Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville was founded in 1831 when Joseph Naper and his family sailed across the Great Lakes and settled on the banks of the DuPage River. The city experienced moderate growth over the next century, but it wasn't until the 1980s and 1990s, with the completion of several tollways linked to Chicago, that the population rose dramatically. During the same time period, numerous businesses relocated to Naperville, which became part of the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor. Bell Labs, Western Electric, BP Amoco Labs, Malco, Tellabs, ConAgra, Porsche Finance, and Laidlaw all have corporate offices here. Auto sales are another strong economic force in Naperville, with the Ogden Avenue Strip having the highest concentration of dealers in the state. Life in Naperville is good, with residents enjoying a wide range of cultural and recreational facilities, great restaurants and abundant shopping. The city has maintained free parking in its downtown district to encourage business, a strategy that has proven to be a complete success.