Palos Heights, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Palos Heights is a city in Cook County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 12,561 in 2005.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.33%) is water.
, there were 11,561 people, 4,123 households, and 3,133 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,978.6 people per square mile (1,150.1/km²). There were 4,268 housing units at an average density of 1,129.0 per square mile (435.9/km²). The racial makeup
of the city was 96.39% White, 0.44% African American
, 0.09% Native American
, 2.06% Asian
, 0.25% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 1.43% of the population.
The top five ancestries reported in Palos Heights as of the 2000 census were Irish
(27.2%), German
(20.5%), Polish
(14.1%), Italian
(10.5%) and Dutch (9.1%).
There were 4,123 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $69,907, and the median income for a family was $81,100. Males had a median income of $61,786 versus $37,188 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $32,895. About 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
, is in Illinois' 1st congressional district
; most of the area in Palos Township
, excepting some of the southern portions (generally south of 131st Street) are in the 3rd district
; an area under 0.05 square miles (129,499.4 m²) northeast of 131st Street and 80th Avenue, along with a small area around Palos Community Hospital, is in the 13th district
. The City Council is made up of a mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and 8 aldermen from wards:
Robert "Bob" Straz (mayor);
Thomas "Tom" Kantas (city clerk);
Frank Oswald (treasurer);
Aldermen Jeff Prestinario and Jean Gnap (1st Ward);
Aldermen Robert "Bob" Basso and Jack Clifford (2nd Ward);
Aldermen Alan Fulkerson and Dolores Kramarski (3rd Ward) and
Aldermen Mike McGrogan and Art Phillips (4th Ward).
The City Administrator is Dan Nisavic.
, Palos Community Consolidated School District 118, Community High School District 218, and Consolidated High School District 230.
District 128 operates one pre-school (Indian Hill) two elementary schools (Chippewa and Navajo Heights) and a junior high school (Independence). District 118 also operates two elementary schools (Palos East and Palos West) and a middle school (Palos South). The district’s Palos East elementary is situated within the city’s boundaries.
Community High School District 218’s Alan B. Shepard High School serves Palos Heights and several neighboring communities. Students can choose from more than 200 different courses, including advanced placement courses, foreign language, computer programming, computer-aided design, robotics, graphic design, and desktop publishing. In addition, students can participate in a full roster of sports.
Consolidated High School District 230’s Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. Located in Palos Hills
, serves Palos Heights students living west of Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43
). It also offers more than 200 courses designed to meet the academic needs of college-bound students and the training needs of career-oriented students.
Several private and parochial schools in Palos Heights offer alternatives to public school education. Among the schools are St. Alexander Catholic School, Palos Evangelical Lutheran Elementary School, Chicago Christian High School, and Incarnation Catholic School. The latter offers the full range of college preparatory, business, and technology courses.
Additionally Elim Christian Services
offers a school for those with special needs.
Palos Heights students can readily commute to Moraine Valley Community College
, in nearby Palos Hills. Moraine Valley serves the local residents through classes, seminars, lectures, concerts, plays, and other activities. Trinity Christian College
is also located in Palos Heights.
(NIV) was initiated in Palos Heights.
on Metra
's SouthWest Service
, which provides daily rail service between Manhattan, Illinois
and Chicago (at Union Station
).
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 11,260 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 12,561 in 2005.
Geography
Palos Heights is located at 41°39′55"N 87°47′50"W (41.665332, -87.797201).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 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.33%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 2000 censusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, there were 11,561 people, 4,123 households, and 3,133 families residing 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 2,978.6 people per square mile (1,150.1/km²). There were 4,268 housing units at an average density of 1,129.0 per square mile (435.9/km²). The racial makeup
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...
of the city was 96.39% White, 0.44% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.09% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 2.06% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.25% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race were 1.43% of the population.
The top five ancestries reported in Palos Heights as of the 2000 census were Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
(27.2%), German
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
(20.5%), Polish
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
(14.1%), Italian
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
(10.5%) and Dutch (9.1%).
There were 4,123 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $69,907, and the median income for a family was $81,100. Males had a median income of $61,786 versus $37,188 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 $32,895. About 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Palos Heights is divided between three congressional districts. Most of the city, including all the area in Worth TownshipWorth Township, Cook County, Illinois
Worth Township is one of thirty townships in Cook County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 152,239. It was founded in 1849, when the county voted to subdivide itself into townships.-Geography:...
, is in Illinois' 1st congressional district
Illinois' 1st congressional district
Illinois's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Illinois. Based in Cook County, the district includes much of the South Side of Chicago, extending into the city's southwest suburbs until reaching the border of Will County, and covers , making it one of the 40...
; most of the area in Palos Township
Palos Township, Cook County, Illinois
Palos Township is one of thirty townships in Cook County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 53,419.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Palos Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Boundaries:Palos Township is bordered by Harlem...
, excepting some of the southern portions (generally south of 131st Street) are in the 3rd district
Illinois' 3rd congressional district
The 3rd Congressional District of Illinois includes part of Cook County, and has been represented by Democrat Dan Lipinski since January 2005. The district was previously represented by his father Bill Lipinski beginning in 1993....
; an area under 0.05 square miles (129,499.4 m²) northeast of 131st Street and 80th Avenue, along with a small area around Palos Community Hospital, is in the 13th district
Illinois' 13th congressional district
The 13th congressional district of Illinois covers the southwest suburbs of Chicago, including portions of Cook, DuPage, and Will counties. Since 1999 it has been represented by Republican Judy Biggert....
