The Village of Des Plaines was first incorporated in 1869 and had a population of a mere 800 people in 1870 – according to the federal census of that year. Many farmers settled in or around Des Plaines because of the convenience of the railroad that ran from Chicago to Janesville, Wisconsin. Des Plaines elected its first Mayor, H.T. Bennet, in 1925. After World War II, the population of Des Plaines grew immensely – jumping from 9,000 to over 50,000 inhabitants.
Over the past 20 years, Des Plaines has become a major hub as a distributing center, as well as the headquarter location of various major corporations. With the convenience of O’Hare Airport nearby along with good railroads and a network of expressways, the development of Des Plaines has grown rapidly. Not only is Des Plaines a prime location for businesses, but it has also grown significantly in the number of residential homes.
Today, Des Plaines boasts a population of near 60,000 people, has nationally recognized school systems, a multitude of thriving businesses, and an assortment of community facilities, organizations, and programs to support the growth and development of the village.