Chicago Heights, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Chicago Heights is a city in Cook County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 31,373 at the 2005 census. Chicago Heights is nicknamed 'Crossroads of the Nation'.
, but then moved farther west to where Chicago Road is now. The first permanent settlers were Adam and Phoebe Brown who built an inn at the intersection of Sauk Trail
and the Vincennes Trace. In 1835, a large group from Ireland arrived. At this time, the town was known as Thorn Grove.
The first school was built in 1836. The Reformed Presbytherian Church of Thorn Grove was formed in December 1843. The Batchhelder and McCoy homes in Thorn Grove were stops on the Underground Railroad
. The first railroad arrived in 1853. The village was renamed Bloom. It was then renamed again in 1892 to Chicago Heights and incorporated as a village. In 1897, the village had twenty factories. By 1901, Chicago Heights had a population of over 5,000 and became a city. Its population nearly tripled in the next ten years.
At the time of its incorporation as a city in 1900, the original residents of Chicago Heights were German settlers. In following years, the city became a haven for Italian, Polish, and Irish immigrants. Later, many African Americans and Hispanics called Chicago Heights home. The city’s economic and ethnic diversity is reflected in the variety of its residential neighborhoods.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which, 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²) of it is land and 0.10% is water. The city lies on the high land of the Tinley Moraine
, with the higher and older Valparaiso Moraine
lying just to the south of the city.
The city's major crossroads are at Dixie Highway
(Illinois Route 1
) and Lincoln Highway
(US Route 30).
of 2010, there were 30,276 people, 11,060 households, and 7,823 families in the city. The population density
was 3,424.4 people per square mile (1,322.3/km²). There were 11,444 housing units at an average density of 1,195.7 per square mile (461.7/km²). The racial makeup was 45.02% White, 37.90% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 13.46% from other races
, and 2.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.77% of the population.
There were 10,703 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples
living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.53.
The population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,958, and the median income for a family was $42,681. Males had a median income of $34,207 versus $26,276 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,963. About 13.7% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
In 1901 the Board of Education decreed that the school day would run from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon, and from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with a 15 minute recess each session;
On July 30, 1903, the first telephone in School District 170 was placed in the office of the Superintendent of Schools at a cost of $18 per year;
In May, 1907, School District 170 students collected money for victims of the San Francisco earthquake;
On October 1, 1908, telephones were ordered for Garfield and Franklin Schools, the first schools to have access to “this marvel of communication;”
In 1912 the Board of Education decreed that non-resident students “shall pay tuition in advance, at the rate of $2 per month;’
In 1912 the Board of Education required all School District 170 teachers to live in the district; In December, 1912, the Board of Education voted to authorize a reward of $10 for “evidence that will convict any parties who willfully deface or destroy school property;”
In 1913, School District 170 served 2,238 students; In January, 1917, the Board of Education authorized the installation of electric gongs in three schools;
In January, 1917, the Board of Education endorsed a nationwide “Plan for Preparedness” setting aside specific times for girls and boys to drill under the supervision of a member of the National Guard;
From October 22 to November 14, 1917, District 170 schools were closed because of an influenza outbreak; In 1919, the average enrollment of students per classroom was 44;
In 1953, the average enrollment of students per classroom was 30;
In 2002, the average enrollment of students per classroom was 20;
In 1953, School District 170 served 2,833 students;
In 2004, School District 170 served 3,550 students.
Parts of Chicago Heights are part of Flossmoor School District 161 which includes Serena Hills Elementary School in Chicago Heights. After Serena, students attend Parker Jr. High School—also a part of Flossmoor School District 161. Only some students who went to Parker Jr. High School move on to Homewood-Flossmoor High School
, the rest attend Bloom High School.
Parts of Chicago Heights are also served by Park Forest - Chicago Heights School District 163, and Beacon Hill Primary Center is located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Students from this neighborhood attend Rich East High School, part of Rich Township High School District 227.
Chicago Heights is home to Bloom High School
, where all students of district 170 attend after 8th grade.
Marian Catholic High School
is a private high school located in city.
Prairie State is a community college located in Chicago Heights.
There are also many elementary schools that operate at church locations.
