University Park, Illinois
Encyclopedia
University Park is a village in Will County, Illinois
. A very small parcel is in Cook County.
University Park has been the home of Governors State University
since 1969. The population was 6,662 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 8,102 as of 2005.
This village, one of the region's few planned communities, was known as Wood Hill, Park Forest South, and finally University Park.
In 1966 Nathan Manilow, one of the developers of Park Forest, started to purchase land around Wood Hill. Park Forest had been a model for planning in the 1940s, and Lewis Manilow
, son of Nathan, formed New Community Enterprises (NCE) to build “a whole new town.” Major partners included Illinois Central Industries and United States Gypsum Company.
NCE supported the incorporation of Park Forest South in 1967 with projections for 100,000 residents. Under the federal New Communities Act of 1968, Park Forest South was designated as one of 15 such “new communities.” Planning included space for residential, commercial, and industrial development and addressed the needs of education, recreation, and faith communities. Racial integration was a goal from the beginning, and Park Forest South became a leader in support of open housing.
Governors State University
opened in 1969, and the Illinois Central Railroad made its first commuter extension in 40 years to Park Forest South. Plans for wooded preserves and recreation areas were addressed, building on recreation area set-asides and major land donations by the Manilow organization.
The creativity and energy of the developers and village leadership led to great hopes for their “whole new town.” In 1970, the state of Illinois allocated $24 million for the GSU campus. In 1971, HUD guaranteed $30 million in loans to bring the vision to reality.
The developers modernized the water and sewage treatment facilities and in 1970 initiated the first elementary school, the first apartment complex, and Governors Gateway Industrial Park.
However, difficulties arose in the economy, in the requirements and lack of resources from HUD, in the projections for growth, and in other areas, leading to suspended development in late 1974. For over two years, intense activity at public and private levels untangled many of the problems. The new town, intended for 100,000, adapted to a slow-growth plan anticipating an eventual 20,000 to 25,000 residents. The 2000 population, however, was 6,662, up slightly from the previous decade.
New town planning remains evident. The industrial park next to I-57 is integral to the village, and residential areas continue to offer open space, bikeways, and additional development. The new town heritage includes the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, a monumental internationally recognized outdoor sculpture park at GSU developed by Lewis Manilow to honor his father.
In its own way, University Park succeeded as a planned community, with racial diversity and economic solidity on the edge of the developed south suburbs.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which, 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²) of it is land and 0.10% is water. The village lies on the Valparaiso Moraine
, which is also the Eastern Continental Divide
.
of 2000, there were 6,662 people, 2,253 households, and 1,694 families residing in the village. The population density
was 682.7 people per square mile (263.5/km²). There were 2,380 housing units at an average density of 243.9 per square mile (94.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 12.02% White, 83.92% African American, 13.03% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.80% of the population.
There were 2,253 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples
living together, 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the village the population was spread out with 34.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $50,652, and the median income for a family was $58,902. Males had a median income of $41,490 versus $33,827 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $20,017. About 8.1% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
includes the area in Will County west of Governors Highway, as well as the area south of Dralle Road, the area south of Olmstead Drive, and the portion in Crete Township
; the rest of the village, including the small portion in Cook County, is in the 2nd district.
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
. A very small parcel is in Cook County.
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...
University Park has been the home of Governors State University
Governors State University
Governors State University is a public university located in University Park, Illinois. The campus is located south of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1969, GSU is an upper-division university, offering undergraduate courses at the junior and senior levels as well as graduate level coursework at...
since 1969. The population was 6,662 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 8,102 as of 2005.
This village, one of the region's few planned communities, was known as Wood Hill, Park Forest South, and finally University Park.
History
In the late 1950s, Woodhill Enterprises purchased land south of Park Forest for a large subdivision. Building began in 1961, but by 1967 Wood Hill had only 240 homes. Residents created a homeowners association, which fostered a community identity.In 1966 Nathan Manilow, one of the developers of Park Forest, started to purchase land around Wood Hill. Park Forest had been a model for planning in the 1940s, and Lewis Manilow
Lewis Manilow
Lewis Manilow is an American attorney, real estate developer, and arts patron. He is known as one of the founders of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago...
, son of Nathan, formed New Community Enterprises (NCE) to build “a whole new town.” Major partners included Illinois Central Industries and United States Gypsum Company.
NCE supported the incorporation of Park Forest South in 1967 with projections for 100,000 residents. Under the federal New Communities Act of 1968, Park Forest South was designated as one of 15 such “new communities.” Planning included space for residential, commercial, and industrial development and addressed the needs of education, recreation, and faith communities. Racial integration was a goal from the beginning, and Park Forest South became a leader in support of open housing.
Governors State University
Governors State University
Governors State University is a public university located in University Park, Illinois. The campus is located south of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1969, GSU is an upper-division university, offering undergraduate courses at the junior and senior levels as well as graduate level coursework at...
opened in 1969, and the Illinois Central Railroad made its first commuter extension in 40 years to Park Forest South. Plans for wooded preserves and recreation areas were addressed, building on recreation area set-asides and major land donations by the Manilow organization.
The creativity and energy of the developers and village leadership led to great hopes for their “whole new town.” In 1970, the state of Illinois allocated $24 million for the GSU campus. In 1971, HUD guaranteed $30 million in loans to bring the vision to reality.
The developers modernized the water and sewage treatment facilities and in 1970 initiated the first elementary school, the first apartment complex, and Governors Gateway Industrial Park.
However, difficulties arose in the economy, in the requirements and lack of resources from HUD, in the projections for growth, and in other areas, leading to suspended development in late 1974. For over two years, intense activity at public and private levels untangled many of the problems. The new town, intended for 100,000, adapted to a slow-growth plan anticipating an eventual 20,000 to 25,000 residents. The 2000 population, however, was 6,662, up slightly from the previous decade.
New town planning remains evident. The industrial park next to I-57 is integral to the village, and residential areas continue to offer open space, bikeways, and additional development. The new town heritage includes the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, a monumental internationally recognized outdoor sculpture park at GSU developed by Lewis Manilow to honor his father.
In its own way, University Park succeeded as a planned community, with racial diversity and economic solidity on the edge of the developed south suburbs.
Geography
University Park is located at 41°26′22"N 87°41′50"W (41.439460, -87.697299).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 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which, 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²) of it is land and 0.10% is water. The village lies on the 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...
, which is also the Eastern Continental Divide
Eastern Continental Divide
The Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial...
.
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 6,662 people, 2,253 households, and 1,694 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 682.7 people per square mile (263.5/km²). There were 2,380 housing units at an average density of 243.9 per square mile (94.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 12.02% White, 83.92% African American, 13.03% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% 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 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.80% of the population.
There were 2,253 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% 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, 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the village the population was spread out with 34.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $50,652, and the median income for a family was $58,902. Males had a median income of $41,490 versus $33,827 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 $20,017. About 8.1% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
University Park is divided between two congressional districts. Illinois' 11th congressional districtIllinois' 11th congressional district
The 11th Congressional District of Illinois includes the towns of Joliet, Bloomington, Normal, Kankakee, LaSalle, Ottawa and Streator, and all or parts of Will, Kankakee, Grundy, LaSalle, Bureau, Woodford and McLean counties...
includes the area in Will County west of Governors Highway, as well as the area south of Dralle Road, the area south of Olmstead Drive, and the portion in Crete Township
Crete Township, Will County, Illinois
Crete Township is located in Will County, Illinois. The population was 23,589 at the 2000 census. Washington Township was formed from a portion of Crete.- External links :****...
; the rest of the village, including the small portion in Cook County, is in the 2nd district.