Joliet, Illinois

Joliet is a city located in both Will and Kendall County, Illinois and is a suburb southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County{{GR|6}}. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 106,221; a 2003 special census revealed the city's population to be 120,782.

Transportation

Situated approximately 40 miles southwest of central Chicago, Joliet has long been a significant transportation hub. It lies on both sides of the Des Plaines River, a major waterway in Chicagoland, and was one of the principal ports on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern (EJ&E) railroad came through in the 1850s, and the Santa Fe line soon followed. U.S. Highways 6 (the Grand Army of the Republic Highway), 30 (the Lincoln Highway), 45, 52, and 66 (Route 66) all ran through the city. In the 1960s, Interstate 55 and Interstate 80 made their way through Joliet, linking up near Channahon just west of the city limits. The phrase "Crossroads of Mid-America", found on the Joliet seal, is an allusion to the intersection of I-80 and I-55.

Related Topics:
Des Plaines River - Chicagoland - Illinois and Michigan Canal - Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern - Railroad - Santa Fe - 6 - 30 - 45 - 52 - 66 - Interstate 55 - Interstate 80 - Channahon

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