Morris is a city
in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population
was 11,928 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 12,939
in 2005. It is the county seat of Grundy County.[1]
Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which
provides a substantial portion of the electricity supply
for the Chicago metropolitan area. Included among the
Dresden plant's reactors is the first commercial nuclear
reactor, housed in a spherical concrete and steel shell;
it has since been decommissioned, and two more modern
reactors (of 1970s vintage) now generate its electricity.
Currently, Morris has one of
the few prospering and historically intact downtowns
in Illinois. Visitors and shoppers come a distance to
enjoy the tranquil small town shopping atmosphere. In
addition to the downtown, there are outlying businesses
such as five motels, a theater, restaurants, a furniture
store, two drug stores, boat sales, three grocery stores,
hardware stores, banquet hall, and numerous retail stores
and gift shops.
Morris enjoys the benefit of
being the Grundy County seat and has a large hospital
and modern schools. There are many small parks, ball
diamonds, tennis courts, two golf courses, a swimming
pool as well as the Gebhard Woods State Park and the
William G. Stratton State Park for boat launching on
the Illinois River and a skatepark located by white
oak elementery school. |