Kendall County among top 10 fastest growing

Suburban overflow pushes population way up - to 67,000

Kendall County was the 10th fastest growing county in the nation over the last three years, according to Census Bureau figures to be released today.

The county's population grew by 12,000 between 2000 and 2003, a gain of 22 percent for a total of 67,000.

Most came from neighboring DuPage, Will and Kane counties, according to Kendall County Board Chairman John Church. "It tends to be people from older, outer-ring suburbs moving one or two more steps further out."

Nevertheless, Will and Kane counties remain in high-growth mode, placing 33rd and 75th, respectively, on the census list.

People come to Kendall for less congestion, more house for the money, more open space and the rural character. But once there, the qualities they seek become elusive as more people move in.

In Oswego, which boosters tout as the next Naperville, the population swelled to an estimated 18,000 - a 5,000-person increase since the 2000 census.

"When you get in the Oswego area, the roads and the neighborhoods change every day," Church said.

But city and county officials vow not to repeat the mistakes of earlier high-growth communities to the east.

Yorkville Mayor Art Prochaska said his town and others are hitting up developers for higher impact fees and devoting more land to open space. Most Kendall municipalities have already declared areas near rivers and streams off-limits to development.