South Holland, Illinois
Encyclopedia
South Holland is a village in Cook County
, Illinois
, United States
and serves as the seat of Thornton Township
. The population was 22,147 at the 2000 census.
, Netherlands
. When the community formally incorporated as a village in 1894, its population was about 1,000. Originally a general farming community, it later specialized in vegetable growing, especially onion sets. By the 1940s South Holland was known as the Onion Set Capital of the World. The town was built on low ground near the Calumet River
and was originally called de Laage Prairie (Low Prairie) to differentiate it from another Dutch settlement further north on higher ground and called de Hooge Prairie (now the Roseland
neighborhood of Chicago).
In October 2007, Forbes.com declared South Holland to be the "Most Livable Metro-Area suburb" of the Chicago metropolitan area.
because of its laws. All businesses (except travel related establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and gas stations) are closed on Sunday. This can be seen easily when driving on one of the village's main thoroughfares—162nd Street or South Park Avenue. South Holland is a "dry" municipality; that is, no alcohol is sold anywhere within the village limits. Additionally, the sale or rental of pornographic material is prohibited in South Holland. The village's franchise agreements with cable television
providers restrict adult-oriented programming. Zoning restrictions do not allow the development of apartment buildings or condominiums. These laws are a remnant of the village's religious roots as a settlement of conservative Dutch
Reformed immigrants. Even today, South Holland's motto is "A Community of Churches".
and Phoenix
to the west, Dolton
to the north, Thornton
to the south, and Calumet City
and Lansing
to the east.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which, 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.27%) is water.
of 2000, there were 22,147 people, 7,663 households, and 6,007 families residing in the village. The population density
was 3,042.1 people per square mile (1,174.6/km²). There were 7,825 housing units at an average density of 1,074.8 per square mile (415.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 50.81% African American, 45.04% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races
, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.
There were 7,663 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 19.4% 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 2.82 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $60,246, and the median income for a family was $67,451. Males had a median income of $46,582 versus $35,557 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $24,977. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
The private K-8 schools, Calvin Christian School and Calvary Academy, are also located in South Holland.
Thornton Township High School District 205 serves all of South Holland.
Thornwood High School
is located in South Holland. Thornridge High School
and Thornton Township High School
are also within District 205.
Seton Academy is a Catholic co-educational high school located in South Holland. It was formerly an all-girls school until 2003 when boys were admitted.
winning novel So Big by Edna Ferber
is set in South Holland. The Widow Paarlberg
inspired one of the main characters and her family farm is preserved in a municipal park.
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...
and serves as the seat of Thornton Township
Thornton Township
Thornton Township is one of thirty townships in Cook County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 180,802.Incorporated in 1850, it is the most populous township in Illinois as of the 2000 census. It is located immediately south of the city of Chicago...
. The population was 22,147 at the 2000 census.
History
The area currently occupied by South Holland, Illinois was first settled in 1846 by immigrants from South HollandSouth Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. When the community formally incorporated as a village in 1894, its population was about 1,000. Originally a general farming community, it later specialized in vegetable growing, especially onion sets. By the 1940s South Holland was known as the Onion Set Capital of the World. The town was built on low ground near the Calumet River
Calumet River
The Calumet River refers to a system of heavily industrialized rivers and canals in the region between the neighborhood of South Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, and the city of Gary, Indiana.-Background:...
and was originally called de Laage Prairie (Low Prairie) to differentiate it from another Dutch settlement further north on higher ground and called de Hooge Prairie (now the Roseland
Roseland, Chicago
Roseland, located on the far south side of the city, is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois. It includes the neighborhoods of Fernwood, Princeton Park, Lilydale, West Chesterfield, Rosemoor, Sheldon Heights and West Roseland...
neighborhood of Chicago).
In October 2007, Forbes.com declared South Holland to be the "Most Livable Metro-Area suburb" of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Distinctive Traits
South Holland is an anomaly in Chicago SouthlandChicago Southland
The Chicago Southland is the suburban region south and southwest of the City of Chicago, made up of approximately 70 municipalities. This region has been known as the Chicago Southland by the local populace and regional media for about 20 years....
because of its laws. All businesses (except travel related establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and gas stations) are closed on Sunday. This can be seen easily when driving on one of the village's main thoroughfares—162nd Street or South Park Avenue. South Holland is a "dry" municipality; that is, no alcohol is sold anywhere within the village limits. Additionally, the sale or rental of pornographic material is prohibited in South Holland. The village's franchise agreements with cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
providers restrict adult-oriented programming. Zoning restrictions do not allow the development of apartment buildings or condominiums. These laws are a remnant of the village's religious roots as a settlement of conservative Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
Reformed immigrants. Even today, South Holland's motto is "A Community of Churches".
