Lemont is a village located in Cook, DuPage, and Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, and is a south-west suburb of Chicago.

Lemont is home to Argonne National Laboratory and other heavy industrial sites, and has a substantial European immigrant population.

The native Potawatomi lived off the land in this area, directly using natural resources for food, shelter, clothing and medicine.

In the 18th century, French voyageurs traveled down the Des Plaines River, trading Native Americans metal, beads and cloth for animal furs.

In digging, workers discovered Lemont yellow dolomite, a harder and finer grained version of limestone.

The town's important major buildings were faced with the Lemont limestone, abundant in local quarries.

[7] Cargo and passengers were transported on the I&M until the early 20th century, when the wider, deeper Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was built parallel to it.

Lemont's motto is "Village of Faith", and its church spires reflect the many ethnic groups who came here to quarry stone, dig the Sanitary and Ship Canal and work in other industries.

The oldest building in Lemont, it now serves as a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The monument was dedicated in 2008 in Legion Park at the east end of Main Street, opposite the Metra Station.

By about 1920, the quarries declined as styles changed and builders began to use Bedford limestone from Indiana and less expensive materials like concrete.

During World War II, the Metallurgical Laboratory of the University of Chicago moved into the nearby Argonne Forest preserves to carry out Enrico Fermi's work on nuclear reactors for the Manhattan Project.

The status recognizes the historic importance of this region and the waterway that connected Lake Michigan and the Illinois River.

Sacred architecture is a strong suit of Lemont, whose skyline is dominated by two landmark religious edifices: the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago and SS.

Upon returning home, the Lemont team received a parade down State Street in honor of their achievements.

The BMW Championship (PGA Tour), and the prior Western Open, were held in unincorporated Lemont township between 1991 and 2007, and 2009 to 2011.

The Lemont High School varsity cheerleading team placed first at the IHSA State Championships in the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2017.

[22] Three National Blue Ribbon Schools are located in Lemont, recognized by the US Department of Education for excellence in student achievement.

In 2007, the Interstate 355 tollway extension opened, providing Lemont with more direct access to the Chicago expressway system.