Aurora, Illinois

Aurora is a city located in Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall counties in Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 142,990; in 2003, a special census found the city's population to be 157,267, making it the second-largest city in Illinois, behind Chicago and just ahead of Rockford. About 110,000 of the city's residents reside in Kane County, while about 42,000 live in DuPage County. Only a few thousand Aurorians are in Will and Kendall Counties.

Landmarks

The city is the location of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) and Aurora University. A major Hindu temple and an Islamic Mosque are located near IMSA. There are two Malls within Aurora city limits: The Fox Valley Mall (which opened in the 1970s and is now known as Westfield Shoppingtown Fox Valley), itself a large indoor mall with four anchor tenants, is also surrounded by many shopping and dining complexes (most commonly a series of "strip malls"), along Illinois State Route 59 in the DuPage County portion of the city, near Naperville. The second is the "Chicago Premium Outlets Mall," (opened in 2004) which, despite the name, is accessible from the Farnsworth Road (North) exit off of Interstate 88, and lies fully within Aurora city limits.

Related Topics:
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy - Aurora University - Hindu - Mall - Illinois State Route 59 - Naperville - Interstate 88

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Downtown Aurora is home to the Paramount Arts Centre, a large live performance theater on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hollywood Casino, Scitech Hands on Museum, and a branch campus of Waubonsee Community College. Downtown Alive, a festival that includes live music and a variety of food booths, is held every Friday night in the summer. Roughly 8,000-10,000 people attend every Friday night. Downtown Aurora is also hosts the annual Midwest Literary Festival during the second weekend in September.

Related Topics:
Paramount Arts Centre - National Register of Historic Places - Waubonsee Community College - Midwest Literary Festival - September

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There are three independent school districts with headquarters in Aurora, and students living in Aurora also attend schools of the Batavia, Illinois and Oswego, Illinois school districts. Some students living on the far west side of Aurora attend Kaneland schools, which are headquartered in Maple Park, Illinois. Further information can be found in the Aurora, Illinois Public School Systems article.

Related Topics:
Batavia, Illinois - Oswego, Illinois - Maple Park, Illinois - Aurora, Illinois Public School Systems

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