Geography
South Holland is located at 41°35′51"N 87°35′57"W (41.597472, -87.599097). It is bordered by HarveyHarvey, Illinois
Harvey is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, near Chicago. The population was 30,000 at the 2000 census.Harvey is bordered by Dixmoor, Riverdale and Blue Island to the north, Posen and Markham to the west, South Holland, Phoenix, and Dolton to the east, and East Hazel Crest to the...
and Phoenix
Phoenix, Illinois
Phoenix is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,157 at the 2000 census. It is located approximately 19 miles south of the Chicago Loop and is part of the Chicago–Naperville–Joliet, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Phoenix is located at...
to the west, Dolton
Dolton, Illinois
Dolton is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,614 at the 2000 census. Dolton is located just west of the expressway Interstate 94 and immediately south of the city limits of Chicago. Its most common ZIP code is 60419....
to the north, Thornton
Thornton, Illinois
Thornton is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,582 at the 2000 census. Thornton is home to the Thornton Quarry, one of the largest quarries in the world.-Geography:Thornton is located at ....
to the south, and Calumet City
Calumet City, Illinois
Calumet City is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 39,072 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 60409.Calumet City was founded in 1892 when the villages of Schrumville and Sobieski Park merged under the name of West Hammond, since it lies on the west side of the...
and Lansing
Lansing, Illinois
Lansing is a village in Cook County, Illinois, USA. Lansing is a southern suburb of Chicago. The population was 28,332 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
to the east.
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 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which, 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.27%) 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 22,147 people, 7,663 households, and 6,007 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 3,042.1 people per square mile (1,174.6/km²). There were 7,825 housing units at an average density of 1,074.8 per square mile (415.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 50.81% African American, 45.04% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.93% 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 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.
There were 7,663 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 19.4% 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 2.82 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $60,246, and the median income for a family was $67,451. Males had a median income of $46,582 versus $35,557 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 $24,977. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Eddy CurryEddy CurryEddy Curry is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. He was born in Harvey, Illinois...
, NBA forward - Kevin DrummKevin Drumm-Biography:Emerging from the city's improvised music scene, in the 1990s he became one of the world's pre-eminent prepared guitar players. Since then his work has expanded to include electroacoustic compositions and live electronic music made with laptop computers and analog modular synthesizers...
, musician - Cliff FloydCliff FloydCornelius Clifford Floyd, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early years:Floyd was born to parents Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Sr. and Olivia Floyd. After spending 13 years as an only child, Floyd was joined by brother Julius...
, MLB outfielder - Norman J. Kansfield, minister
- James MeeksJames MeeksJames T. Meeks is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 15th district since 2003. He is also an active Baptist minister in Chicago and chairs the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus...
, state senator - Mark MulderMark MulderMark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...
, MLB pitcher - Steve TroutSteve TroutSteven Russell Trout is a former major league baseball pitcher who played during the 1980s.He is the son of former major league pitcher Dizzy Trout. Teammates and friends often referred to him simply as "Sorenson" along with the fairly obvious nickname Rainbow Trout...
, MLB pitcher
Education
- South Holland is home to the main campus of South Suburban CollegeSouth Suburban CollegeSouth Suburban College is a community college located in the south suburbs of Chicago serving the Chicago Southland. The main campus is situated in South Holland, Illinois with a second campus called the University and College Center in Oak Forest, Illinois...
. - South Holland is served by several school districts:
- School District 150 South Holland
- Greenwood School (K-3)
- McKinley School (4-8)
- South Holland School District 151South Holland School District 151South Holland School District 151 is an elementary school district in South Holland, a Chicago suburb located in southern Cook County, Illinois. It is composed of four schools; three elementary schools and one junior high school...
- Taft School (PreK-1)
- Eisenhower School (2-3)
- Madison School (4-5)
- Coolidge Junior High School (6-8)
The private K-8 schools, Calvin Christian School and Calvary Academy, are also located in South Holland.
Thornton Township High School District 205 serves all of South Holland.
Thornwood High School
Thornwood High School
Thornwood High School is a public high school located in South Holland, Illinois. It was built as part of Thornton Township High Schools District 205.-History:...
is located in South Holland. Thornridge High School
Thornridge High School
Thornridge High School is a public high school located in Dolton, Illinois. It was built as part of Thornton Township High Schools District 205. It is sometimes confused with the similar sounding schools in the same district: Thornton Township High School and Thornwood High...
and Thornton Township High School
Thornton Township High School
Thornton Township High School, often simply referred to as Thornton is a public high school founded in 1899. The school is located in Harvey, Illinois one of the south suburbs of the city of Chicago, Illinois. The school is one of three schools administered by Thornton Township High Schools...
are also within District 205.
Seton Academy is a Catholic co-educational high school located in South Holland. It was formerly an all-girls school until 2003 when boys were admitted.
In Literature
The 1925 Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning novel So Big by Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big , Show Boat , and Giant .-Early years:Ferber was born August 15, 1885, in Kalamazoo, Michigan,...
is set in South Holland. The Widow Paarlberg
Antje Paarlberg
Antje Paarlberg is known as the inspiration for the novel "So Big". Chicago area author Edna Ferber used South Holland, Illinois, its pioneers and onion farms as background for her 1924 novel about an ambitious widow in a Midwestern Dutch American farming community...
inspired one of the main characters and her family farm is preserved in a municipal park.