Page Contents for Batavia, Illinois

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Community events.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Illinois state capital is Springfield.
The population of Batavia is approximately 25,246 (2003), 26045 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 8,806 (2000), 9554 (2010).
The amount of land area in Batavia is 17.903 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Batavia is 9.05 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.375 sq kilometers.
The distance from Batavia to Washington DC is 651 miles.
The distance to the Illinois state capital is 160 miles. (as the crow flies)
Batavia is positioned 41.85 degrees north of the equator and 88.30 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Batavia elevation is 716 feet above sea level.
Batavia per capita income is $ 27,783 (2000).
Batavia median income is $ 79,200 (2007).
The Batavia median home price is $ 321,900 (2007).

Location

on the Fox River in Kane County in northeast Illinois. I-88 is five miles south while I-90 is less than 20 miles north. Batavia is part of a tri-cities area along with Geneva and St. Charles. Convenient commuter trains are easy to catch for those working in Chicago. Other nearby communities include North Aurora, Aurora, West Chicago, Wayne, Warrenville and Montgomery.
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History & History Related Items

Here is a good history page for Batavia.

The first settler here was Christopher Columbus Payne in 1833 when he came with his family to live. A wandering type, Payne and his family moved on just two years later, selling their holdings to Judge Isaac Wilson who founded the community naming it after his own hometown of Batavia, New York.

By 1850, Batavia had grown and become a large industrial center. It was nicknamed the "Windmill City" because at least a dozen companies in Batavia were making windmills at that time. Another factor in the city's growth was limestone. The ten quarries in Batavia were utilized after the Great Chicago fire to supply the stone for the rebuilding which took place in Chicago.

After the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his widow, Mary Todd Lincoln, stayed three months in Batavia at Bellvue Place, a local sanitarium and rest home for the mentally ill, to recuperate from her ordeal.

Batavia is known for the development of the automatically adjustable windmill, the flat-bottomed paper bag and a new process for grinding grain against a metal surface. Flag Day is said to have originated here, credited to Bernard J. Cigrand, a local dentist.

Historical places have been preserved and utilized in Batavia. City Hall is in the former Appleton Manufacturing Company, where windmills were made. Next to the city building are a number of windmills from different Batavian Windmill companies. One of the many stone quarries is now a public swimming facility. The old train depot is now used as the Depot Museum, operated by the Batavia Historical Society and the Batavia Park District.
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The incorporation of Batavia

3 August 1872

Attractions

Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory
The Department of Energy, through its Office of Science, supports more than 90 percent of the federally funded research in high-energy physics in the United States. Fermilab is a DOE national laboratory.
Scientists at Fermilab carry out research in high-energy physics to answer the questions: What is the universe made of? How does it work? Where did it come from?

The local area has many opportunities for culture, entertainment and sports. The Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles has performances throughout the year. The Paramount Arts Center in Aurora also gives more opportunity for entertainment. Chicago is close enough to allow much diversity in entertainment and leisure activities.

The most avid of Batavia's golfers find satisfaction and challenge on as many as 14 courses in the Fox Valley area. Batavia's 18-hole Settler's Hill is the most convenient and features a driving range where golfers can practice their swing.

The Fox Valley Ice Arena
Home to the Chicago Freeze and Huron Hockey Team. The facility features three ice surfaces, a full service fitness club, skate school, on-site restaurant and sports grill, pro shop, multipurpose rooms for birthday parties, corporate functions and other special events.

The pure fun of minor league baseball is available in Geneva, Batavia's next door neighbor. The Kane County Cougars, the Class A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, at the Philip B. Elfstrom Stadium at Kirk Road and Cherry Lane. The Cougars games feature great baseball, great food, and great family fun.

Batavia is known as the "City of Energy." The most obvious reason is the presence of Fermilab, the National Accelerator Laboratory, to its immediate southeast, a facility that attracts scientists from throughout the world. However, another reason is the unrelenting volunteer energy of the people of Batavia - hard working, vigorous, enthusiastic, and well-educated people who form a good-size work-force.
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Economy & Industry

The community boasts a roster of more than 100 industrial firms. Included are such names as American National Can, Siemens, Power Packaging, Proex, Sealy Mattress Co., Fermi Labs, Suncast, Dot Packaging, Waste Management, Trane, Watlow Batavia, and Millard Refrigeration Services.

The products of Batavia's manufacturers span a wide spectrum and include castings in a variety of materials, paper conversion products, molded plastics, electric and electronic controls, computer software, cables, modems, various bedding prodcuts, paints and stains, text books, and nuts, bolts, and screws.

