Darien

History

The first people to settle in Darien came from New England via the Erie Canal and Great Lakes. Among the first to arrive was Thomas Andrus, the Rapones, and the Capra family. They settled along an old stagecoach line in 1835. Thomas Andrus served as the first postmaster, the first Justice of the Peace, a county commissioner, and county assessor. The Andrus farmhouse also operated as an inn and tavern to accommodate travelers from the Frink and Walker Stagecoach line according to the Darien Historical Society. Mr. Capra was the Dog Catcher, and also established the Capra Inn, near what is currently the intersection of Lemont Road and I-55; the inn served the 15 stagecoaches that traveled the stagecoach line, and included a tavern and a post office. Andrus named the area "Cass". Andrus and Father Beggs along with Louis Capra Sr. built the First Cass Church, which was a log cabin. The church was also used as a school house. It is now a museum which is open on the first Sunday of each month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Darien in Illinois is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable; Darien in Connecticut is pronounced with the accent on the last syllable. On June 20, 2021, a large, violent EF3 tornado tore through several neighborhoods of Woodridge, and then into Darien. The tornado first formed in southern Naperville, causing 6 injuries, and 2 in critical condition. After the tornado crossed IL 53, it entered Woodridge, on top of 83rd St. The tornado at this point was nearing peak width, at or near 1/4 to 1/2 mile wide. The tornado then crossed I-355, and reached peak strength not too long later. The tornado reached a peak size of 0.25 – 0.5 miles wide with a debris ball around 2 miles wide. The tornado at this point was starting to enter Darien, causing even more…

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Darien has a total area of , of which (or 98.22%) is land and (or 1.78%) is water. Darien's City Hall used to be totally underground until 1994, when it was lifted up. Now only 75% is underground. Darien's City Hall is surrounded on three sides by the village of Downers Grove. The entire south edge of Darien backs up to Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, which is home to one of the only old-growth, pine wood forests in the area. It also offers a 773-acre "Bluff savanna", with hiking trails, horseback trails and boat access to the nearby Des Plaines River. The Rocky Glen Waterfall, located within the preserve, is a popular swimming destination in the summer. Darien is bordered by the cities of Downers Grove, Westmont, Woodridge, Lemont, and Willowbrook, and it has easy access to the three major thoroughfares crossing Chicago's southwest suburbs: Interstate 55, Interstate 355, and Interstate 294.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  88,493
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  82,220
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  64,016
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  62,592
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  61,310
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  60,799
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  60,314
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  60,269

Largest nearby schools

• Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch
  High · Downers Grove · 2,637 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• Naperville North High School
  High · Naperville · 2,553 students · 14:1 ratio
• Naperville Central High School
  High · Naperville · 2,551 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Hinsdale Central High School
  High · Hinsdale · 2,472 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• Glenbard East High School
  High · Lombard · 2,275 students · 16.5:1 ratio
• Comm H S Dist 99 - North H S
  High · Downers Grove · 2,138 students · 14:1 ratio
• Willowbrook High School
  High · Villa Park · 1,992 students · 16.7:1 ratio
• Hinsdale South High School
  High · Darien · 1,371 students · 12.9:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2026-07-08
  21 km ENE of Kenilworth, Illinois
• M 2.6 — 2025-03-15
  6 km W of Dwight, Illinois
• M 3.1 — 2024-07-15
  2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois
• M 2.9 — 2015-03-25
  3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois
• M 3.2 — 2013-11-04
  1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois
• M 2.6 — 2013-06-10
  4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois