Grundy County, Illinois
Grundy County sits about an hour southwest of Chicago, but it feels a world away from the big city. Morris is the county seat, a river town with some fun. The Illinois River cuts through here, offering good fishing if you know where to look.
It’s mostly farmland, but there’s a nuclear plant too. It’s kind of hard to miss those cooling towers. Coal City has a name that tells you something about its history. The county is small population-wise, but it’s growing as Chicago creeps outward.
You’ll see a mix of old-timers and newcomers, usually getting along. Cornfields stretch for miles, broken up by the occasional subdivision. Gebhard Woods State Park is a nice spot if you need to stretch your legs.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| County Name | Grundy County |
| County Seat | Morris |
| Etymology | Named after Felix Grundy, a U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Senator from Tennessee, and prominent political figure |
| Cities, Towns, and Communities | Morris, Coal City, Minooka, Gardner, Mazon, Braceville, South Wilmington, Verona, Kinsman, and various other unincorporated communities. |
| Interstates and Highways | Interstate 55, Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 6, Illinois Route 47, Illinois Route 53 |
| FIPS Code | 17-063 |
| Total Area (Land and Water) | 430 square miles (land: 418 sq mi, water: 12 sq mi) |
| Adjacent Counties (and Direction) | Kendall County (North), Will County (East), Kankakee County (Southeast), Livingston County (South), LaSalle County (West) |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone (CT) |
| Population | Approximately 53,000 |
| State | Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41.2876° N, 88.4248° W |
| Major Landmarks | Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris Downtown Historic District, Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail, Dresden Generating Station |
