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Country Club Hills, Illinois

Country Club Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb and south of Chicago. The population was 16,775 at the 2020 census.

History
10,000 years ago, during a glacial period, there was a complex of moraines in this area, before modern times.

Country Club Hills was historically known as Copper's Grove, a German Farmer-based place, throughout the 1800s. It was used for growing crops, and a lot more at that time.

In the 1950s, Copper's Grove started to transition into present-day Country Club Hills, where farms started to move away, and started to get more populated. As a result, Country Club Hills became a incorporated city in 1958. The first town hall was located on a farmhouse on the southeastern corner of present day Cicero Ave. and 183rd St. That building relocated to currently the Police Department building on 175th St in 1975.

The city has been developing rapidly since then, especially in 2006, where the city used a $16 million municipal bond to build a $5 million amphitheatre on the City Campus, a $2 million fire station, an upgraded community park, and various infrastructure improvement projects.

Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Country Club Hills has a total area of 4.99 sqmi, of which 4.97 sqmi (or 99.66%) is land and 0.02 sqmi (or 0.34%) is water.

Country Club Hills is neighbored by Hazel Crest to the east, Flossmoor and Matteson to the south, Oak Forest to the northwest, Markham to the north, and the Cook County Forest Preserves and Tinley Park to the west.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 16,775 people, 5,695 households, and 3,802 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,363.75 PD/sqmi. There were 6,164 housing units at an average density of 1,236.01 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 86.46% African American, 6.30% White, 0.79% Asian, 0.27% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.21% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.04% of the population.

There were 5,695 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.96% were married couples living together, 21.79% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.24% were non-families. 29.06% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.31% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 2.88.

The city's age distribution consisted of 22.0% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $70,306, and the median income for a family was $85,357. Males had a median income of $51,563 versus $42,955 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,318. About 11.2% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture
In 2006, Country Club Hills became the location of Chicago metropolitan area's largest Wal-Mart Supercenter at over 203000 sqft. The development was an anchor to the first phase of the Gatling Square Mile, Cook County's largest parcel of undeveloped land at about 400 acre.

Country Club Hills is part of the Grande Prairie Public Library District. The Grande Prairie Public Library is located in nearby Hazel Crest.

Government
Country Club Hills is divided between two congressional districts. Nearly all of the city is in Illinois's 2nd congressional district, but some small areas along the city's western edge – primarily between 179th and 183rd Streets west of Lavergne Avenue – are in the 1st district.

Education
Since 1967, Country Club Hills has been home to Bremen Community High School District 228's Hillcrest High School, located at 175th and Pulaski (Crawford),(which serves most of the city north of 183rd St.). The school has been on an academic watch list for 6 years, and is currently in a "restructuring plan" to increase school academics. Parts of the city west of Cicero Ave, and North of 183rd St/I-80 attends Tinley Park High School, also in Bremen Community High School District 228. The southern half of the city (South of 183rd St) attends Rich Central High School, which is in Rich Township School District 227.

Country Club Hills School District 160 serves most of the city, which contains 2 elementary schools, and Southwood Middle School. Prairie-Hills School District 144 serves portions of the city north of 175th St. and east of Pulaski Rd., which contains 6 elementary schools, and Prairie-Hills Junior High School in neighboring Markham.

Transportation
Pace provides bus service on multiple routes connecting Country Club Hills to destinations across the Southland.

Notable people

 * Danny Clark, linebacker for the New York Giants
 * Marquice Cole, defensive back for the New York Jets
 * Herb Coleman, American player of gridiron football
 * Dee Dee Davis, actress, best known in her role as Bryana “Baby Girl” Thomkins on the Bernie Mac Show
 * Koko Taylor, blues singer

title: Country Club Hills, Illinois


text:
Countryside, Illinois

Countryside is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 6,420.

History
The land where Countryside sits was originally inhabited by the Potawatomi Indians and later by early American pioneers in the beginning of the 19th century. Settler Joseph Vial and his family were among the first non-native people to settle in the Countryside area in 1833.

The area remained large expanses of rural farmland until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, when the fire sent thousands of city dwellers into what is now west suburban Chicago. Land sold for only $2 an acre, which made areas such as Countryside a welcome respite from the congestion and industry in Chicago.

Despite the settlement of these early Countryside inhabitants, the area largely remained a quiet farming community until the post-World War II era when suburban areas such as Countryside began to experience explosive growth. The area's first residential subdivision was LaGrange Terrace, built in 1947; it was later followed by the Don L. Dise and Edgewood Park subdivisions in the 1950s.

The City of Countryside was officially incorporated in 1960.

Around 1917, the Marx Brothers family (later a famous comedy team) bought a chicken farm near Joliet Road (Route 66) and La Grange Road. Groucho Marx later claimed that the brothers spent too much time at Wrigley Field watching the Chicago Cubs to make the farm economically viable.

Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Countryside has a total area of 2.88 sqmi, all land.

Neighboring communities are Hodgkins, McCook, and La Grange.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 6,420 people, 2,543 households, and 1,531 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,230.72 PD/sqmi. There were 2,812 housing units at an average density of 977.07 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 72.94% White, 2.83% African American, 2.27% Asian, 0.53% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 9.45% from other races, and 11.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.00% of the population.

There were 2,543 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.11% were married couples living together, 10.58% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.80% were non-families. 36.02% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 2.32.

The city's age distribution consisted of 21.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 34.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $67,201, and the median income for a family was $90,804. Males had a median income of $52,837 versus $38,649 for females. The per capita income for the city was $44,265. About 5.7% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over. ''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

Economy
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150 is based in Countryside at 6200 Joliet Road.

Countryside Plaza is a large draw for regional shopping.

Government
Countryside is in Illinois's 6th congressional district.

Education
Countryside is served by La Grange School District 105 and Pleasantdale School District 107. Elementary students attend Ideal Elementary School in Countryside or Pleasantdale Elementary School in Willow Springs. Middle school students attend William F.Gurrie Middle School in La Grange or Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge IL. High school students move onto Lyons Township High School District 204 which has campuses in La Grange, and Western Springs.

Fire department
Countryside is served by the Pleasantview Fire Protection District, founded in 1946. It is directed by a board of trustees which is elected by the areas which make up the district. The fire district currently maintains three stations in its coverage area.

Transportation
Pace provides bus service on routes 330 and 392 connecting Countryside to Summit, O'Hare International Airport and other destinations.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Countryside, Illinois


text:
Crestwood, Illinois

Crestwood is a village about 24 mi southwest of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 10,826.

The Windy City ThunderBolts of the independent baseball Frontier League play at Ozinga Field in Crestwood.

Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Crestwood has a total area of 3.08 sqmi, of which 3.05 sqmi (or 99.09%) is land and 0.03 sqmi (or 0.91%) is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 10,826 people, 4,862 households, and 2,281 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,518.36 PD/sqmi. There were 5,202 housing units at an average density of 1,690.61 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 74.75% White, 10.06% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.71% from other races, and 7.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.30% of the population.

There were 4,862 households, out of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.54% were married couples living together, 9.21% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.09% were non-families. 45.56% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.65% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 2.06.

The village's age distribution consisted of 14.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 27.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $60,541, and the median income for a family was $69,965. Males had a median income of $55,303 versus $31,707 for females. The per capita income for the village was $30,003. About 3.1% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over. ''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

Government
Crestwood is a Council–manager village. The mayor with the approval of the village board appoints a village manager to oversee the daily affairs of the village. The current village manager is William Graffeo, who has served in that role since 2010.

Crestwood's government used to rebate to its residents a portion of their property and other municipal tax payments. It was praised by proponents of small government for its low taxes and cheap government. Crestwood's rebates ended in 2009 so that the village could pay the legal fees associated with the contaminated water scandal.

Crestwood is home to several units of the Illinois National Guard, including Battery B, 2nd Battalion 122 Field Artillery; Company B, 404th Brigade Support Battalion; Company G, 634th Brigade Support Battalion; 108th Signal Company; and the 1744th Transportation Company.

On November 17, 2021, Mayor Louis Presta resigned after pleading guilty to a federal bribery case regarding red light cameras installed in the village.

Robert Stranczek, son of former mayor Chester Stranczek. Chester retired in October 2007, and it was then announced that Robert would be taking over his father's role as mayor.

Politics
Crestwood is currently governed by the Crestwood United Party. The Crestwood United Party is composed of members from both the Republican Party and Democratic Party.

Crestwood is considered competitive on the state and federal level. It has been won by both democrats and republicans in recent years.

Transportation
Crestwood is served by Pace routes 383 and 385. Routes 383 and 385 terminate at Midway station, the terminus of the CTA Orange Line.

While Crestwood does not have rail service, it is in close proximity to Midlothian station which is served by Metra's Rock Island District to LaSalle Street.

Education
Delia M. Turner Elementary School, a Pre-K - Kindergarten school of the Posen-Robbins School District 143½, is within Crestwood.

Nathan Hale Elementary School

Kolmar Elementary School

Notable people

 * Ron Mahay, pitcher for eight Major League Baseball teams
 * Joan Patricia Murphy, Illinois politician
 * Chester Stranczek, former mayor

Water contamination
In April 2009, the Chicago Tribune in an investigative article titled "Poison in the Well", reported that the water from a well used to supply residents with drinking water had been contaminated with chemicals (including two linked to the known carcinogen perchloroethylene) from dry cleaning solvents. Village of Crestwood officials, including Mayor Robert Stranczek, and the former mayor Chester Stranczek, were accused of secretly and illegally using the well and lying to regulatory authorities in order to cover that up. The ensuing investigation has generated three class-action lawsuits, two wrongful death lawsuits, and several federal raids. Tricia Krause, a mother of a son who had leukemia for six years and a daughter who had a brain tumor alerted the USEPA of the wrongdoings of the Village of Crestwood officials.