. The City Council is made up of a mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and 8 aldermen from wards:
Robert "Bob" Straz (mayor);
Thomas "Tom" Kantas (city clerk);
Frank Oswald (treasurer);
Aldermen Jeff Prestinario and Jean Gnap (1st Ward);
Aldermen Robert "Bob" Basso and Jack Clifford (2nd Ward);
Aldermen Alan Fulkerson and Dolores Kramarski (3rd Ward) and
Aldermen Mike McGrogan and Art Phillips (4th Ward).
The City Administrator is Dan Nisavic.
Public and private schools
Palos Heights is served by four school districts noted for high quality programs and instruction. The four districts are: Palos Heights School District 128Palos Heights School District 128
Palos Heights School District 128 is a PK-8 Cook County, Illinois school district located in the southern village of Palos Heights; the district serves Palos Heights Proper and the majority of its neighboring unincorporated areas...
, Palos Community Consolidated School District 118, Community High School District 218, and Consolidated High School District 230.
District 128 operates one pre-school (Indian Hill) two elementary schools (Chippewa and Navajo Heights) and a junior high school (Independence). District 118 also operates two elementary schools (Palos East and Palos West) and a middle school (Palos South). The district’s Palos East elementary is situated within the city’s boundaries.
Community High School District 218’s Alan B. Shepard High School serves Palos Heights and several neighboring communities. Students can choose from more than 200 different courses, including advanced placement courses, foreign language, computer programming, computer-aided design, robotics, graphic design, and desktop publishing. In addition, students can participate in a full roster of sports.
Consolidated High School District 230’s Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. Located in Palos Hills
Palos Hills, Illinois
Palos Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb of Chicago. The population was 17,665 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Moraine Valley Community College as well as Amos Alonzo Stagg High School.-Geography:...
, serves Palos Heights students living west of Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43
Illinois Route 43
Illinois Route 43 is a major north–south state road in the U.S. state of Illinois. It runs from U.S. Route 30 in Frankfort north to the large intersection of Illinois Route 120 and U.S...
). It also offers more than 200 courses designed to meet the academic needs of college-bound students and the training needs of career-oriented students.
Several private and parochial schools in Palos Heights offer alternatives to public school education. Among the schools are St. Alexander Catholic School, Palos Evangelical Lutheran Elementary School, Chicago Christian High School, and Incarnation Catholic School. The latter offers the full range of college preparatory, business, and technology courses.
Additionally Elim Christian Services
Elim Christian Services
Elim Christian Services, is a Christian ministry, based in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, that equips individuals with disabilities to achieve their highest potential, primarily through a Christian special education program, a vocational and day program for adults with disabilities, a...
offers a school for those with special needs.
Palos Heights students can readily commute to Moraine Valley Community College
Moraine Valley Community College
Moraine Valley Community College is a community college located in Palos Hills, Illinois in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Founded in 1967, it is the second largest community college in the state. It has an enrollment of approximately 35,000...
, in nearby Palos Hills. Moraine Valley serves the local residents through classes, seminars, lectures, concerts, plays, and other activities. Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College is a liberal arts college located in Palos Heights, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago. The college was founded in 1959 by a group of Chicago businessmen who wanted to establish a college providing students with a Christian higher education in a Reformed tradition...
is also located in Palos Heights.
Historical fact
In 1965 a group of scholars met in Palos Heights to discuss the need for a contemporary translation of the Holy Bible. The necessity of the project was agreed upon, and shortly thereafter, the New International VersionNew International Version
The New International Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible. Published by Zondervan in the United States and by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK, it has become one of the most popular modern translations in history.-History:...
(NIV) was initiated in Palos Heights.
Notable people
- David Dombrowski (born July 27, 1956), president, CEO, and general manager of the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
of Major League Baseball - Quentin RichardsonQuentin RichardsonQuentin Richardson is an American professional basketball player who plays for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic...
, professional basketball player; forward guard for the Miami HeatMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami... - Ed OlczykEd OlczykEdward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk is an American former head coach for the National Hockey League Pittsburgh Penguins and former center for Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins...
, member of the USA hockey team at the 1984 Olympics1984 Winter OlympicsThe 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
and professional hockey player - Robin TunneyRobin TunneyRobin Jessica Tunney is an American actress. She is best known for her lead roles in the movie The Craft and the television series Prison Break and The Mentalist.-Early life:...
, actress (The CraftThe CraftThe Craft can refer to several things:* The Craft , a 1996 film* The Craft , Blackalicious album released in September 2005* The Craft, an alternative and casual name for Freemasonry* The Craft, an alternate name for witchcraft...
, The MentalistThe MentalistThe Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
)
Transportation
Palos Heights has a stationPalos Heights (Metra)
Palos Heights is a station on Metra's SouthWest Service in Palos Heights, Illinois. The station is away from Union Station, the northern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Palos Heights is in zone D.-Bus connections:Pace...
on Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
's SouthWest Service
SouthWest Service
The SouthWest Service is an American commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra, running southwest from Union Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois, to Manhattan, Illinois...
, which provides daily rail service between Manhattan, Illinois
Manhattan, Illinois
Manhattan is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,071 at the 2006 special census. The city is located in northeastern Illinois approximately 50 miles southwest of Chicago.- History :...
and Chicago (at Union Station
Union Station (Chicago)
Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams...
).