"The Windmill City" a Batavia Travel Page by TRimer

Founded in 1833, Batavia is also known by many as the "Windmill City". Lately a new name has arose when Batavia embraced technological progress, the "City of Energy".

Like St. Charles and Geneva, Batavia found great benefit in developing on the banks of the Fox River. Riverfront sites were valuable for water and power sources. So popular was the land on the river that in the late 1800's the city decided to dredge a second river channel to accomodate new industry.

Harnessing the natural power sources of water and wind created a strong economic base which drew in an ever increasing population. With Batavia's present day population of 17,100, the city has been able to maintain a traditional small town atmosphere with a blend of older homes and new developments creating a Midwestern town of unequal measure. Progress has been the direction taken by city officials.

Batavia is adjacent to the Illinois Research and Development Corridor. Illinois Interstate 88 runs straight through the center of the corridor creating easy access for commuters going directly east to the heart of Chicago.

To top off this tale of progress, Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory is located on the far south eastern side of Batavia, just beyond the city limits, on 6,800 acres of prairie land. It stands towering above the land as a testimony to progess through science.