In April 2013, certified water operator Frank Scaccia pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement. Crestwood's police chief and former water supervisor, Theresa Neubauer, was also found guilty of making false statements to regulators. Former Mayor Chester Stranczek was declared not fit to stand trial due to dementia.

title: Crestwood, Illinois


text:
Deer Park, Illinois

Deer Park is a village in Lake and Cook Counties, Illinois. Per the 2020 census, the population was 3,681. The village is one of the few left in the Chicago area that enjoy a green belt which is bordered by two large natural areas providing outdoor recreation and open space. The village is home to popular shopping and dining destinations: Deer Park Town Center and the Town Center Promenade. The town is also home to the Vehe Farm, an Illinois Centennial Farm.

Residential zoning is mainly single family homes with lot of sizes of 1 acre or more. Upscale townhomes are available near the Deer Park Center. The Metra/Chicago & Northwestern train line provides commuter service to Chicago with stations in nearby Barrington and Palatine.

Geography
Deer Park is located at 42.16646°N, -88.08586°W.

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Deer Park has a total area of 3.76 sqmi, of which 3.65 sqmi (or 97.31%) is land and 0.10 sqmi (or 2.69%) is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 3,681 people, 1,377 households, and 1,124 families residing in the village. The population density was 980.29 PD/sqmi. There were 1,451 housing units at an average density of 386.42 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 85.41% White, 0.65% African American, 0.27% Native American, 7.85% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 4.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.31% of the population.

There were 1,377 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.25% were married couples living together, 3.92% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.37% were non-families. 17.28% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.88% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 2.91.

The village's age distribution consisted of 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 31% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $161,422, and the median income for a family was $192,708. Males had a median income of $117,120 versus $76,635 for females. The per capita income for the village was $73,578. About 0.3% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education
There are no public schools in Deer Park, but it is served by either Isaac Fox Elementary School, Lake Zurich Middle School South and Lake Zurich High School or Arnett Lines Elementary School, Barrington Middle School Prairie Campus and Barrington High School.

title: Deer Park, Illinois


text:
Deerfield, Illinois

Deerfield is a village in Lake and Cook counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A northern suburb of Chicago, Deerfield is located on the North Shore, about 28 miles north of downtown Chicago. The population was 19,196 at the 2020 census.

Deerfield is home to the headquarters of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Baxter Healthcare, and Fortune Brands Home & Security. Deerfield is often listed among some of the wealthiest and highest-earning places in Illinois and the Midwest. The per capita income of the village is $68,101 and the median household income is $143,729.

Beginnings
Originally populated by the Bodéwadmiakiwen (Potawatomi), Myaamia (Miami), Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and Peoria Native Americans, the area was settled by Horace Lamb and Jacob B. Cadwell in 1835 and named Cadwell's Corner. A shopping center located on the site of Cadwell's farm at Waukegan Road and Lake Cook Road still bears that name. The area grew because of the navigable rivers in the area, notably the Des Plaines River and the Chicago River. By 1840, the town's name was changed to "Leclair". Within a decade, settler John Millen proposed a further name change to "Deerfield" in honor of his hometown, Deerfield, Massachusetts and the large number of deer living in the area. At the time, the alternate name for the village on the ballot was "Erin". "Deerfield" won by a vote of 17–13. The village's first school, Wilmot School, was founded in 1847. Originally a one-room schoolhouse, Wilmot is now an elementary school which serves 548 students. It is located on land donated by Lyman Wilmot, whose wife, Clarissa, was the village's first school teacher. The village was incorporated in 1903 with a population in the low 400s.

In the 1850s, the Deerfield home of Lyman Wilmot served as a stop on the Underground Railroad as escaped slaves attempted to get to Canada.

20th century
In a 1917 design by Thomas E. Tallmadge of the American Institute of Architects, Deerfield (and adjacent Highland Park) served as the center for a new proposed capital city of the United States. By that year, all of Deerfield's original farms had been converted either to residential areas or golf courses.

On May 26, 1944, a US Navy plane crashed in Deerfield on the current site of the Deerfield Public Library, killing Ensign Milton C. Pickens. Following World War II, a portion of Waukegan Road (Route 43) that runs through Deerfield has been designated a Blue Star Memorial Highway.