Chicago Heights Public Library- On May 20, 1901 many Chicago Heights residents signed a petition asking for the mayor and aldermen to select a board of directors that were responsible for founding and running a free public library in Chicago Heights. On June 28, 1901, the first library board members were sworn in including Sam W. Lea, F.W. Schact, W.E. Canady, James Bowie, David Wallace, Joseph Caldwell, C.W. Salisbury, A.J. Sorensen, and A.W. McEldowney. The library was opened in a small room in the new city building on February 20, 1902. That month, the library board wrote to industrialist Andrew Carnegie
seeking funds to build a library building in Chicago Heights. In July, the board was notified that Andrew Carnegie had proposed $15,000 toward the cost of a library building as long as the city could provide a free site for the building and if the council could promise $1,500 a year to keep the library running. The Carnegie Library in Chicago Heights was designed by Richard E. Schimdt. The library was located at 1627 Halsted Street and opened on September 11, 1903 with a staff of two and 1,643 volumes. A bigger library was eventually needed and on August 5, 1972, the present building at 15th street and Chicago Road was opened. The Chicago Heights Free Public Library was a million-dollar building that opened with 60,000 books, records, and other materials.
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 31,373 at the 2005 census. Chicago Heights is nicknamed 'Crossroads of the Nation'.
History
The first European settler in the area was Absalom Wells in 1833. He built a log cabin where the Vincennes Trail crossed Thorn CreekThorn Creek
Thorn Creek is a tributary of the Little Calumet River that travels through Will and Cook counties in northeastern Illinois just south of Chicago. It starts in the high land of the Valparaiso Moraine before dropping to the lower elevations of the Little Calumet River valley. Along its path it has...
, but then moved farther west to where Chicago Road is now. The first permanent settlers were Adam and Phoebe Brown who built an inn at the intersection of Sauk Trail
Sauk Trail
Sauk Trail began as a Native American trail running through Illinois, Indiana and Michigan in the United States. From west to east, the trail ran from Rock Island on the Mississippi River to the Illinois River near modern Peru then along the north bank of that river to Joliet, and on to Valparaiso,...
and the Vincennes Trace. In 1835, a large group from Ireland arrived. At this time, the town was known as Thorn Grove.
The first school was built in 1836. The Reformed Presbytherian Church of Thorn Grove was formed in December 1843. The Batchhelder and McCoy homes in Thorn Grove were stops on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. The first railroad arrived in 1853. The village was renamed Bloom. It was then renamed again in 1892 to Chicago Heights and incorporated as a village. In 1897, the village had twenty factories. By 1901, Chicago Heights had a population of over 5,000 and became a city. Its population nearly tripled in the next ten years.
At the time of its incorporation as a city in 1900, the original residents of Chicago Heights were German settlers. In following years, the city became a haven for Italian, Polish, and Irish immigrants. Later, many African Americans and Hispanics called Chicago Heights home. The city’s economic and ethnic diversity is reflected in the variety of its residential neighborhoods.
Geography
Chicago Heights is located at 41.512034°N 87.640201°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which, 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²) of it is land and 0.10% is water. The city lies on the high land of the Tinley Moraine
Tinley Moraine
The Tinley Moraine is a moraine around the Lake Michigan basin in North America. It was formed during the Wisconsin Glaciation and is younger than the higher and wider terminal moraine called the Valparaiso Moraine farther from the lake than it. Compared to the Valparaiso Moraine, the Tinley...
, with the higher and older Valparaiso Moraine
Valparaiso Moraine
The Valparaiso Moraine is a terminal moraine around the Lake Michigan basin in North America. It is a band of high, hilly terrain made up of glacial till and sand that reaches an elevation of near 300 feet above the level of Lake Michigan at its maximum height in Indiana and 17 miles wide at its...
lying just to the south of the city.
The city's major crossroads are at Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway
The Dixie Highway was a United States automobile highway, first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was part of the National Auto Trail system, and grew out of an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final result is better understood as a small network of...
(Illinois Route 1
Illinois Route 1
Illinois Route 1 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Illinois. Running parallel to the Indiana border, it is also the longest state road, starting on the south side of Chicago as Halsted Street at the intersection with 95th Street, south to a free ferry crossing to Kentucky at Cave-In-Rock on...
) and Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
(US Route 30).
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 30,276 people, 11,060 households, and 7,823 families in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,424.4 people per square mile (1,322.3/km²). There were 11,444 housing units at an average density of 1,195.7 per square mile (461.7/km²). The racial makeup was 45.02% White, 37.90% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 13.46% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.77% of the population.
