Plainfield, which was formerly named Walker’s Grove by its first permanent settler James Walker in 1828, is Will County’s oldest community. In 1833 the first governmental land sales occurred in what is today’s Will County. The Dupage River is what attracted the earliest settlers to Plainfield with easy access to timber to frame their homes. Plainfield also claims to be the home of the infamous ice cream sundae. A local druggist created it after his patients pushed for something different to be served to them. He named it Sonnetag after his surname, which is Sunday in German.
There are many places that make this historic town of Plainfield, Illinois a great community. From its historical center to its Copley Nature Park, one of the largest protected Heron nesting sites, Plainfield can offer a beautiful community to enjoy and be apart of. Plainfield is also known for their historic downtown area, great for shopping and dining.
In addition, there are many other attractions that draw people and businesses in to this historical area. Transforming from a small town image to a modern suburb of the Chicago area, people are getting the most out from the benefits of this area. Only 35 miles southwest of Chicago, Plainfield the oldest community in Will County is also one of the fastest growing. With easy access to major highways and interstates, people are finding Plainfield to be a convenient and accessible location.
The population of Plainfield grew a considerable 31.5% from 2000 to 2003, from 13,038 to 17,193 with a land area of 11.6 square miles. Today after the 2003 consensus the population is at roughly 20,673. By the year 2030 it is projected to be 65,744.
Look out for new things in this growing area, a new racetrack and entertainment dome will be going up soon. This will be a great attraction for the family as well as a great tourist attraction profiting the community as a whole