In 1959, when Deerfield officials learned that a developer building a neighborhood of large new homes planned to make houses available to African Americans, they issued a stop-work order. An intense debate began about racial integration, property values, and the good faith of community officials and builders. For a brief time, Deerfield was spotlighted in the national news as "the Little Rock of the North." Supporters of integration were denounced and ostracized by angry residents. Eventually, the village passed a referendum to build parks on the property, thus putting an end to the housing development. Two model homes already partially completed were sold to village officials. The remaining land lay dormant for years before it was developed into Mitchell Pool and Park and Jaycee Park. At the time, Deerfield's black population was 12 people out of a total population of 11,786. This episode in Deerfield's history is described in But Not Next Door by Harry and David Rosen, both residents of Deerfield. On June 18, 2020, the Deerfield Park District Board voted to remove James Mitchell's name from the park and later renamed it to Floral Park, which was the name originally intended for the sub-division that would have been built at that location.

Since the early 1980s, Deerfield has seen an increase in the population of Jews, Asians, and Greeks, giving the community a more diverse cultural and ethnic makeup.

On June 27, 1962, ground was broken by Kitchens of Sara Lee (now Sara Lee Corporation) for construction of the world's largest bakery. The plant, located on the current site of Coromandel Condominiums on Kates Road, began production in 1964 using state-of-the-art materials handling and production equipment. It was billed as the world's first industrial plant with a fully automated production control system and was designed by Stanley Winton. President Ronald Reagan visited the plant in 1985. The plant closed in 1990 as Sara Lee consolidated production in Tarboro, North Carolina. By 1991, headquarters employees had moved to downtown Chicago. In 2007, Sara Lee severed its final tie to its former home town with the closure of the Sara Lee Bakery Outlet Store.

In 1982, Deerfield began an experiment with a community farm. Two hundred residents applied for plots on a 3 acre community garden. The project had such a strong initial success that the village opened additional community farms on vacant land in the village.

As of 1987 Deerfield was mostly made up of single-family houses. As of that year the resale prices of Deerfield houses ranged from $100,000 to $300,000. 43.5% of the town's land consisted of single-family houses, while 1.1% contained multi-family housing. As of that year little of the remaining land was available for further residential development.

21st century
On December 19, 2005, the village board passed a strict anti-smoking ordinance. The law bans smoking in all public places, including businesses, bars, restaurants, parks, parade routes, public assemblies, and within 25 ft from any of the above.

In November 2007, BusinessWeek.com listed Deerfield third in a list of the 50 best places to raise children. The rankings were based on five factors: school test scores, cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, number of schools and risk of crime. Deerfield ranked behind Groesbeck, Ohio, and Western Springs, Illinois.

In 2015, a plan to rezone a parcel of land originally zoned for single-family homes, in order to allow the construction of a 48-unit affordable apartment building complex, was proposed. Some Deerfield residents were opposed to the proposition.

In 2018, The Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved a ban on what were described as certain types of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, amending a 2013 ordinance that regulated the storage of those items. This was done despite an Illinois State Preemption on any further municipal firearms restrictions after 2013, and the fact that amendments to municipal ordinances have to pass said amendments as separate ordinances. Lawsuits were filed challenging the Ordinance and the ban was eventually blocked by Lake County Circuit Court Judge Luis Berrones until the lawsuits could be heard. One of the lawsuits is based on the Illinois state preemption statute regarding local bans enacted after 2013.

Deerfield was Sister Cities with Lüdinghausen, Germany until the commission was dissolved in October 2019 due to inactivity.

Deerfield Historic Village

Located in front of Kipling Elementary School is the Deerfield Historic Village, founded and maintained by the Deerfield Area Historical Society, this outdoor museum consists of five historic buildings and includes the headquarters for the Deerfield Historical Society. Tours are offered during the summer months.

The Historic Village includes the Caspar Ott House, where the Ott family assisted in the passage of slaves in the Underground Railroad, considered to be the oldest building in Lake County, built in 1837. It was restored by Bob Przewlocki. The George Luther House (1847) now includes the Society's offices and Visitor Center. The Bartle Sacker Farmhouse (1854) is a typical 19th century home. While those buildings are all original (although relocated from their original sites), the carriage house and little red school house are replicas. Each year, all fourth graders in Deerfield School District 109 spend a day learning in the school house.

Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Deerfield has a total area of 5.55 sqmi, of which 5.53 sqmi (or 99.60%) is land and 0.02 sqmi (or 0.40%) is water.

Deerfield is bordered to the north by Bannockburn, to the east by Highland Park, to the south by Northbrook and to the west by Riverwoods.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 19,196 people, 7,323 households, and 5,574 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,457.49 PD/sqmi. There were 7,436 housing units at an average density of 1,339.34 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 87.82% White, 0.71% African American, 0.12% Native American, 5.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 4.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population.

There were 7,323 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.50% were married couples living together, 6.13% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.88% were non-families. 21.28% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.49% 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 2.59.

