South Elgin, a village in Kane County, Illinois, had a population of 23,865 according to the 2020 census. It has been recognized as one of the best places to live in the country, ranked 82nd out of 100 in Money magazine’s “America’s Best Places to Live” edition in 2007 and 98th out of 100 in 2011.

The town known as South Elgin was first named “Clintonville” after James Clinton, a prominent settler in the area. The name was changed to South Elgin in the year 1907.

South Elgin is situated in the eastern part of Kane County, nestled within the Fox River Valley. To the north, it is bound by the city of Elgin, while the village of Bartlett lies to the east. The picturesque Fox River runs through the heart of South Elgin, with the community stretching out on both sides of its banks.

The 2010 census reports that South Elgin has a total area of approximately 7.157 square miles, with 6.99 square miles consisting of land and 0.167 square miles consisting of water, which translates to a land percentage of 97.67% and a water percentage of 2.33%.

Unit School District U46 and D303 provide educational services to the village. U46 covers approximately 90 square miles across Cook, DuPage, and Kane counties, catering to nearly 40,000 school-aged children, making it the second-largest district in Illinois. On the other hand, District 303 serves the village with a coverage area of 57 square miles in the Fox River Valley, accommodating 13,590 students.

Pace offers bus transportation on Route 801 that links Elgin, Geneva, and various other locations.

Museum dedicated to Fox River Trolley.