There were 10,703 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.53.
The population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,958, and the median income for a family was $42,681. Males had a median income of $34,207 versus $26,276 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,963. About 13.7% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Healthcare
St. James Hospital is located in Chicago Heights at the intersection of Chicago Road and Lincoln Highway. There is a Well Group Clinic (part of St. James) located on Dixie Highway. Well Group was previously known as Suburban Heights Medical Center. There are also two Aunt Martha's health centers in Chicago Heights.Education
Chicago Heights School District 170 operates twelve schools, with a student population of 3,600. Highland is the district’s pre-school for children aged three and four; Garfield, Gavin, Grant, Greenbriar, Jefferson, Kennedy, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington-McKinley, and Wilson are neighborhood schools that serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade.In 1901 the Board of Education decreed that the school day would run from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon, and from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with a 15 minute recess each session;
On July 30, 1903, the first telephone in School District 170 was placed in the office of the Superintendent of Schools at a cost of $18 per year;
In May, 1907, School District 170 students collected money for victims of the San Francisco earthquake;
On October 1, 1908, telephones were ordered for Garfield and Franklin Schools, the first schools to have access to “this marvel of communication;”
In 1912 the Board of Education decreed that non-resident students “shall pay tuition in advance, at the rate of $2 per month;’
In 1912 the Board of Education required all School District 170 teachers to live in the district; In December, 1912, the Board of Education voted to authorize a reward of $10 for “evidence that will convict any parties who willfully deface or destroy school property;”
In 1913, School District 170 served 2,238 students; In January, 1917, the Board of Education authorized the installation of electric gongs in three schools;
In January, 1917, the Board of Education endorsed a nationwide “Plan for Preparedness” setting aside specific times for girls and boys to drill under the supervision of a member of the National Guard;
From October 22 to November 14, 1917, District 170 schools were closed because of an influenza outbreak; In 1919, the average enrollment of students per classroom was 44;
In 1953, the average enrollment of students per classroom was 30;
In 2002, the average enrollment of students per classroom was 20;
In 1953, School District 170 served 2,833 students;
In 2004, School District 170 served 3,550 students.
Parts of Chicago Heights are part of Flossmoor School District 161 which includes Serena Hills Elementary School in Chicago Heights. After Serena, students attend Parker Jr. High School—also a part of Flossmoor School District 161. Only some students who went to Parker Jr. High School move on to Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School is a public high school in Flossmoor, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The majority of HF students live in Flossmoor and nearby Homewood, but the school also serves areas of Olympia Fields, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, and Hazel Crest serving school...
, the rest attend Bloom High School.
Parts of Chicago Heights are also served by Park Forest - Chicago Heights School District 163, and Beacon Hill Primary Center is located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Students from this neighborhood attend Rich East High School, part of Rich Township High School District 227.
Chicago Heights is home to Bloom High School
Bloom High School
Bloom High School is a public school in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It is part of Bloom Township High School District 206.The school was founded in 1900. A second Chicago Heights high school, Bloom Trail, was established in 1976 to offset overcrowding...
, where all students of district 170 attend after 8th grade.
Marian Catholic High School
Marian Catholic High School
Marian Catholic High School is a co-educational, college preparatory secondary school in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.-History:...
is a private high school located in city.
Prairie State is a community college located in Chicago Heights.
There are also many elementary schools that operate at church locations.
Chicago Heights Public Library- On May 20, 1901 many Chicago Heights residents signed a petition asking for the mayor and aldermen to select a board of directors that were responsible for founding and running a free public library in Chicago Heights. On June 28, 1901, the first library board members were sworn in including Sam W. Lea, F.W. Schact, W.E. Canady, James Bowie, David Wallace, Joseph Caldwell, C.W. Salisbury, A.J. Sorensen, and A.W. McEldowney. The library was opened in a small room in the new city building on February 20, 1902. That month, the library board wrote to industrialist Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
seeking funds to build a library building in Chicago Heights. In July, the board was notified that Andrew Carnegie had proposed $15,000 toward the cost of a library building as long as the city could provide a free site for the building and if the council could promise $1,500 a year to keep the library running. The Carnegie Library in Chicago Heights was designed by Richard E. Schimdt. The library was located at 1627 Halsted Street and opened on September 11, 1903 with a staff of two and 1,643 volumes. A bigger library was eventually needed and on August 5, 1972, the present building at 15th street and Chicago Road was opened. The Chicago Heights Free Public Library was a million-dollar building that opened with 60,000 books, records, and other materials.
