Palos Park, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Palos Park is an affluent village, in southwestern Cook County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 4,689 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.05%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,689 people, 1,802 households, and 1,389 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,241.8 people per square mile (479.0/km²). There were 1,852 housing units at an average density of 490.5 per square mile (189.2/km²). The racial makeup
of the village was 97.16% White, 0.28% African American
, 0.04% Native American
, 1.73% Asian
, 0.19% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 2.11% of the population.
The top five ancestries reported in Palos Park as of the 2000 census were Irish
(25.0%), German
(21.7%), Polish
(14.4%), Italian
(8.0%) and English (6.8%).
There were 1,802 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were married couples
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the village the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 33.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $78,450, and the median income for a family was $88,628. Males had a median income of $70,313 versus $36,893 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $39,861. About 3.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
; a small area, principally that part of the village north of Cal Sag Road, is in the 3rd district
.
The Village Council is composed of John Mahoney (Mayor; Liquor Control Commissioner), Mary O'Connor (Treasurer; Commissioner of Accounts & Finances), Nicole Milovich-Walters (Commissioner of Streets & Public Improvements; by Village Code also in charge of Recreation), Dan Polk (Commissioner of Public Health & Safety), and James Pavlatos (Commissioner of Building and Public Property). Carol Bryson is the elected Clerk. All six are elected at large to concurrent four year terms. Kenneth "Kent" Oliven, CPA is running as an independent Commissioner in the April 5, 2011 election.
The Palos Park government has recently come under some criticism from residents, mainly about its policies and disconnect. For example, the Village Board has recently approved gated private roads with 13 foot guard towers.
on Metra
's SouthWest Service
, which provides daily rail service between Manhattan, Illinois
and Chicago, Illinois (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 4,689 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Palos Park is located at 41°39′56"N 87°50′12"W (41.665682, -87.836633).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 village has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.05%) is water.
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 2000, there were 4,689 people, 1,802 households, and 1,389 families residing in the village. 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 1,241.8 people per square mile (479.0/km²). There were 1,852 housing units at an average density of 490.5 per square mile (189.2/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 village was 97.16% White, 0.28% 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...
, 0.04% 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...
, 1.73% 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,...
, 0.19% from other races, and 0.60% 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 2.11% of the population.
The top five ancestries reported in Palos Park 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...
(25.0%), 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...
(21.7%), 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...
(14.4%), 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...
(8.0%) and English (6.8%).
There were 1,802 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% 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, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the village the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 33.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $78,450, and the median income for a family was $88,628. Males had a median income of $70,313 versus $36,893 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 village was $39,861. About 3.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Most of Palos Park is in Illinois' 13th congressional districtIllinois' 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....
; a small area, principally that part of the village north of Cal Sag Road, is 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....
.
The Village Council is composed of John Mahoney (Mayor; Liquor Control Commissioner), Mary O'Connor (Treasurer; Commissioner of Accounts & Finances), Nicole Milovich-Walters (Commissioner of Streets & Public Improvements; by Village Code also in charge of Recreation), Dan Polk (Commissioner of Public Health & Safety), and James Pavlatos (Commissioner of Building and Public Property). Carol Bryson is the elected Clerk. All six are elected at large to concurrent four year terms. Kenneth "Kent" Oliven, CPA is running as an independent Commissioner in the April 5, 2011 election.
The Palos Park government has recently come under some criticism from residents, mainly about its policies and disconnect. For example, the Village Board has recently approved gated private roads with 13 foot guard towers.
Transportation
Palos Park has a stationPalos Park (Metra)
Palos Park is a station on Metra's SouthWest Service in Palos Park, Illinois. The station is away from Union Station, the northern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Palos Park is in zone E.- External links :*...
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, Illinois (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...
).
Education
- Palos South Middle School http://www.palos118.org/south
- Palos East Elementary School
- Palos West Elementary School
Places of interest
- McCord House Cultural Center
- Plush Horse Ice Cream Parlor
- The Children's Farm (www.thecenterpalos.org)