Joliet's rich history can be traced back to 1673, when the French explorer Louis Joliet and his voyageurs chose the area as an ideal settlement site. He saw the promise the river and its fertile deltas could provide to settlers, and wrote about this promising new land. In 1833, settlers finally began to arrive and quickly discovered that what Louis Joliet had written about the area was true. The fertile prairie soil, soft coal, ample lumber, and the river provided everything needed to farm, build homes, raise families, and establish businesses. The settlement continued to grow and prosper and was incorporated by the Illinois General Assembly in 1852.

The Des Plaines River was a formidable source of power, enabling settlers to establish mills and factories along its banks. The discovery of abundant limestone deposits created a new industry and provided materials to create sturdy homes, churches, schools, and public buildings. The quarrying industry flourished and employed thousands of people. With its many limestone buildings, Joliet soon became known as "Stone City."

With the opening of the Illinois & Michigan canal in 1848, Joliet entered into an era of vigorous industrial and commercial growth. Among the many positive outcomes of this growth was an influx of new residents who brought a rich mixture of heritage and culture to the Joliet area.

Several factors reversed a late 1970's & early 180's downward trend in the area and contributed to Joliet's rebirth. Area businesses and government leaders created the Joliet/Will County Center for Economic Development, and the decision was made to bring riverboat casinos and gaming to Joliet. Another significant factor in the area's comeback was the opening of I-355, which intersects with I-55 to provide Joliet commuters with an easily accessible, direct route to the northwest and western suburbs of Chicago. As a result, builders and housing developers have rediscovered Joliet, and each new residential community enhances Joliet's position as an attractive, convenient, lower cost alternative for homeowners. Along with this new development, the community's rich history is elegantly displayed in an abundance of stately homes and buildings throughout the city. Joliet is growing and prospering, fulfilling Louis Joliet's prophecy of an ideal place to settle.