West Chicago was the first Illinois community created by the advent of the railroads. In 1849 the tracks of the Galena & Chicago Union (G&CU) Railroad reached this area, and a town began to form.
By 1850 three railroads met here, forming the first railroad junction in the state. The town's function gave it its first name - Junction.

In 1873 the town incorporated as the Village of Turner, naming itself after John B. Turner, one of the G&CU's early presidents, and a benevolent local landowner.

First efforts to attract industry came in the 1880s when the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad laid tracks on the town's west side. It offered free factory sites to those along its route, ensuring business for its primarily freight traffic line.

In 1896, the community voted to change its name to West Chicago, in a further effort to attract new business. Ten years later, the village changed to a mayor-aldermanic form of government and became the City of West Chicago.

An electric interurban rail line, the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago (later known as the CA&E) came through town in 1909. It provided a second passenger route into Chicago and neighboring suburbs. In 1937 the line was abandoned because it operated at a loss.