Park Forest, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Park Forest is a village located south of Chicago in Cook County and Will County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 23,462.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] History

Building developers Nathan Manilow, Carroll F. Sweet and Philip M. Klutznick held a press conference in the Palmer House in Chicago on October 28, 1946 to announce the planned development of a new self-governing community in Chicago's south suburbs. This project, soon to be referred to as Park Forest, was to be developed by American Community Builders. The Village of Park Forest was designed by Elbert Peets in the tradition of planned communities around the nation to provide housing for veterans returning from World War II. Park Forest was honored in 1954 as an "All-America City" for its citizens' help in the creation of Rich Township High School, on Sauk Trail. It was awarded this same honor again in 1976 for open housing and racial integration and initiatives. A village landmark was the Park Forest Plaza, an outdoor regional shopping center of over 50 stores and restaurants which included Sears, Marshall Fields and Goldblatt's.

In 1956, William Whyte, an editor at Fortune magazine, published a book called The Organization Man that defined the nature of corporate life for a generation. The book described how America (whose people, he said, had “led in the public worship of individualism”) had recently turned into a nation of employees who “take the vows of organisation life” and who had become “the dominant members of our society”. Park Forest was one of the communities that figured most prominently in Whyte's study of the home life of "the organization man," and should be read by anyone seeking an insight into early Park Forest. Although officially desegregated from its inception, Park Forest's first African-American family took residence there in 1959. That summer, managers at the village swimming pool turned away two white local boys and their black friend.

Park Forest is known for the "Scenic Ten," a 10 mile race held annually that attracts runners from around the globe.

[edit] Geography

Park Forest is located at 41°29'2" North, 87°41'13" West (41.483979, -87.687054)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 12.8 km² (4.9 mi²). 12.8 km² (4.9 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

The village is generally bounded by U.S. Highway 30 on the north, Western Avenue (Chicago) on the east, tracks of Canadian National Railway formerly Illinois Central on the west and Thorn Creek on the south. Parts of Park Forest are east of Western Avenue, however. Metra operates commuter railroad service to downtown Chicago. The station for Park Forest is named 211th Street Station. Park Forest is bisected by the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad double track main line.

Communities surrounding Park Forest include Olympia Fields, Illinois to the north, Chicago Heights, Illinois to the east, Matteson, Illinois and Richton Park, Illinois to the west and University Park, Illinois to the south.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 23,462 people, 9,138 households, and 6,186 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,837.5/km² (4,763.6/mi²). There were 9,470 housing units at an average density of 741.7/km² (1,922.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 55.42% White, 39.41% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.54% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. 4.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,138 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $47,579, and the median income for a family was $55,801. Males had a median income of $41,970 versus $31,063 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,493. 6.7% of the population and 5.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.5% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.