Best Web Design in Elmhurst, IL (2026)

Web Design for Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst is an affluent, tree-shaded DuPage County suburb about 16 miles west of downtown Chicago, first known as "Cottage Hill" before it was renamed in 1869 for the elms lining its streets. A farming town turned commuter suburb after the railroad arrived in 1849, it grew into a community of stately homes, strong schools, and a lively downtown. It is home to Elmhurst University, a beloved lapidary-art museum's former home, one of the Chicago area's biggest St. Patrick's Day parades, and a deep quarry that doubles as flood-control infrastructure.

AppWT works with Elmhurst, IL businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About Elmhurst

Also known as. Named for its elm trees (from which "Elmhurst" was coined in 1869). City mottos: "Close to Everything, Unlike Anything" and "Ideal for your business, your family, your life".

History. The Potawatomi lived along Salt Creek before European-American settlers arrived around 1836; Gerry Bates of Ohio established an early settlement in 1842. The community was first called Cottage Hill after the Hill Cottage inn/tavern (opened 1843), a stagecoach stop midway between Chicago and the Fox Valley. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (now Union Pacific) reached the area in 1849, giving farmers access to Chicago markets. Renamed Elmhurst in 1869 for its planted elm trees; resident Thomas Barbour Bryan is remembered as the "Father of Elmhurst." Incorporated as a village on June 5, 1882, adopted a city form of government in 1910, and its Memorial Day parade tradition dates to 1918.

Local economy. Top employers include Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare (roughly 2,800 employees) and Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205. McMaster-Carr Supply Company, the major industrial-parts distributor, employs around 800 people in the city. Elmhurst University (founded 1871) is another leading employer. The Keebler Company was headquartered in Elmhurst until 2001, when Kellogg's acquired it; the site traces back to the Sunshine Biscuits legacy. Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, founded in 1926, was the first hospital in DuPage County; the city's 2020 median household income was about $123,869.

Culture and community. Elmhurst's St. Patrick's Day Parade is billed as the third-largest parade of its kind in the Chicago area. "Art in Wilder Park" each spring is a juried show featuring 100-plus artists, live music, and dozens of food vendors. Elmhurst University hosts a long-running jazz festival drawing college and professional musicians. A seasonal free Elmhurst Express Trolley runs on weekends, and the walkable downtown anchors community life.

What makes Elmhurst distinct. The city's giant former limestone quarry serves as flood-control infrastructure, capable of holding on the order of 8,300 acre-feet (about 10 million cubic meters) of stormwater. Notable people tied to Elmhurst include NBA All-Star Jeff Hornacek, Olympic gymnast Betty Okino, and 2025 Nobel laureate biomedical scientist Fred Ramsdell. Poet and Lincoln biographer Carl Sandburg lived in Elmhurst during the 1920s. Musicians linked to Elmhurst include Tom Higgenson of Plain White T's. The name itself is a fusion of "elm" and "hurst" (a wooded hill), coined in 1869 to replace the older name Cottage Hill.

Elmhurst is a family-oriented western suburb of Chicago in DuPage County, recognized by Family Circle magazine in 2014 as one of the ten best U.S. towns for families.

Elmhurst Landmarks and Local Life

• Elmhurst Art Museum - Houses a McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe
• Wilder Mansion - Historic mansion in Wilder Park
• Elmhurst Quarry - About 59-acre, roughly 150-foot-deep limestone quarry west of downtown used for stormwater management
• Wilder Park - Central park home to the Wilder Park Conservatory and the Elmhurst Public Library
• Elmhurst Park District - Manages 28 parks and 21 facilities across the city

Elmhurst at a Glance

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023.

• Median household income: About $145,374
• Adults with a bachelor degree or higher: About 63%
• Housing: About 79.7% of housing units are owner-occupied
• Housing: About 72.9% of housing units are single-family detached homes