Size & Scope

Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois with a population of over 170,000. The "Aurora area," as serviced by the Aurora Area CVB, includes Batavia, Big Rock, Montgomery, North Aurora, Plano, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Yorkville - all of which are nestled in the scenic Fox River Valley. The Aurora area has a population of nearly 370,000 and is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. In 2002, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked the City of Aurora as the 13th fastest growing city in the United States of cities with more than 100,000 residents.

City Of Firsts

Aurora was the first city in the world to use electric streetlights and has since officially adopted the slogan "City of Lights." Aurora introduced one of the first cell-phone-guided walking tours offered in America. Aurora was home to the first public demonstration of flight by the Wright Brothers. Aurora is home of America's first railroad roundhouse. Originally constructed in 1855-1865, the building was renovated in 1996 and is now known as Two Brothers Roundhouse, a dining and entertainment facility. Aurora was the first large city in the U.S. to connect all its schools to the World Wide Web (1995). Aurora was home of the first YMCA building built in Illinois.

Movies, Music & Theatre

In 1991, Aurora became the toast of Hollywood with the release of Wayne's World. The movie expanded on the "Saturday Night Live" spoof of an Aurora cable television access show and featured appearances by Aurora Mayor David Pierce. The 2002 movie Children on Their Birthdays, featuring Tom Arnold, Joe Pichler and Sheryl Lee, was filmed in Aurora. The 1986 movie Let's Get Harry, featuring Gary Busey, Robert Duvall and Mark Harmon, was filmed in downtown Aurora. In 1958, Batavia was the subject of a "Saturday Evening Post" cover. Batavia, the oldest city in Kane County, was the filming location for the movie Harry and Tonto in 1974. Hollywood Casino, located in Aurora, is Chicago's premier dockside gaming facility with 53,000 square feet and 1,200 gaming positions. Like its namesake, the casino also houses original movie memorabilia from films such as Wayne's World, Untouchables, Blues Brothers, Twister, Rocky, Titanic and others. li>Aurora's annual Blue on the Fox festival commemorates the Lester Melrose-produced RCA/Bluebird recordings made in Aurora's Leland Tower in the late 1930s. The historic recordings featured Sonny Boy Williamson I, Tampa Red, Washboard Sam, Henry Townsend, Big Bill Broonzy, Yank Rachell and other infamous Blues artists who shaped the sound of urban Chicago Blues. Aurora is home to the legendary Paramount Theatre, which opened its doors in 1931 to great fanfare. The Aurora theatre, designed by famed Chicago architecture firm Rapp & Rapp in a Venetian/Art Deco style, was used as the prototype for all future Paramount Theatres across the country. At the time, it was the first air-conditioned movie palace outside of Chicago. Today, after millions of dollars in restoration, the theatre provides a variety of entertainment for all ages, including live performances by world class musicians, plays, touring Broadway musicals, comedians and other special events. Over the years, many big names have performed at Aurora's Paramount Theatre, including Tony Bennett, Kenny Rogers, Bill Cosby, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Smokey Robinson, Red Skelton, George Burns, Frank Sinatra, Judy Collins, Ray Charles, Wayne Newton, Wayne Brady, The Smothers Brothers, Willie Nelson, Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Jay Leno, Mel Torme, Marcel Marceau and Jerry Seinfeld.

Architecture

The Aurora area is home to one of the most impressive architectural collections in the Midwest, featuring structures by Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Bruce Goff and George Grant Elmslie. Aurora is also home to one of the largest collections of Sears Mail Order Houses (over 50 homes) and Lustron all-steel homes (seven homes). The Farnsworth House, located in Plano, is one of only three Mies van der Rohe residential designs in existence in the United States.

Shopping & Dining

Aurora is home of Illinois' largest microbrewery, which is the only brewery in the world to win gold medals in three consecutive World Beer Cup competitions. The Aurora Area is home to over one million square feet of retail "I want that" space, including the Chicago Premium Outlets and Westfield Shoppingtown Fox Valley Mall. The Chicago Premium Outlets is home to one of two Kate Spade outlet stores in America; one of two Miss Sixty outlet stores in America; the first-ever, worldwide test-market outlet store of Valentino; and is exclusive Chicago location for Giorgio Armani, MaxMara, Theory, Elie Tahari and Versace outlet stores. America's Brewpub at Two Brothers Roundhouse - Enjoy classic American cuisine and award-winning beers brewed on site as you dine in America's oldest locomotive roundhouse. Jason's at Gray's Mill - Cozy, casual and upscale dining in a perfectly restored gristmill, originally built in 1853 in Montgomery. Fairbanks Steakhouse & Bar at Hollywood Casino - Recognized as one of the finest steakhouses in all of Chicagoland. Savannah's Restaurant & Tea Room - One of the few restaurants outside Chicago to offer full tea service with a selection of over 120 teas and authentic Southern cuisine.

Transportation & Time

Aurora was home to the first public demonstration of flight by the Wright Brothers. Aurora is home of America's first railroad roundhouse. Originally constructed in 1855-1865, the building was renovated in 1996 and is now known as Two Brothers Roundhouse, a dining and entertainment facility. The Aurora area has over 100 miles of bicycling, walking and nature trails. One of the most accurate clocks in the world, the Blanford Clock, can be found at the Aurora Historical Museum. The clock, created by Aurora resident William Blanford in the early 1900s, notes the earth's changing rotation around the sun, indicates astronomical events, and provides times in 127 cities around the world. His clock/calendar was designed to be accurate for 10,000 years.

Education & Energy

Aurora was the first large city in the U.S. to connect all its schools to the World Wide Web (1995). Aurora was home to America's smartest school in 1998 - The Illinois Math & Science Academy, located in Aurora's District 129, is one of only three schools in the nation of its kind. Students at this school scored an average of 31.1 on the ACT in 1998, the highest in the nation. Batavia is home of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, site of the world's most powerful accelerator, the Tevatron. The laboratory is where scientists 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? Aurora's East Side District was the first public school district in Illinois.

Miscellaneous

Aurora was the location for the launching of the Republican Party. In the late 1900s, Aurora was the "Corset Capital of the World" and was home to three corset manufacturers - today, it could be labeled the "Discount Designer Fashion Capital of the World" with the Chicago Premium Outlet, which includes an exciting collection of 120 outlet stores from the world's leading designers and brand names - as well as Valentino's first outlet ever. Mooseheart, the international headquarters of the Loyal Order of Moose, is located in Kane County between Batavia and North Aurora. Aurora was home of the first YMCA building built in Illinois.