Community Profile

The City of DeKalb is located 60 miles west of Chicago, 29 miles northwest of Aurora and 40
miles southeast of Rockford. DeKalb offers ready access to the I-88 and I-39 tollways. The
historic Lincoln Highway (Illinois Route 38) travels through the heart of DeKalb’s downtown.
The City of DeKalb is an urban community with a vital industrial and commercial base within a
rural setting. DeKalb’s diverse neighborhoods offer a variety of housing options to residents of
different economic, ethnic, and lifestyle backgrounds. Its highly educated workforce finds
plentiful opportunity for fulfilling work. The community offers a high quality of life with
excellent city services, easy mobility around the community, and access to cultural , sports, and
educational activities.
The City of DeKalb operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The day to day
operations of the City are managed by the City Manager, whose main goal is to ensure effective
implementation of City Council policies through efficient professional management of all
aspects of City government. The manager is hired by the City council, which consists of the
Mayor at large and 7 aldermen elected on a ward basis. The council sets policy for the City,
adopts ordinances and resolutions, approves the annual budget.