As we look back at St. Charles over the last 175 years, we see a community rooted in traditions; traditions of community involvement, traditions of growth, traditions of generosity. Starting with Evan Shelby and the other early settlers, the residents of this great town have continuously worked together to build St. Charles from the small farming settlement it once was into the Pride of the Fox River Valley. It is because of the community´s involvement that St. Charles was able to build the first public school in the state in 1854, and that during the Great Depression, men from the area were put to work on building projects at Pottawatomie Park with funds from the Works Progress Administration. Today, these traditions can be seen in the numerous residents volunteering their time and participating in the activities in town, the generosity of the Norris Foundation which helps support many local organizations, and the infusion of new businesses into the community. By continuing to honor the values and traditions brought here by the City´s founders, we ensure a long and bright future for St. Charles.