History European colonists arrived in the Aurora area in 1834. Before this, Native Americans had a village in the Downtown area of modern-day Aurora. In 1834 the McCarty brothers settled in Aurora on either side of the Fox River. They eventually sold the land on the west side of the river to the Lake brothers and decided to live on the other side of the river, where they operated a mill. Consequently, Aurora had two villages on either side of the Fox River. In 1845, East Aurora became incorporated on the east side of the river, and in 1854, West Aurora became incorporated on the west side of the river. The two villages joined in 1857, which established the city of Aurora. Due to the two villages joining, authorities built many public buildings on or around Stolp Island in the middle of the Fox River. A growing city meant more job opportunities. Many of these job opportunities increased due to the railway construction in 1849 to connect Aurora to the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) (modern-day West Chicago). In 1855, railway construction expanded to include Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q). The CB&Q based its roundhouse and locomotive shop in Aurora and was the city’s largest employer for the following century. However, city officials included the Aurora railroad industry in the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy areas, which was meant to be a positive move but sadly did not turn out that way. Passenger traffic had decreased, which resulted in a loss of jobs in the area. Besides the mainline on the east side of Aurora and the Burlington lines, city officials also abandoned all other lines. Fortunately, the east side of Aurora was home to heavy industries. This industrialization provided employment opportunities to many, specifically European immigrants from Ireland, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Romania, and Italy. These heavy industries propelled Aurora into becoming the economic center of the Fox Valley region. The city of Aurora has always been more progressive and ahead of its peers. Before the American Civil War, Aurora had been a proud supporter of abolitionism and allowed Mexican immigrants to live in the city after the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Illinois’ first free public school district was established in Aurora in 1851, with a high school for girls in 1855. Then, Aurora's railroad shops closed in the early 1970s. Up to this point, the city had been a leader in manufacturing, but the initial railroad shop closures prompted other industries to shut down or move. By the 1980s, unemployment in Aurora had reached 16%. In addition, development on the city's eastern side began during this time, which financially choked retail businesses Downtown and manufacturing industries. Due to the high unemployment rates and lack of money, crime rates increased, and street gangs became established. But thanks to redevelopment in the city, Aurora was able to recover. During the late 1980s and 1990s, business and industrial parks began development and this initiative led to an economic boost that drew more and more people as job growth increased.

Aurora offers tourists and residents a range of activities, such as:

Hollywood Casino is on the Fox River Downtown, where you can play blackjack, craps, roulette, and slot machines.

The iPod Tour covers Aurora's Downtown and brownstone architecture. You can get tour brochures from the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Raging Waves Waterpark is in Yorkville, has 18 water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, 20 private cabanas, and more!

The community holds its famous Farmer's Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Aurora Transportation Center between June and October.

With all the things to do, you have even more reason to invest in real estate in Aurora, where family and friends can get together to create unforgettable memories.