Aurora Real Estate | Homes For Sale in Aurora
Historic Aurora, Illinois is the perfect place for your new home and thanks to this website, investing in real estate there has never been easier. Browse though the many pages of helpful information on Aurora, IL and the surrounding area and you'll be convinced: Aurora, Illinois is the place for you.
Aurora, Illinois: City of Lights
Are you an Easterner or a Westerner? History is one of Aurora, IL's proudest features, and no aspect of the town's history is more prominent than the rivalry that has existed between the East and the West sides of town for more than a hundred years.
Ever since the McCartney brothers and the Lake brothers opened competing mills on the East and West sides of the Fox River in what would later become Aurora, Illinois, East Aurora and West Aurora have been engaged in friendly competition. West Aurora emerged as the more affluent half of the city, with East Aurora being the traditional home of Aurora's more blue-collar manufacturing jobs.
The two sides of the river were incorporated together as the town of Aurora, IL in 1857, and since neither side would agree to allow the civic centers and public buildings to be built on their rival's side of the river, most were constructed on Stolp Island, in the middle of the river. The town was one of the first cities in the country to adopt an all-electric street lighting system in 1881, thus earning it the nickname "City of Lights."
The modern city of Aurora, IL is located primarily in Kane county, with outlying areas encroaching into DuPage, Kendall, and Will counties. With a population of around 170,000, it is the second largest city in the state of Illinois, second only to nearby Chicago. The city itself covers 38.5 square miles, giving it an average population density as compared to other cities in the United States.
In Aurora's early days manufacturing was the primary basis of its industry. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad construction and repair shops was the city's largest employer from 1856 until their closure in 1974. Today Aurora is part of the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor, and the old railroad repair shop has been converted into Walter Payton's Roundhouse, one of the area's most popular restaurants.
History also plays a large role in Aurora's entertainment industry. Buildings on the historical register litter the downtown area, and there are several historical museums including the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and one run by the Aurora historical society that showcase the city's proud history.
Other interesting things to see in Aurora, Illinois: the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple of Greater Chicago, the Phillips Park Zoo, the SciTech Interactive Science Museum, the Stonebridge Country Club (host to several PGA and LPGA events over the years), playing in and watching the games of amateur fast-pitch softball games, and the city's most popular pastime: attending high-school sporting events in which East Aurora high schools are pitted against West Aurora high schools.
Aurora, IL Neighborhoods
Whether you're an Easterner or Westerner at heart, there's a neighborhood in Aurora that's perfect for you and your family. Real estate prices there are about average for the country. Family houses and townhouses run on average from $108,000 to $160,000 and renters can expect to pay around $908 per month.
If you're looking for a nice single-family house or townhome in a middle class neighborhood, consider Cherry Hill, which is near the Blackberry Historical Farm, or Foxcroft, home of the Illinois Math and Science Academy.
For the apartment seeker, Downtown Aurora, Illinois is steeped in history. Many historical landmarks such as the Leland Tower and the Paramount Theater are located there. Or for a more economical solution, try Copleyville.
If it's cultural heritage you're after, there are several neighborhoods in Aurora which are the historic homes of immigrants from a particular nation. Dutchtown was the traditional destination for German immigrants, Uptown was predominately Hispanic, Pigeon Hill was Romanian and Little Italy, of course, was Italian.
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