Aurora was founded in 1837 by Joseph and Samuel McCarty, who named it after a city in their native state, New York. Located in the fertile Fox Valley the town grew quickly with settlers from the east. Aurora had everything the settlers could dream of — fresh water, game for hunting, lumber for building and a burgeoning population with whom to trade.

Aurora's population has grown to more than 180,000, with a total of nearly 350,000 people living in a 10-mile radius of greater Aurora. The City now boasts retail sales of more than a billion dollars annually and growing. Aurora is home to eight museums, six golf courses, a casino, water parks, and trails for hiking, biking and skiing.

To visit the City's web site, visit www.Aurora-IL.org.