DeKalb, Illinois

DeKalb, Illinois
City
The Egyptian Theatre in Downtown DeKalb
Nickname:  Barb City
Location of DeKalb in DeKalb County, Illinois.
DeKalb, Illinois Location within the state of Illinois
Coordinates: 41°55′53″N 88°45′01″W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	DeKalb
Incorporated	1856
Area
• City	17.12 sq mi (44.33 km2)
• Land	16.95 sq mi (43.91 km2)
• Water	0.17 sq mi (0.43 km2)
Elevation	879 ft (268 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	40,290
• Density	2,376.71/sq mi (917.66/km2)
• Urban	64,736
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	60115
Area code	815
FIPS code	17-19161
Website	www.cityofdekalb.com

DeKalb (/dɨˈkælb/) is a city in Illinois in the United States. The population was 40,290 at the 2020 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War.

Notable people

• Charles I. Barber, architect, born in DeKalb
• George Franklin Barber, architect, born in DeKalb
• Charles Bronson, an hardcore punk band
• Cindy Crawford, supermodel
• Isaac L. Ellwood, rancher, businessman and barbed wire entrepreneur
• Joseph Glidden, farmer who patented barbed wire
• Jacob Haish, one of the inventors of barbed wire
• Barbara Hale, Emmy Award-winning actress
• Judas Iscariot, a black metal band
• Richard Jenkins, actor
• Mel Owens, linebacker for the L.A. Rams
• Richard Powers, author
• W. Willard Wirtz, Secretary of Labor; his DeKalb home is preserved on the NIU campus
• Mike Heimerdinger, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator
• A. J. Bramlett, former professional basketball player