Des Plaines, Illinois is a suburb of Chicago and forms part of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Those moving to Des Plains will discover a city that is well organized, with good schools and friendly people.
Economy:
The largest employers are UOP, the Holy Family Medical Center, Oakton Community College, Sysco and the Consolidated School District.
Manufacturing of electronic equipment and chemicals; and car repair centers account for further jobs.
History:
The original inhabitants of the area now known as Des Plaines were the Ottawa, Potawatomi and Ojibwe Native Americans. The first documented settlement of the area by Europeans was in 1833 when New Englanders and New Yorkers came to the area then known as Rand; followed in the 1840s and 1850s by immigrants from Germany. Des Plaines was officially incorporated as a town in 1874 and in 1925 was incorporated as a city.
Tourism:
Des Plaines has many diverse places of entertainment, chief among them being the Des Plaines Casino. Family fun is to be enjoyed at The Choo-Choo Restaurant where a train delivers the orders. This restaurant has been in business since 1952 and has not been modernized, thereby evoking a feeling of nostalgia. The McDonald's Museum depicts the first McDonald's restaurant and the history of the company. The American Toby Jug Museum is a one of a kind in the United States.
The many lakes surrounding the city offer beautiful countryside views, water sports and fishing; while the Des Plaines Forest Preserve along the Des Plaines River is a favorite for hikes and walks.