Why Elgin? The answer is simple.

You'll find a quality of life that includes a wide array of attractive housing, exceptional schools, a community rich in cultural diversity, acres of park land and a variety of leisure and recreational amenities right at your doorstep. While we're only a half-hour drive to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, you'll find that Elgin is a city in the suburbs with an international flavor, home to corporations around the world.

For more information about Elgin's businesses, be sure to visit the business search section at the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce web site. There's also a page of web links there for Elgin's cultural, recreation and activity attractions.

Otherwise, as you're getting to know Elgin better, consider these Fast Facts:

•	Over 100,000 people, representing many cultures, call Elgin home. By 2030, it is estimated, Elgin will gain 68,000 new residents, 26,000 more homes and an additional 30,000 new jobs.
•	Elgin has nearly 1,200 acres of parks and scenic riverfront areas, and over 4,000 acres of forest preserves, nature trails and bike paths.
•	There are four public and private golf courses within a 15-mile radius, including the new Highlands of Elgin.
•	Elgin has three highway interchanges adjacent to I-90, the Northwest Tollway's Golden Corridor lines with corporate headquarters and high-tech companies.
•	You'll find Elgin has over 150 religious institutions, representing most faiths, within a 14-mile radius.
•	More than 60 public and private elementary, middle and high schools serve the Elgin area.
•	Metra, the area's local commuter train, offers direct access to downtown Chicago from three Elgin stations, including National Street, which recently underwent a $10M renovation.
•	Elgin is home to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, three time winner of the Orchestra of the Year, which draws subscribers from around the Chicagoland metropolitan area.
•	Each year, patrons of the Hemmens Cultural Center enjoy performances by stars such as B.B. King, Bob Newhart and Garrison Keillor. The summer months offer outdoor venues such as Concerts in the Park and Shakespeare in the Park.
•	The Centre, Elgin's new $35M recreation and community center offers residents year-round recreational activities.
•	Every Memorial Day weekend, Elgin is host to over 3,000 runners who participate in the annual Valley Fox Trot Race.
•	Elgin offers a wide array of housing styles and price points. You'll find historic Victorian mansions and active adults communities; modern, state-of-the-art, amenity-filled homes; trendy downtown townhomes and condominiums; and beautiful country homes nestled in wooded, tranquil settings.
•	Higher educational opportunities in Elgin include Elgin Community College, Judson College and branch campuses of National-Louis University, Keller Graduate School of Management, Columbia College of Missouri, Elgin and Roosevelt University.