The village's age distribution consisted of 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 19.4% from 25 to 44, 32% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $162,064, and the median income for a family was $189,125. Males had a median income of $117,305 versus $58,258 for females. The per capita income for the village was $82,426. About 1.2% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
In 1982 a 324 acre tax increment financing district opened along Lake-Cook Road, spurring business development. As of 1987 the office leasing activity in Deerfield increased tremendously, and throughout the 1980s office buildings were developed along Lake-Cook Road, between Interstate 294 and Waukegan Road. Two hotels, an Embassy Suites and a Hyatt, opened during the era to accommodate the increased business traffic. Factors augmenting the establishment of businesses along the corridor included the opening of the district, the abundance of vacant land, and the corridor's proximity to the Chicago Loop and O'Hare International Airport.

Corporate headquarters
Deerfield is home to the headquarters of Baxter Healthcare, Beam, Big Apple Bagels, CF Industries, Fortune Brands Home & Security, Essendant, and Walgreens Boots Alliance. , Walgreens Boots Alliance employed 6,500 employees at its headquarters, along with 2,500 Walgreens employees, making it the largest employer in Deerfield.

Deerfield is the former home to the headquarters of Consumers Digest, Così, the U.S. subsidiaries of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Mondelez International, Caterpillar, and the bakery division headquarters of the Sara Lee Corporation. In 1987 Sara Lee had about 1,200 employees in Deerfield. In 1990, the Deerfield Sara Lee plant and bakery headquarters was closed, and the land was sold to developers. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan visited the Sara Lee factory in Deerfield.

Top employers
, the top employers in the city are:

Shopping districts
In 1998, a significant portion of downtown Deerfield was demolished and replaced with a new outdoor shopping district called Deerfield Square. It is composed of a variety of retailers and restaurants. In addition to merchandising space, Deerfield Square includes office space and an outdoor plaza which is used during the summer for free outdoor concerts.

Deerbrook Mall is a shopping district located along the Deerfield-Northbrook border. When it originally opened in 1971, it included both indoor and outdoor shopping areas. The inside shopping area and some exterior buildings were demolished in 2017.

Near Deerbrook Mall is Caldwell Corners, a small outdoor mall that carries the village's original name. Deerfield Public Library was a temporary tenant of this mall in 2012 and 2013 while the main location was being renovated.

Government
The village hall is called the Bernard Forrest Deerfield Village Hall.

The United States Postal Service operates the Deerfield Post Office.

Deerfield is represented by the 10th Congressional District of Illinois (Democrat Brad Schneider), 29th District of the Illinois Senate (Democrat Julie Morrison) and the 58th District of the Illinois House of Representatives (Democrat Bob Morgan).

Public schools
Deerfield is served by Deerfield School District 109, which operates four public elementary schools (Kipling, South Park, Walden, and Wilmot) and two public middle schools (Caruso and Shepard). The majority of Deerfield's children go on to attend Deerfield High School; however, a small portion attend Highland Park High School (both of which comprise Township High School District 113). Deerfield High School has consistently been ranked as a top school in the state.

At one time, District 109 contained as many as eight elementary schools. However, Maplewood, Woodland Park, Briarwood, and Cadwell were all closed beginning in the 1970s through the 1980s and their students absorbed by the four larger, remaining elementary schools. A small part of the far southwestern side of the village is in Aptakisic-Tripp Community Consolidated School District 102 and Stevenson High School's area, with some students living in that area.

The Superintendent of District 109 is currently Mike Simeck and the Superintendent of District 113 is Dr. Bruce Law.

Private schools
The village is the home to a Conservative Jewish school, Rochelle Zell Jewish High School and two Montessori schools. Holy Cross School, a Catholic elementary and middle school, used to operate in Deerfield but closed at the conclusion of the 2017–2018 school year.

Colleges and universities
Trinity International University, a private Christian university, is headquartered in Deerfield. Located on their Deerfield campus is Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. The headquarters of the World Evangelical Alliance is also co-located on the Deerfield Campus.

Transportation
Deerfield has two Metra stations connecting it to Chicago Union Station, Deerfield and Lake Cook Road, both on the Milwaukee District North Line. Several Pace buses, routes 627, 631, 632, 633, 634, and 635, connect the Lake Cook Road station to corporate offices in the area during rush hour periods. Deerfield is also served by Pace Bus route 471. Two Amtrak services, the Empire Builder and the Hiawatha Service, pass through but do not stop in Deerfield. Deerfield is connected to several arterial roadways and interstate highways, including Deerfield Road, Lake-Cook Road, Illinois Route 43, I-94 and I-294. O'Hare International Airport is the nearest airport to Deerfield. Deerfield has several bike trails, including trails that connect to neighboring communities, Lake Michigan, the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Des Plaines River Trail.

