Plainfield is a village located in the states of Illinois, specifically in Will and Kendall counties. As per the 2020 census, the population of Plainfield was recorded at 44,762.
The village consists of territory in Plainfield and Wheatland townships in Will County, as well as Na-Au-Say and Oswego townships in Kendall County.
The “Plainfield Tornado” struck on August 28, 1990, resulting in the deaths of 29 individuals, with 24 fatalities occurring immediately and 350 people sustaining injuries. Over 1,100 residences were either damaged or demolished as the tornado tore through a distance of more than 16 miles (26 km) in just 8 minutes. Notably, the tornado leveled the sole high school in Plainfield at that time, which is now known as Plainfield Central High School. Following the disaster, Plainfield experienced a surge in population growth towards the end of the 20th century, leading to the development of numerous new residential areas. Prior to this event, Plainfield was predominantly known as an agricultural community.
Plainfield is situated in the northwestern region of Will County, with its village boundaries stretching towards the eastern section of Kendall County. It is surrounded by Naperville to the north, Bolingbrook to the northeast, Romeoville to the east, and Joliet to the south. To the west lies farmland in Kendall County.
During the 19th century, the commercial area of Plainfield was characterized by a variety of wooden structures, ranging in height from one to two stories, with diverse architectural styles and sizes. These buildings often featured awnings made of wood and metal, as well as decorative elements such as false fronts, horizontal wood cornices, or large display windows.
During the early days of Plainfield, the church buildings were mainly constructed with wood frames and showcased architectural styles such as Greek Revival and Gothic Revival. These structures were erected along the unpaved roads that crisscrossed the area. In the 1850s, four separate religious groups, including Methodists, Congregationalists, Baptists, and Evangelicals, built their own churches along Lockport Street.
In 1841, the Universalist church constructed the Town Hall Opera House, which was later adopted by the town of Plainfield in 1911 for use as a town hall and performance venue. The building has undergone numerous renovations over the years, yet it retains its original Greek-style trim and features a characteristic Greek entablature supported by all four corners.
Plainfield’s major roads include:
* Interstate Highways: Interstate 55
* US Highways: US 30, US 66
* Illinois Highways: Route 59, Route 126
On May 6, 2013, the Pace bus system increased the service of routes 755 and 855 to include Plainfield. These routes offer weekday rush hour service in both directions from Plainfield Village Center to Downtown Chicago. One route ends at the Illinois Medical District while the other concludes in Chicago’s East Loop.
Plainfield Central High School is part of Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, which covers areas of Plainfield, Joliet, Crest Hill, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, and Plainfield Township in Will County, including unincorporated regions.
Plainfield has produced a diverse range of accomplished individuals. Noteworthy figures include Kapri Bibbs, an NFL running back who won Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos and attended Plainfield North High School; comedian, actor, and writer Joel Kim Booster, who was born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Plainfield; Lisa Chesson, an Olympic defenseman who played for the U.S. women’s ice hockey team and was born and raised in Plainfield; Shea Couleé, a drag queen known for competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, who was raised in Plainfield; Nate Fox, a power forward and center who has played for several European teams; John Henebry, a US Air Force general who was born in Plainfield; Maurizio Iacono, a Canadian-born recording artist and singer for the heavy metal band Kataklysm; Eric Johnson, an NFL defensive tackle who was raised in Plainfield and attended Plainfield South High School before being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts; actress Melissa McCarthy, who was born in Plainfield; Kahmari Montgomery, a professional track athlete for Nike; Kristopher Prather, a professional ten-pin bowler and winner of the 2019 PBA Tour Playoffs who resides in Plainfield; and Alexander Ratiu, a Romanian political prisoner who served as a priest at St. Mary Immaculate Church from 1975 to 1982. Additionally, Warren L. Wood, an Illinois politician, lived in Plainfield.