Notable people
- Jim BoutonJim BoutonJames Alan "Jim" Bouton is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is also the author of the controversial baseball book Ball Four, which was a combination diary of his season and memoir of his years with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Houston Astros.-Amateur and college...
, MLB baseball player. - David Broder, Pulitzer-winning Washington Post political columnist.
- Jerry ColangeloJerry ColangeloJerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...
, former owner of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
and Arizona DiamondbacksArizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. - Mike DowneyMike DowneyMike Downey is an American newspaper columnist.From 2003 to 2008, Downey wrote the "In the Wake of the News" column for the Chicago Tribune originated by Ring Lardner in 1913...
, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
and Chicago TribuneChicago TribuneThe Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
sports columnist. - Wally FlagerWally FlagerWalter Leonard Flager was a professional baseball player. He was a shortstop for one season with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies...
, MLB baseball player - Phil GuyPhil GuyPhil Guy was an American blues guitarist. He was the younger brother of Buddy Guy.-Biography:Born in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Guy played with the harmonica player Raful Neal for ten years in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area before relocating to Chicago in 1969 where he joined his brothers' band...
, blues guitarist. - Rodney HarrisonRodney HarrisonRodney Scott Harrison is a retired professional football player of the National Football League. Harrison played safety for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots...
, NFL football player. - Craig HodgesCraig HodgesCraig Anthony Hodges is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA for 10 seasons and led the league in 3-point shooting percentage three times...
, NBA basketball player. - Todd KrygierTodd KrygierTodd Andrew Krygier is a former American ice hockey player.After playing for the University of Connecticut, Krygier was selected by the Hartford Whalers in the 1988 NHL Supplemental Draft. He played parts of two seasons with the Whalers before being traded to the Washington Capitals in 1991...
, NHL hockey player. - Carol MannCarol MannCarol Mann is an American professional golfer.Mann was born in Buffalo, New York and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland After attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Mann joined the LPGA Tour in 1961. She won 38 tournaments on the tour, including two major championships, the 1964...
, LPGALPGAThe LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
Hall of Fame golfer. - John MoscaJohn MoscaJohn Mosca was an American restauranteur and owner of the famed Mosca's, a Louisiana Creole and Italian restaurant located in Avondale, Louisiana, near New Orleans....
, Restauranteur of Mosca'sMosca'sMosca's is a Louisiana Creole Italian restaurant in Avondale, Louisiana, near New Orleans. Operated by the same family since it opened in 1946, it has long been regarded as one of New Orleans' best restaurants, known for dishes such as Oysters Mosca, crab salad, and Chicken a la...
in Louisiana - Bret PrinzBret PrinzBret Randolph Prinz is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League. Previously, Prinz played with the Arizona Diamondbacks , New York Yankees , Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim , and Chicago White Sox...
, MLB baseball player. - Mike PriorMike PriorMichael Robert Prior , is a former American professional football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 7th round of the 1985 NFL Draft. A 6'0",...
, NFL football player. - Bret SaberhagenBret SaberhagenBret William Saberhagen is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Early years:Bret Saberhagen attended Grover Cleveland High School, located in Reseda, California. Saberhagen starred in both basketball and baseball...
, MLB baseball player. - John F. Stossel, Fox News consumer reporter, investigative journalist, libertarianLibertarianismLibertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
. - Ted UhlaenderTed UhlaenderTheodore Otto Uhlaender was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds from –. He was also the father of Olympic women's skeleton competitor Katie Uhlaender.Signed by the Twins out of Baylor University in 1961, he made his major league...
, MLB baseball player. - Julian WrightJulian WrightJulian Emil-Jamaal Wright is an American professional basketball player who last played for the NBA's Toronto Raptors. He played collegiately for the University of Kansas.-High school career:...
, NBA Basketball player. - Bryant YoungBryant YoungBryant Colby Young is an American football coach serving as defensive line coach for the University of Florida and former NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers...
, NFL football player.