Utilities
The village purchases its water in bulk from Highland Park to distribute to residents and businesses. An emergency water line connects Deerfield to Northbrook in the event that either town loses its water service. Deerfield operates its own sewage treatment plant on Hackberry Lane, with the outflow entering the a branch of the Chicago River. A new wastewater treatment plant was completed in 2013 on the site of the existing plant. Lakeshore Recycling provides solid waste, recycling, and composting services within Deerfield. Deerfield is a part of the CS2 Residential Community Solar Program, which lets residents purchase solar energy credits via subscription and apply them towards their electric bill. North Shore Gas provides natural gas to Deerfield businesses and residents.

Notable people

 * Paul Adams, Deerfield High School football coach from 1966 to 1992
 * Alexander 23, singer, songwriter and record producer, originally from Deerfield
 * Robert Bell, Chicago's Bozo the Clown, resided in Deerfield as an adult
 * Dean Bernardini, rock musician for band Chevelle, attended Deerfield High School
 * Karl Berning, Illinois state senator, resided in and represented Deerfield
 * Alex Borstein, actor, voice actor, known for voicing Lois Griffin on Family Guy, raised in Deerfield
 * Brian Bram, artist for American Splendor, attended Deerfield High School
 * Colt Cabana, professional wrestler, raised in Deerfield
 * Joey Calistri, professional soccer player, attended Deerfield High School
 * Duje Dukan, professional basketball player, attended Deerfield High School
 * Cory Everson, fitness model and bodybuilder, attended Deerfield High School
 * Brenda A. Ferber, children's book author, resides in Deerfield
 * Tim Floyd, former coach for the Chicago Bulls, resided in Deerfield
 * T. C. Furlong, guitarist, co-founder of the Jump 'N the Saddle Band, and producer of "The Curly Shuffle"
 * Gale Gand, pastry chef, Food Network personality, cookbook author, winner of 2001 James Beard award
 * Ross Golan, multi-platinum songwriter, producer, artist, grew up in Deerfield
 * Pete Jones, first winner of HBO's Project Greenlight, writer/director of Stolen Summer
 * Bryan Jurewicz, lineman for Wisconsin Badgers, grew up in Deerfield
 * Lindsay Knapp, offensive lineman for Green Bay Packers, played in Super Bowl XXXI
 * Kevin McCollum, actor and Broadway producer, went to Deerfield High School
 * Aaron Moorehead, receiver for NFL's Indianapolis Colts
 * Bruce Rauner, 42nd Governor of Illinois (2015-2019)
 * The Redwalls, a four-piece rock band
 * Betty Lou Reed, Illinois state representative
 * Ellie Reed, actress, raised in Deerfield
 * Todd Reirden, NHL coach and former player
 * Brad Schneider, US Representative, lives in Deerfield
 * Art Shay, prolific photojournalist, lived in Deerfield for 50 years
 * Curt Teich, 20th-Century postcard photographer and manufacturer
 * Fred L. Turner, retired chairman and CEO of McDonald's Corp
 * T. J. Tynan, professional hockey player, Deerfield native
 * Daniel Walker, 36th Governor of Illinois (1973-1977)
 * Edwin F. Weigle, photographer for Chicago Tribune during First World War, lived and died in Deerfield
 * Charlie Jones, receiver for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, resided in Deerfield and attended Deerfield High School.

Popular culture
National Boss's Day was invented by a Deerfield employee.

In 1979, Deerfield created a "No-Kissing Zone" at the local train station in response to complaints about traffic jams at the station caused by couples taking too long to kiss their goodbyes at the drop-off point. The "No-Kissing" signs (patterned after international traffic signs) attracted national attention and were featured in Time magazine and ABC's AM America (precursor to Good Morning America). A Deerfield family appearing on the game show Family Feud presented Richard Dawson, famous for kissing contestants on the show, with replica pins of the signs.

In the 1980s, Deerfield and other North Shore communities inspired the teen films of director/screenwriter John Hughes. The fictional Shermer, Illinois, included elements of Deerfield and neighboring Northbrook and Highland Park.

A number of media properties have been set and/or filmed in Deerfield, including television drama Once and Again, comedy Married... with Children and portions of reality show American High. In film, the Deerfield train station is shown in the film Risky Business, and Stolen Summer used various parts of the village.

The village was identified as the hometown of Kitty Pryde in the X-Men comics.

Deerfield also figures in the musical Dear Edwina, written by Marcy Heisler, a Deerfield native, and Zina Goldrich. The fictional protagonist lives on Birchwood Avenue. Although the play is set in Paw Paw, Michigan, much of it (including the address) is inspired by Heisler's hometown, Deerfield.

In 2010, the History Channel's documentary The Crumbling of America mentioned Deerfield in a discussion of frequent blackouts that residents experienced over 2000 times from 2000 to 2009.

title: Deerfield, Illinois


text:
Des Plaines, Illinois

Des Plaines is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 60,675. The city is a suburb of Chicago and is located just north of O'Hare International Airport. It is situated on and is named after the Des Plaines River, which runs through the city just east of its downtown area.

