and 204 serving the Naperville community. In addition, the Naperville Public Library was named #1 Outstanding Library in the Country for the third consecutive year. A diverse array of nearby attractions, including the world's largest atomic particle accelerator, a variety of museums, arboretums, forest preserves, historic sites, and a scenic Riverwalk, all enrich Naperville as a unique business and residential location.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
