# Downers Grove Township, Illinois

Downers Grove Township is one of nine townships in DuPage County, Illinois, US. As of the 2020 census, its population was 149,921 and it contained 61,933 housing units. It is the largest township in the county, both in terms of area and population.

## History

Downers Grove Township is named for Pierce Downer, who settled in the neighborhood about 1830.
In the mid 1800s Dexter Stanley donated land to build the Oak Hill Cemetery. Along with the adjacent Oak Crest Cemetery, both are still used today as Township maintained Cemeteries.

## Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Downers Grove Township has a total area of 50.97 square miles (132.01 km$^2$), of which 49.66 square miles (128.62 km$^2$) (or 97.41%) is land and 1.32 square miles (3.42 km$^2$) (or 2.59%) is water.

### Cities, towns, villages

* Bolingbrook (small portion)
* Burr Ridge (half)
* Clarendon Hills
* Darien
* Downers Grove (mostly)
* Hinsdale (mostly)
* Lemont (part)
* Oak Brook (small portion)
* Westmont (mostly)
* Willow Springs (small portion)
* Willowbrook
* Woodridge (part)

### Unincorporated towns

* Argonne at 41°43′06″N 87°58′44″W﻿ / ﻿41.7183°N 87.9789°W﻿ / 41.7183; -87.9789
* Fullersburg at 41°49′05″N 87°55′06″W﻿ / ﻿41.818087°N 87.918394°W﻿ / 41.818087; -87.918394
* Lace at 41°45′07″N 87°58′03″W﻿ / ﻿41.751975°N 87.967560°W﻿ / 41.751975; -87.967560
* Palisades at 41°42′49″N 87°56′01″W﻿ / ﻿41.713643°N 87.933669°W﻿ / 41.713643; -87.933669
(This list is based on USGS data and may include former settlements.)

### Extinct towns

* Cass at 41°43′48″N 87°58′52″W﻿ / ﻿41.730060°N 87.981210°W﻿ / 41.730060; -87.981210
* Gostyn at 41°47′44″N 87°59′40″W﻿ / ﻿41.795556°N 87.994444°W﻿ / 41.795556; -87.994444
* Tedens at 41°41′40″N 87°58′22″W﻿ / ﻿41.694476°N 87.972837°W﻿ / 41.694476; -87.972837
(These towns are listed as "historical" by the USGS.)

### Cemeteries

The township contains these cemeteries: Cass, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Fullersburg, Hinsdale Animal, Oak Crest, Oak Hill, Pierce Downer, Saint Johns Lutheran, Saint Mary of Gostyn and Saint Patricks Catholic, Zion Lutheran.

### Major highways

* Interstate 55
* Interstate 88
* Interstate 355
* U.S. Route 34
* U.S. Route 66
* Illinois Route 83

### Airports and landing strips

* Argonne Heliport
* Brookeridge Airpark
* Darien-Woodridge Fire Department Heliport
* Madison Avenue Venture Heliport
* Midwest Heliport

### Rivers

* Des Plaines River

### Lakes

* Brookeridge Lake
* Bruce Lake
* Darien Lake
* Golfview Lake
* Hidden Lake
* Lake Charles
* Lake Hinsdale
* Maple Lake
* Picadilly Lake
* Ruth Lake
* Timber Lake
* Twin Lakes

### Landmarks

* Argonne National Laboratory
* DuPage County Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

### Adjacent townships

* York Township (north)
* Milton Township (northwest)
* Lisle Township (west)
* Lyons Township, Cook County (east)
* Lemont Township, Cook County (south)
* Proviso Township, Cook County (northwest)
* Palos Township, Cook County (southeast)
* DuPage Township, Will County (west southwest)

## Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 149,921 people, 57,993 households, and 40,301 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,941.13 inhabitants per square mile (1,135.58/km$^2$). There were 61,933 housing units at an average density of 1,214.99 per square mile (469.11/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the township was 74.61% White, 4.55% African American, 0.27% Native American, 10.87% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.65% from other races, and 7.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.32% of the population.
There were 57,993 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.96% were married couples living together, 7.79% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 30.51% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.
The township's age distribution consisted of 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $98,914, and the median income for a family was $128,804. Males had a median income of $71,819 versus $43,567 for females. The per capita income for the township was $58,647. About 4.2% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 census

Downers Grove Township, DuPage County, Illinois – Racial and Ethnic Composition (NH = Non-Hispanic) Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 114,704 | 109,153 | 78.14% | 72.81% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,679 | 6,678 | 4.55% | 4.45% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 117 | 104 | 0.08% | 0.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 13,342 | 16,185 | 9.09% | 10.80% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 27 | 59 | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 173 | 407 | 0.12% | 0.27% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 2,161 | 4,863 | 1.47% | 3.24% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9,592 | 12,472 | 6.53% | 8.32% |
| Total | 146,795 | 149,921 | 100.00% | 100.00% |

## School districts

Elementary School Districts: Butler 53, Cass 63, Center Cass 66, 180, Darien 61, Downers Grove Grade 58, Gower 62, Hinsdale 181, Lemont-Bromberek 113A, Maercker 60 High School Districts: CHSD 99, Hinsdale Township 86, Lemont Township 210 Unit School Districts: Westmont Community Unit School District 201

## Political districts

* Illinois' 6th Congressional District
* Illinois' 8th Congressional District
* Illinois' 11th Congressional District
* State House District 47
* State House District 81
* State House District 82
* State Senate District 24
* State Senate District 41