St. Charles is part of a tri-city area along with Geneva and Batavia, all western suburbs of similar size and socioeconomic condition.

St. Charles was the location of the Native American community for the chief of the Pottawatomie that inhabited the area.

[7] After the Black Hawk War in 1832, the entire area of the Fox Valley was opened to American settlement.

[9] Widespread claims of slavery-era Underground Railroad stations operating in St. Charles homes, complete with tunnels and false doorways, have not been historically substantiated.

Even so, an active abolitionist group was operating in St. Charles around this time, called the Kane County Anti-Slavery Society.

[citation needed] On April 25, 2020 (4 years ago) (2020-04-25), the Kane County Health Department ordered Smithfield Foods to close its meat processing plant because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a local instance of the pandemic's effects on the meat industry in the United States.

The arrival of the Chicago Great Western Railway enabled The Cable Co., one of the country's largest producers of pianos and reed organs, to build a factory on 11 acres (4.5 hectares) of land at 410 South 1st Street in 1901.

Rich wood veneers were imported from Mexico, South America and the gold coast of Africa.

In return, Cable distributed its pianos all over the world and had dealers in Spain, Italy, British East Africa, Japan, Australia, and other key foreign places.

The annual Dragon Boat festival and family event during the second weekend of June are held in Potawatomi Park.

Lincoln Park, in downtown St. Charles, serves as the central location for the Scarecrow Festival in October.

[citation needed] Historic Hotel Baker, which opened in 1928, is a symbolic representation of the rich history of downtown St.

[citation needed] Downtown St. Charles was named one of the region's "Top 10" by the Chicago Tribune for fine dining, arts and entertainment, recreational opportunities, unique shopping, and a lively nighttime personality.

It is now used by Accenture, and hosts meetings, conferences and executive learning for Fortune 500 companies, associations and social, military, education, religious, and fraternal organizations from all over the world.

[31] Pace provides bus service on Routes 801 and 802 connecting St. Charles to Elgin, Aurora, and other destinations.

[32] The public education system in St. Charles is operated by the Community Unit School District 303, which currently has thirteen elementary schools: Anderson, Bell-Graham, Corron, Davis, Ferson Creek, Fox Ridge, Lincoln, Munhall, Norton Creek, Wasco, and Wild Rose.

St. Patrick Catholic School opened its doors in 1930 and previously served about 500 students at the downtown campus.