Joliet, located in Will and Kendall counties, Illinois, lies 35 miles southwest of Chicago. As the county seat of Will County, Joliet boasts a population of 150,362 according to the 2020 census, solidifying its position as the state’s third-most populous city.
The town’s name was altered by inhabitants in 1845 from “Juliet” to “Joliet”, as a nod to its initial name. Joliet was officially established as a city in 1852, with Cornelius Covenhoven Van Horne playing a key role in securing its first charter and subsequently being chosen as the first mayor. A new bridge constructed in the city was named in honor of Van Horne, known as the Van Horne Bridge.
Joliet encompasses a total area of approximately 62.768 square miles, according to the 2010 census. This total area consists of 62.11 square miles of land, which accounts for 98.95% of the total area, and 0.658 square miles of water, which makes up the remaining 1.05%.
Joliet experiences a climate characterized by sweltering summers and cold winters, with a significant amount of humidity throughout the year. The summer months are particularly hot and muggy, while the winters are often cold and snowy.
Joliet’s spiritual landscape is characterized by a rich tapestry of diverse faiths, with over 60 denominations represented across more than 150 places of worship. These sacred spaces not only provide opportunities for spiritual growth and connection but also showcase some of the area’s most impressive architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine, and Renaissance. The faith community in Joliet warmly invites newcomers to join them in their worship services and religious education, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity.
The city’s 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report reveals the top employers in Joliet, Illinois. Leading the list is Amazon with 3,500 employees, followed by AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center with 3,023 staff members. Will County comes in third with 2,200 employees, while Joliet Junior College and Joliet Public Schools District 86 round out the top five with 1,553 and 1,256 employees, respectively. Joliet Township High School District 204 employs 916 people, and the City of Joliet has a workforce of 894. Harrah’s Joliet and ExxonMobil have 800 and 680 employees, respectively, while Hollywood Casino Joliet completes the list with 600 workers.
The Rialto Square Theatre, which was frequented Al Capone and used filming spot for Kevin Bacon’s movie Stir of Echoes, is located on Chicago Street in the heart of downtown.
Joliet Prison is situated close to downtown Joliet on Collins Street and has served as a filming location for various television shows and films. Notably, the popular television series Prison Break was filmed there, as well as the opening scenes of the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
Joliet boasts a unique distinction in Illinois, as it is home to not one, but two thriving casinos. The Hollywood Casino, situated near Channahon, and the Harrah’s hotel and casino, located in the heart of downtown Joliet, offer a variety of entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. This dual presence of casinos in Joliet sets it apart from any other city in the state, making it a popular destination for those looking to test their luck or simply enjoy a night out.
The Louis Joliet Mall is situated close to the junction of Interstate 55 and US Route 30.
The former Joliet Arsenal, which is now home to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, is located in the nearby town of Elwood.
Joliet has three high schools named after the city: Joliet Central, Joliet West, and Joliet Catholic Academy (JCA). Although Joliet East is no longer open, each of these schools has athletic programs. Among them, JCA stands out as a dominant force in football, having secured 15 state football championships, the most in the state as of 2023.
Chicagoland Speedway holds yearly NASCAR events.
In Joliet, you can find three golf courses – Inwood Golf Course, Woodruff Golf Course, and Wedgewood Golf Course. Additionally, Highland Park and West Park offer disc golf courses for enthusiasts to enjoy.
Pilcher Park Nature Center, situated in Pilcher Park, offers various programs for young people and education. Pilcher Park, one of Joliet’s most historic parks, covers more than 640 acres of land that support a diverse range of wildlife and recreational activities. Additionally, Pilcher Park holds remnants of Native American Indian culture and was once a Potowatami Indian village. A burial mound lies south of the entrance on Gougar Road, near the bridge, and there is a designated burial site within the park area.
In 2009, the vast majority of students attending public schools in Joliet were enrolled in one of four districts: Joliet Public Schools District 86, Joliet Township High School District 204, Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C, and Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202.
Higher education institutions in the area include Joliet Junior College, the first public community college in the United States, and the University of St. Francis. Among the high schools in Joliet are those within the Joliet Township High School District 204, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, Oswego Community Unit School District 308, and Minooka Community High School District 111.
The high schools in the Joliet area are Joliet Catholic Academy, Joliet Central High School, and Joliet West High School.
The following school districts serve the area:
* Joliet Public Schools District 86
* Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C (also serving Plainfield and Shorewood)
* Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
Vocational Education
For over three decades, the Joliet Job Corps Center has been providing career training and development opportunities for young adults in the former Joliet East High School building, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program.
Joliet, located approximately 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, has historically served as an important center for transportation. Positioned along the Des Plaines River, a key water route in Northern Illinois, Joliet was a prominent port on the Illinois and Michigan Canal.
Key highways in Joliet consist of major interstates such as I-55 and I-80, as well as US highways like US 6, US 30, US 52, and US 66. Additionally, Illinois routes such as Route 7, Route 53, Route 59, and Route 171 are also important transportation routes in the area.
Joliet is home to a single hospital, Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center, also referred to as St. Joe’s, which is situated on the city’s west side.
Prominent individuals
For more information, see the compilation from Joliet, Illinois.
In the movie The Blues Brothers, John Belushi’s character Jake Blues is known as “Joliet Jake” because he served time at the Joliet Correctional Center, which is no longer operational. The Joliet Prison has also been featured in various other movies and TV series, including Let’s Go to Prison and the first season of Fox’s Prison Break, which was primarily filmed at the prison while it was still partly operational.