The DeKalb area Northern's main campus is located in DeKalb, a small city of some 37,000 people, situated in a region long known for its agriculture. Corn is far from being the only game in town, however, as the city has diversified and taken advantage of new economic opportunities. For all that it is perched on the far western edge of the third largest metropolitan area in the United States, DeKalb is justifiably proud of its hometown, family-friendly traditions. Regular commuter rail service to Chicago is available in Geneva, about half an hour's drive to the east. Completed in the summer of 1999, the mural is the brainchild of Olivia Gude, an assistant professor in the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Community organizations abound, as do recreational opportunities of all kinds.
On the cultural side, DeKalb's municipal band is the oldest in the country, and offers free weekly concerts during the summer months. A community orchestra and a theater group both provide residents with opportunities to perform, if they choose, or they can simply relax and enjoy the shows. The annual Corn Fest, held the last weekend in August, usually coincides with the start of the fall semester at Northern. The three-day event brings together NIU students and their parents, members of the community, and visitors from all over to share food and fun as summer ends and the harvest approaches. DeKalb's public school system is excellent, offering neighborhood elementary schools, two middle schools, and a fine high school.