Will County

Will County is a county in northeastern Illinois that lies between Chicago and the southern communities of the state. The area includes farmland, small towns, and several tributaries of the Illinois River that flow through plains and gentle hills.

The area was organized as a separate administrative unit in 1836, having previously belonged to Cook County to the north. Conrad Will, a regional politician who worked in the salt trade, gave the county its name.

The Planck Road Outlets and Chicagoland Speedway both sit within this area, drawing visitors to shopping and motorsport venues near the highway. Farmers still work the fertile soil along the Kankakee and other waterways, cultivating corn and soybeans as part of the regional economy.

Interstate 55 and Interstate 80 cross the county, making it easy to drive to Chicago or other Midwest destinations. The center of Joliet offers access to public transit with trains heading north and to more distant locations.

Joliet is home to Joliet Junior College, which opened in 1901 and is considered the first community college in the United States. This educational model later spread across the country, making higher education accessible to broader populations.

Location: Illinois

Inception: January 12, 1836

Capital city: Joliet

Elevation above the sea: 213 m

Shares border with: Kane County, DuPage County, Cook County, Lake County, Kankakee County, Grundy County, Kendall County

Website: https://willcountyillinois.com

GPS coordinates: 41.44503,-87.97866

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:14