 In the early 1990s the city annexed 55 acres ( 0 @.@ 22 km2 ) for the construction of the Empress Riverboat Casino complex . In 1999 , the city annexed 923 acres ( 3 @.@ 74 km2 ) for the construction of the Chicagoland Speedway , which when combined with the Route 66 Raceway made Joliet the only racing facility host in the United States capable of hosting races from each major category in professional auto racing . In 2001 , the city acquired 12 parcels totaling 8 acres ( 32 @,@ 000 m2 ) through expedited condemnations to build Silver Cross Field . In 2005 , the city annexed 988 acres ( 4 @.@ 00 km2 ) to provide a corridor for commercial and residential growth . As of the July 1 , 2007 United States Census Bureau population estimates , Joliet had a population of 144 @,@ 316 . Thus , Schultz served as mayor for a city that ranked as the 162nd largest incorporated municipality in the United States and the fourth largest in the state of Illinois . 
