Downers Grove Township, DuPage County, 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 sqmi, of which 49.66 sqmi (or 97.41%) is land and 1.32 sqmi (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
(This list is based on USGS data and may include former settlements.)
 * Argonne at 41.7183°N, -87.9789°W
 * Fullersburg at 41.81809°N, -87.91839°W
 * Lace at 41.75198°N, -87.96756°W
 * Palisades at 41.71364°N, -87.93367°W

Extinct towns
(These towns are listed as "historical" by the USGS.)
 * Cass at 41.73006°N, -87.98121°W
 * Gostyn at 41.79556°N, -87.99444°W
 * Tedens at 41.69448°N, -87.97284°W

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

 * [[Image:I-55.svg|25px]] Interstate 55
 * [[Image:I-88.svg|25px]] Interstate 88
 * [[Image:I-355.svg|25px]] Interstate 355
 * [[Image:US 34.svg|25px]] U.S. Route 34
 * US 66 (historic).svg U.S. Route 66
 * [[Image:Illinois 83.svg|25px]] 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

 * Bruce Lake
 * Darien Lake
 * Golfview Lake
 * Hidden Lake
 * Lake Charles
 * Lake Hinsdale
 * Maple Lake
 * Picadilly Lake
 * Ruth Lake
 * Timber Lake
 * Twin Lakes (Westmont)

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 PD/sqmi. There were 61,933 housing units at an average density of 1,214.99 /sqmi. 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.

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