History
Potawatomi, Ottawa, and Ojibwe (Chippewa) Native American tribes inhabited the Des Plaines River Valley prior to Europeans' arrival. When French explorers and missionaries arrived in the 1600s in what was then the Illinois Country of New France, they named the waterway La Rivière des Plaines (English translation: "Plains River") as they felt that trees on the river resembled European plane trees. The first white settlers came from the eastern United States in 1833, after the 1833 Treaty of Chicago was negotiated, followed by many German immigrants during the 1840s and '50s. In the 1850s, the land in this area was purchased by the Illinois and Wisconsin Land Company along a railroad line planned between Chicago and Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1852, the developers built a steam-powered mill next to the river to cut local trees into railroad ties. Socrates Rand then bought the mill and converted it into a grist mill, which attracted local farmers. The Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad made its first stop in the area in the fall of 1854.

In 1857, the Chicago, St. Paul, and Fond du Lac Railroad began running its route, stopping near the mill on the Des Plaines river, where a small business section had grown up. The railroad platted the prospective town of Rand at the site. In 1859, the Chicago and North Western Railway purchased the rail line, giving the train station the name "Des Plaines." In 1869, the Rand subdivision's name was changed to Des Plaines, and the village of Des Plaines was then incorporated.

Des Plaines was reincorporated in 1873 and elected a village board the following year. Local brick manufacturer Franklin Whitcomb served as the first Village President.

In 1925, village residents voted to convert to a city form of government and annexed the village of Riverview to the south. Subsequent annexations included the Orchard Place area in 1956. The city experienced rapid growth after World War II and with the opening of nearby O'Hare International Airport.

In 1955, Des Plaines became the site of the first McDonald's franchise, which was torn down in 1984 and replaced by a museum the following year. The museum was demolished in 2018 after repeated flooding.

In 1979, Des Plaines was the site of the accident of American Airlines Flight 191, in which a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 departing from O'Hare lost an engine and wing material and crashed near a local trailer park just north of Touhy Avenue. All 271 people on board the aircraft died, as did two workers at a repair garage. Two more, along with three civilians, were injured.

In 2008, the Illinois Gaming Board awarded the state's 10th casino license to Midwest Gaming and Entertainment LLC to build a 140000 sqft casino on approximately 21 acre adjacent to the Tri-State Tollway at the northwest corner of Devon Avenue and Des Plaines River Road. Midwest Gaming received the award despite having the lowest bid because other bidders were found unacceptable by the Board, with one board member finding no bidders acceptable. The city approved zoning in early 2010, and the casino opened in July 2011 as Rivers Casino.

In July 2022, the third largest winning lotto ticket in U.S. history, valued at $1.34 billion, was sold at a Speedway gas station in Des Plaines near O'Hare Airport on Touhy Avenue. , the winning ticket holder has not come forward or been identified.

Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Des Plaines has a total area of 14.38 sqmi, of which 14.24 sqmi (or 98.98%) is land and 0.15 sqmi (or 1.02%) is water.

Des Plaines is traversed by two interstate highways – I-90 (the Northwest Tollway) and I-294 (the Tri-State Tollway).

Des Plaines is named for the Des Plaines River, which flows through it. The name is from 18th-century French referencing the American sycamore which resembles the European plane tree.

Portions of Des Plaines are underlain by the "Des Plaines Disturbance," an area in which the layers of sedimentary rock are highly abnormal. This probably represents an ancient meteorite crater, 75 to 200 ft beneath the town. The bedrock was highly fractured by the impact, with large blocks of sediment upended. The crater was eventually filled by glacial activity, so that no trace now remains on the surface.

Addresses in the city limits of Des Plaines have their own numbering system. Areas in unincorporated Maine Township have Des Plaines postal addresses that follow the Chicago numbering system. Devon Avenue in Des Plaines is 3200 South, while it is 6400 North in Chicago. Golf Road runs through a large unincorporated area as 9600 North with a Des Plaines mailing address but is 0 North/South when entering the Des Plaines city limits. As sections become incorporated, they take on the city numbering system. For instance in 2003, land at 9661 West Golf Road, Des Plaines, became 2323 East Golf Road, Des Plaines, when it was formally incorporated into the city limits. The largest unincorporated areas are in the O'Hare area and east of the Tri-State Tollway.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 60,675 people, 21,849 households, and 14,785 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,218.23 PD/sqmi. There were 25,094 housing units at an average density of 1,744.58 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 62.42% White, 15.23% Asian, 2.40% African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 9.24% from other races, and 9.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.53% of the population.

There were 21,849 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.63% were married couples living together, 10.26% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.33% were non-families. 27.42% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.24 and the average family size was 2.62.

