Northern Illinois University
- Local Atmosphere

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Northern Illinois University - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Local Atmosphere

Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. The city is named after General Baron Johan DeKalb, a German soldier of fortune who served under George Washington during the Revolutionary War. He died from 11 wounds suffered while defending Camden, SC.
  2. In 1873, DeKalb farmer Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire, giving the town its nickname—"Barb City."
  3. DeKalb succeeded in landing NIU over Rockford and other Illinois cities in 1895 by tricking the selection committee. The committee placed an importanceon their choice having a scenic river, but local Kishwaukee River had low water levels. So the whole town didn't use water for the entire weekend before the committee came to inspect the town in order to build the water levels ludicrously high. Needless to say, the gambit worked.
  4. The 2000 romantic comedy Love 101 was filmed entirely on location in DeKalb. Jeff Anderson from Clerks was the straight-to-video's only real recognizable face.
  5. Corn Fest, DeKalb's most famous tradition, has been an annual event for nearly 30 years. It draws nearly 200,000 people to downtown DeKalb each year, with festivities such a well-attended auto show and ferociously competitive corn-art contest.
Notable Natives
  • Cindy Crawford
  • Barbara Hale
  • Richard Jenkins
  • Charles Nash – former head of General Motors
Local Slang
  • The City: Chicago
  • Corn County: The local surroundings
  • Kish: Kishwaukee Community College
Points of Interest
  • DeKalb Ice Rink
  • Ellwood House Museum
  • Hopkins Park
  • Sandwich Opera House

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

The DeKalb community is very proud of its association with the University, and locals are a constant presence in the lives of students, usually for the better. Area businesses rely on the student population for their survival, so they go out of their way to be welcoming and friendly. Some local politicians have expressed frustration at the city’s boozy culture and have begun attempts to limit bar hours and accessibility. Not being located in an urban area allows DeKalb to be a safe and quiet haven for its students, who are protected from the harsh realities of big city life. The trade-off is that the cornfields, especially come wintertime, aren’t exactly the most appealing surroundings. A Super Wal-Mart constitutes the hippest mall in DeKalb, so shopaholics won’t have many options to feed their cravings. In terms of cultural destinations, it doesn’t get much worse. There are a few interesting museums and art displays, but nothing to sustain an artistically-inclined young mind for four years. Thankfully, Chicago is only a relatively short drive away. But that is little solace to students without cars or gas money who are stuck in a farm town in the middle of nowhere—no matter how charming its inhabitants are.

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Northern Illinois Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at Northern Illinois University

KevRo17

Pre-Medicine Studies '14

2.3
C

Quiet

There is not much going on in the surrounding areas of Dekalb

Mar 22, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Northern Illinois University

courts17

Kinesiology and Exercise Science '13

4.2
A-

Local Atmosphere

Northern Illinois University's atmosphere is a little misleading. When first taking a look around it doesn't look as great as some other schools. Once someone has really looked around, they can see that there is more to the school. There are shops and a recreations center that many students use. It is also a lot safer than more people assume. They have safety poles everywhere and if a student is stuck somewhere in the middle of they night they can call a midnight ride to pick them up. It is overall a good school.

Mar 21, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Northern Illinois University

kmvanhamme30

Business Administration and Management '13

4.6
A

Busy Busy Campus

Campus is very large and there are always people running to and from class. People are friendly and atmosphere is better than other schools I have visited.

Feb 15, 2012

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User rating for Northern Illinois University - Local Atmosphere is 3.5 out of 5 based on 32 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • CherryVale Mall
  • Geneva Commons
  • Woodfield Shopping Center
Major Sports Teams
  • Chicago Bears: football
  • Chicago Blackhawks: hockey
  • Chicago Bulls: basketball
  • Chicago Cubs: baseball
  • Chicago White Sox: baseball
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Chicago: IL: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Milwaukee: WI: 2 hours

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

Campus Cinemas
1015 Blackhawk Rd.
(815) 787-4922

Carmike Market Square Cinemas
2160 Sycamore Rd.
(815) 748-7887

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