Elmhurst is a municipality located predominantly in DuPage County with some parts extending into Cook County within the state of Illinois in the United States. It is positioned as a suburb to the west of Chicago.

The Elmhurst region was initially inhabited by the Potawatomi Native American tribe, who established their settlements along Salt Creek, situated just south of the area that would eventually become the city.

Elmhurst was recognized by Family Circle magazine in 2014 as one of the top ten U.S. towns for families.

Elmhurst boasts a total area of 10.28 square miles, as per the 2021 census gazetteer files. This total area is composed of 10.22 square miles of land, which accounts for 99.42% of the total, and 0.06 square miles of water, making up the remaining 0.58%.

The town has experienced a history of flooding following heavy rainfall due to its local topography.

In the city, there were 45,12,110 families as recorded in the 2020 census.

The 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from Elmhurst reveals the city’s leading employers. Topping the list is Edward-Elmhurst Hospital with 2,758 employees, followed by McMaster-Carr Supply Company with 800 workers. Elmhurst University comes in third with 600 employees, while Duchossois Enterprises Group and Altorfer Power Systems (a Caterpillar dealer) tie for fourth place with 450 employees each. Rounding out the top seven are Semblex Corporation (260 employees), Superior Sound, Inc. (250), and FedEx Freight (200). Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service and Safway Services, LLC each employ 200 workers, respectively.

Elmhurst boasts an array of remarkable residential properties, crafted by renowned architects such as Mies van der Rohe (McCormick House), Frank Lloyd Wright (F.B. Henderson House), Walter Burley Griffin (William H. Emery House and Sloane House), and R. Harold Zook.

In June 1882, Elmhurst was officially incorporated as a village. By 1910, the city adopted a new form of government.

Elmhurst University is a nearby institution of higher learning that serves the local community. It is a private liberal arts college that offers a four-year curriculum and is associated with the United Church of Christ.

School districts in Elmhurst consist of Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, which covers the majority of the city and is home to York Community High School. Additionally, there are Salt Creek School District 48, DuPage High School District 88, and Hillside School District 93, which serves the Cook County part of Elmhurst. Students from Hillside School District 93 typically attend Proviso West High School within the Proviso Township High Schools District 209 after completing their education there.

Elmhurst enjoys convenient transportation options, including Pace buses and the Metra Union Pacific West Line, which stops at the Elmhurst station. The Metra line also accommodates freight service operated by the Union Pacific Railroad, while the Canadian National Railway utilizes the former Illinois Central line south of the Metra line, also known as the Freeport Subdivision. For those traveling by air, O’Hare International Airport is just 18 minutes from Elmhurst, and Chicago Midway International Airport is approximately 33 minutes away.

Famous Residents
Primary Article: Elmhurst, Illinois’s Distinguished Individuals