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 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.