Census shows Joliet is fastest-growing city in Illinois

June 28, 2007 (WLS) -- The fastest growing city in Illinois is Joliet, according to the US Census Bureau's list of the fastest growing cities in America.

In Joliet, there were a lot of smiles on the streets Thursday 50 miles to Chicago's southwest. They were crowing about their new distinction. And, in a place that calls itself the "City of Champions," there are signs of growth everywhere and so too some implications for Chicago.

It has been a long climb for Joliet -- and luck has been on its side in its ascent to fastest growing city in Illinois. From 2001 to 2006 Joliet added more than 35,000 people. Nearby suburban Aurora and Plainfield had similar jumps.

Demographers contend people move for job security and affordable housing. Casinos have brought thousands of jobs and spin-off economic activity to the area. And there are 4,000 square foot homes go for less than $300,000, half the price of something similar closer to Chicago. The people moving in are primarily from DuPage and Cook counties who already work in Chicago's suburbs. They can overlook some of Joliet's continuing challenges.

"We've been doing tremendous business, and I have seen a lot of growth here in the downtown area over the past couple of years," said Tammy Rippberger, Joliet banker.

Joliet -- located in fast-growing Will County -- says it offers top notch health care and municipal services out of coffers bulging with $3 million per month in casino-related tax revenue.

"People are moving out into the middle and inner suburbs and people from the inner and middle suburbs are moving further out," said Kenneth Johnson, Loyola University Chicago.

The city has built a new $29 million stadium for the Joliet Jackhammers minor league pro baseball team and is confident it offers a quality of life relatively unattainable closer in to Chicago.

"This is a reflection of the sprawl that's happening all over the United States. In the Chicago area, the south and the southwest seem to be getting most of the sprawl now, whereas historically, it was in the north and the northwest suburbs," said Johnson.

The ceremonial shovels in Joliet Mayor Arthur Schwartz's office are a testament to his doggedness to build his hometown even while fighting cancer that took away his larynx

"You keep your city clean, people will come here and stay here. They don't get married and leave," said Arthur Schwartz, Joliet mayor.

In contrast, the City of Chicago experienced a population loss of nearly 63,000 between 2000 and 2006. Only three US cities, New Orleans, Detroit and Philadelphia, lost more population during the period.

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