The city has two major industrial/office parks: a long-established park with 1,300 acres on the northeast side. Another smaller industrial area is located to the south on Rte. 25 (River Street), east of the Fox River

Batavian's have quick access to highly skilled medical practitioners in two conveniently located hospitals, Delnor-Community Hospital just north of Batavia. This is a modern, 118-bed medical facility, the hospital is a state-designated Level II Trauma Center. Its 24-hour emergency department is staffed by physicians and nurses specially trained in emergency medicine.The Provena occupies a 160-acre campus a few miles south of Batavia in Aurora. The 356-bed, full-service hospital provides inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient services.
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Batavia City Government

City of Batavia
Batavia City Hall
100 North Island Avenue
Batavia, Illinois 60510
Phone (630) 454-2000

Batavia has a mayor/council form of government. There are fourteen council members and a mayor. Other positions include a city clerk and city attorney.

Batavia is proud of its city hall housed in the historic stone building in the center of the city which was once the production facility for Appleton Windmills. The building was renovated in 1998 bringing it up to standards for both the town hall and the Police Department.

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Batavia Police Department
100 North Island Ave.
Batavia, IL. 60510
Phone: (630) 879-2840

The Batavia Police Department has 39 sworn officers, 9 civilian staffers, and 15 auxiliary police. All police officers, sworn and auxiliary, receive regular training in law enforcement practices

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Batavia Fire Department
800 E. Wilson Street
Batavia, IL 60510
Phone: (630) 879-1404

The Batavia Fire Department provides fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the citizens of Batavia and the surrounding Batavia Township and Countryside Fire Protection District.
The Batavia Fire Department operates out of two strategically positioned fire stations, one on the city's west side, the other on the east side. The department has 24 full-time firefighters, six of whom are trained paramedics and 30 paid-on-call firefighters. The paramedics operate a life-support equipped ambulance stationed at the west side station. A second ambulance is held in reserve at the east side station.

Batavia Chamber

Batavia Chamber of Commerce
106 W. Wilson Street
Batavia, IL 60510
Telephone: 630/879-7134

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is a key spokesperson for business and industry in the community. Among its business-oriented programs are a Business Exposition, a Community Leadership Symposium, Business Person of the Year, Joint Chamber Expo, Leads Groups, and regular Business After Hours networking events.

Batavia Community Events

May - each year Loyalty Day Parade

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June - first Sunday
The Annual Mid-America Canoe Race
This race is among the oldest in the country. Crowds line the Fox River to see hundreds of canoes and kayaks race down the river from St. Charles to Aurora. The Heritage Arts Festival is held at the same time as the race in Batavia and is sponsored by the Batavia Park District.

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July 4 each year
The annual Fourth of July celebration is another big event in Batavia, drawing thousands from the Fox Valley area. It features the Taste of Batavia and climaxes with a spectacular fireworks display

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Mid-July each year
the Windmill City Fest turns Batavia's downtown area into a carnival of fun. There are food vendors, an arts and crafts show, live entertainment, and other family entertainment. Downtown merchants add to the mix with sidewalk sales. October
October brings Octoberfest activities featuring Batavia's Antique Dealers. Festivities include hayrides, games for children, a beer garden and German food. The Autumn Breeze 10K plus 5Km, sponsored by the Batavia Park District is annually held in downtown Batavia.

Batavia Organizations

Batavia Chamber of Commerce
106 W. Wilson Street
Batavia, IL 60510
Telephone: 630/879-7134

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is a key spokesperson for business and industry in the community. Among its business-oriented programs are a Business Exposition, a Community Leadership Symposium, Business Person of the Year, Joint Chamber Expo, Leads Groups, and regular Business After Hours networking events.

Batavia Libraries

Batavia Public Library
10 S. Batavia Ave.
Batavia, IL 60510
Main Desk: 630-879-1393
Adult Reference Desk: 630-879-4777
Youth Services Desk: 630-879-4775

Avid readers and those looking for specific information head for the Batavia Public Library, housed in a handsome Colonial Building near downtown. With an annual circulation of more than 270,000, the library's shelves contain nearly 119,000 books, 2,819 videos, and more than 5,172 audio recordings. It subscribes to 231 periodicals.

The library offers lectures for adults, preschool story times, and summertime children's programs. It is a member of the DuPage Library System, allowing residents access to all materials held by other member libraries.

Batavia Schools

Batavia Public Schools
Administration
335 West Wilson Street
Batavia, IL 60510
voice: 630-937-8800

the city is served by Batavia School District 101, covering close to 20 square miles and encompassing the city and areas to the south, east, and west. With a high school, middle school, and five elementary schools, the district has a total enrollment of around 4,600 students. More than 60 percent of high school graduates continue their education at a college or university.

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HIGHER EDUCATION

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Waubonsee Community College

The Sugar Grove campus of Waubonsee Community College opened in 1967 to serve Batavia and about 200 other communities in Kane County and portions of four neighboring counties. Batavia

Miscellany

Batavia is located in the Central Time Zone.

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The population of Batavia was:
1960 - 7,496
1990 - 17,076
2000 - 23,866
2002 - 25,246
2007 - 27,296

Number of Housing Units was:
2000 - 8,806

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Median age:
2000 - 35.9 years

Median household income:
2000 - $ 68,656
2007 - $ 79,200

Median house value:
2000 - $ 202,700
2007 - $ 321,900

Batavia is located in the Central Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.