A southwest-suburban city about 21 miles from the Chicago Loop, bordered on the south by Waterfall Glen.
01 — At a Glance
Darien was settled in 1835 as Cass, along an old stagecoach line, and incorporated as a city in 1969. It’s named for Darien, Connecticut. The 2020 census counted 22,011 residents. The city sits just north of I-55 and historic Route 66, and its entire south edge borders Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. The ZIP code is 60561.
02 — History
Before it was Darien, this was Cass, a stop on a stagecoach line with an inn, a tavern and a log church. A few chapters from the city’s past.
1835
Settlers from New England arrived by the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes and settled along the Frink and Walker stagecoach line. Thomas Andrus, the first postmaster, named the area Cass, and his farmhouse doubled as an inn.
Source: Wikipedia: Darien, Illinois
1838
Elisha and Eliza Smart came to Cass with their ten children. Elisha went to California in the Gold Rush, came back well off, and gave land for a new Cass Church in 1870.
Source: Wikipedia: Darien, Illinois
1881
Franklin Blanchard opened a cheese factory in 1881, one of the area’s early businesses.
Source: Wikipedia: Darien, Illinois
1903
Martin B. Madden, who married into the Smart family, built a home in 1903 modeled on the White House.
Source: Wikipedia: Darien, Illinois
1969
The area incorporated as the City of Darien in 1969, named for Darien, Connecticut.
Source: Wikipedia: Darien, Illinois
03 — Education
Darien’s grade schools come from a few districts, and most high school students attend Hinsdale South, which is in the city. Part of Darien attends Darien South.
Boundaries follow the address. Confirm school assignment for each address with the district before you buy.
Search HomesPublic · Grades 9–12
Operates Hinsdale South High School in Darien.
Public · K–8
Elementary and junior high schools in the city.
Independent
A private school through eighth grade.
Source: Wikipedia: Darien, Illinois
04 — Lifestyle
With Waterfall Glen along the whole south edge, a lot of Darien’s free time happens on the trails.
Hiking and horse trails, a 773-acre bluff savanna and access to the Des Plaines River.
The waterfall inside the preserve is a favorite summer stop.
Waterfall Glen holds one of the few old pine woods in the area.
Darien’s city hall was built almost entirely underground and was raised in 1994.
The old highway runs along Darien’s south side as Frontage Road.
Darien borders Darien, Westmont, Woodridge, Lemont and Willowbrook.
The Stevenson runs just south of the city.
Both tollways are a short drive away.
Bus service connects Darien to Westmont and beyond.
Source: Wikipedia: Darien, Illinois
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