Riverdale, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Riverdale is a village in Cook County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 15,055 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, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (3.96%) is water.
, there were 15,055 people, 4,987 households, and 3,675 families residing in the village. The population density
was 4,138.6 people per square mile (1,596.9/km²). There were 5,441 housing units at an average density of 1,495.7 per square mile (577.1/km²). The racial makeup
of the village was 11.07% White, 86.38% African American
, 0.16% Native American
, 0.19% Asian
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
, 1.04% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 2.43% of the population.
The top non-African American ancestries reported in Riverdale as of the 2000 census were German
(2.7%) and Polish
(2.3%).
There were 4,987 households out of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples
living together, 33.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the village the population was spread out with 37.6% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $38,321, and the median income for a family was $41,892. Males had a median income of $36,005 versus $29,521 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,461. About 16.6% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
In a September 30th, 2011 article, Riverdale, Illinois was listed as the number 7 city out of 9 that is closest to going broke in the United States. The article stated that "Riverdale has run operational deficits for a number of consecutive years, driven primarily by a reduction in the amount the village relies on debt financing."
. The local government of Riverdale consists of six elected trustees, one elected village clerk, and one elected mayor. On Tuesday, April 7, 2009 the incumbent mayor, Zenovia Evans was defeated by Trustee and now Mayor-elect Deyon Dean.
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 15,055 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Riverdale is located at 41°38′26"N 87°37′50"W (41.640684, -87.630645).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, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (3.96%) 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 15,055 people, 4,987 households, and 3,675 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 4,138.6 people per square mile (1,596.9/km²). There were 5,441 housing units at an average density of 1,495.7 per square mile (577.1/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 11.07% White, 86.38% 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...
, 0.16% 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...
, 0.19% 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,...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
, 1.04% from other races, and 1.11% 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 2.43% of the population.
The top non-African American ancestries reported in Riverdale as of the 2000 census were 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...
(2.7%) and 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...
(2.3%).
There were 4,987 households out of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% 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, 33.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the village the population was spread out with 37.6% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $38,321, and the median income for a family was $41,892. Males had a median income of $36,005 versus $29,521 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 $14,461. About 16.6% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
In a September 30th, 2011 article, Riverdale, Illinois was listed as the number 7 city out of 9 that is closest to going broke in the United States. The article stated that "Riverdale has run operational deficits for a number of consecutive years, driven primarily by a reduction in the amount the village relies on debt financing."
Government
Riverdale is divided between two congressional districts. Most of the city is in Illinois' 2nd congressional district; the area west of Ashland Avenue and the area southwest of 141st and Halsted Streets are in the 1st districtIllinois' 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...
. The local government of Riverdale consists of six elected trustees, one elected village clerk, and one elected mayor. On Tuesday, April 7, 2009 the incumbent mayor, Zenovia Evans was defeated by Trustee and now Mayor-elect Deyon Dean.
Police Department - Fallen Officers
In the history of the Riverdale Police Department, one officer has been killed in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of death | Age | Tenure | Cause of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detective William (Wally) Rolniak, Jr. http://www.odmp.org/officer/17126-detective-william-wally-rolniak-jr | February 4, 2004 | 39 | 14 years | Gunfire |
Famous natives
- Antwaan Randle ElAntwaan Randle ElAntwaan Randle El is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He attended Indiana University, after turning down a Major League Baseball draft selection by the Chicago Cubs in 1997...
– NFL wide receiver - Charles Christian HammerCharles Christian HammerCharles Christian "Sir Charles" Hammer, , was an American classical guitarist.Charles Christian Hammer was born in Chicago, Illinois. Hammer took up the guitar in his youth after hearing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. He purchased his first guitar with earnings from a newspaper route...
- Classical Guitarist - Betty RobinsonBetty RobinsonElizabeth Robinson , later Elizabeth R. Schwartz was an American athlete and winner of the first Olympic 100 m for women....
- Won the Olympic Gold Medal in the 400 meter relay events during the 1936 Olympics. - Marcheline BertrandMarcheline BertrandMarcia Lynne "Marcheline" Bertrand was an American actress and producer. She also co-founded the All Tribes Foundation, to culturally and economically benefit Native Americans, and the Give Love Give Life organization, to raise public awareness of women's cancers. Bertrand was the former wife of...
- American actress, mother of actress Angelina JolieAngelina JolieAngelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...