The 43rd District is located mostly within Will County. Major population centers include Bonnie Brae, Braidwood, Channahon, Coal City, Crest Hill, Diamond, Elwood, Fairmont, Ingalls Park, Joliet, Lemont, Lockport, Lockport Heights, Lorenzo, Manhattan, Minooka, Naperville, Preston Heights, Ridgewood, Rockdale, Romeoville, Shorewood, Wilmington and Woodridge.
Some of the district's largest employers and economic drivers include: ExxonMobil, Saint Joseph Medical Center, Amazon, BNSF Railway, and One of the nation's largest inland ports. Will County has become one of North America's busiest inland freight and container centers, connecting rail, truck, and international shipping.
District 43 Fun Facts:
- The district includes America's first public community college, Joliet Junior College, founded in 1901.
- Much of the district sits along Historic U.S. Route 66, attracting tourists from around the world.
- The area balances heavy industry, advanced scientific research, agriculture, logistics, healthcare, and rapidly growing suburban communities—making it one of Illinois' most economically diverse legislative districts.
- Several communities in the district have experienced some of the fastest population growth in Illinois over the past few decades, fueled by logistics, manufacturing, and suburban expansion.
Interesting Places and Attractions:
- Rialto Square Theatre – A beautifully restored 1926 theater known as the "Jewel of Joliet."
- Route 66 Raceway – Historic NHRA drag racing venue.
- Chicagoland Speedway – Major motorsports complex.
- The Promenade Bolingbrook – One of the largest outdoor shopping and entertainment destinations in the southwest suburbs.
- Pelican Harbor Aquatic Park – Popular indoor/outdoor family water park.
- Lewis University – A nationally recognized private university with respected aviation and nursing programs.
- Stateville Correctional Center – One of Illinois' most historically significant correctional facilities.
- Des Plaines River – Runs through much of the district, supporting recreation, conservation areas, and trails.
- Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area – Preserves the canal that helped transform Chicago into a transportation powerhouse. Channahon State Park and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie – Midewin is the first federally designated national tallgrass prairie in the United States. Established in 1996 on the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, it is one of the nation's largest prairie restoration projects and the largest public open space in northeastern Illinois. Visitors can hike, bike, horseback ride, and observe a conservation herd of American bison that was reintroduced to help restore the prairie ecosystem. The prairie includes more than 30 miles of trails and provides habitat for hundreds of native plant and wildlife species.