The city's age distribution consisted of 20.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $73,639, and the median income for a family was $93,205. Males had a median income of $52,530 versus $36,173 for females. The per capita income for the city was $37,220. About 5.0% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

A notable number of Cook County residents reside in unincorporated areas which use a Des Plaines zip code. These areas are densely populated and consist primarily of high density, multi-family housing with a very high percentage of foreign born residents. In the 2000 census the population of these unincorporated areas of Cook County assigned Des Plaines zip codes was 25,617. This unincorporated area has never been a part of the city of Des Plaines, and the majority of this area is separated from the actual city of Des Plaines by a belt of Forest Preserve lands and a Tollway barrier created by I-294.

Economy
According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the major employers in the city are Rivers Casino (Des Plaines), Universal Oil Products, Oakton Community College, Sysco Food Services, Juno Lighting, Holy Family Medical Center, Wheels Inc. (passenger car and truck leasing), and LSG Sky Chefs.

China Airlines maintains their Chicago office in Des Plaines. It was previously located in Michigan Plaza in the Chicago Loop.

Arts and culture

 * Big Bend Lake, a 27 acre lake linked to the Des Plaines River by a spillway and a fishing destination
 * Des Plaines History Center
 * Des Plaines Methodist Camp Ground, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, predates the city (founded 1860) and is still active every summer with concerts, day camps, swimming & recreation, picnics, etc.
 * Des Plaines Public Library
 * Des Plaines Theater, historic 1925 movie theater, renovated and reopened in 2021, hosts a variety of entertainment acts
 * Lake Opeka in Lake Park
 * Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center
 * Maryville Academy, center for under-privileged children, which hosts the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
 * Rivers Casino
 * 100 gecs tree

Education
College campuses include:
 * Oakton College, opened in 1969; a community college with campuses in Skokie and Des Plaines

Public school districts include:
 * Elementary and middle school: District 62, District 59 and District 63
 * High school: District 207 with Maine West High School

Private schools include:
 * Immanuel Lutheran School
 * St. Zachary School
 * The Science and Arts Academy
 * The Willows Academy

Rail
The Des Plaines station and Cumberland station provide Metra commuter rail service along the Union Pacific Northwest Line. Trains travel southeast to Chicago Union Station, and northwest to either Harvard station or McHenry station. Metra's North Central Service travels through the city but does not stop.

Bus
Pace provides bus service on multiple routes connecting Des Plaines to destinations across the region. The Pace Pulse Dempster Line travels through the city on its route between Evanston and O'Hare.

Major highways
Major highways in Des Plaines include:

Interstate Highways

Interstate 90

Interstate 294

US Highways

US 12

US 14

US 45

Illinois Highways

Route 58

Route 72

Route 83

Notable people

 * Perry Caravello, actor and comedian, lived in Des Plaines as a child.
 * Eileen Fisher, clothing designer. She was raised in Des Plaines.
 * Adrian Fulle, managing member of film production company
 * Shawn Green, right fielder with the Toronto Blue Jays, LA Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Mets; two time all-star; born in Des Plaines.
 * Peter M. Hoffman, politician who served as Cook County Sheriff, Cook County Coroner, and a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
 * Michael Kleen, folklorist, publisher, and social commentator
 * Tyler Ladendorf, second baseman with Oakland Athletics
 * Jill Morgenthaler, US Army colonel; politician; Homeland Security adviser in Illinois; lived in Des Plaines
 * Pelican, a post-metal band.
 * Robert Reed, actor (The Brady Bunch, 1969–1974); grew up in Des Plaines
 * Jacky Rosen, United States Senator from Nevada (2019–present). She was raised in Des Plaines until her family moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois, when she was in high school.
 * Rick Zombo, defenseman with the Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and Boston Bruins; born in Des Plaines
 * Marty Moylan, an Illinois State Representative who served as Mayor of Des Plaines until 2013.
 * Matthew Bogusz, an advertising executive who was elected Mayor of Des Plaines at age 26.

In popular culture
The majority of the hit 1985 film The Breakfast Club was filmed at the now-defunct Maine North High School located in unincorporated Des Plaines.

The 100 gecs tree used in the album cover of the 100 gecs album 1000 Gecs is located in Des Plaines.

title: Des Plaines, Illinois


text:
Dixmoor, Illinois

Dixmoor (formerly Specialville) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States and a south suburb of Chicago. The population was 2,973 at the 2020 census.

Dixmoor is adjacent to Harvey to the south & east, Posen to the west, and Blue Island & Riverdale to the north. Interstate 57 also runs through the village.

History
Dixmoor was originally called Specialville. It was laid out in 1922 by Charles Special, and named for him. The present name of Dixmoor was adopted in 1929. It may be derived from Dixie Highway.

Geography
Dixmoor is located at 41.63083°N, -87.66639°W (41.630784, -87.666446).

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Dixmoor has a total area of 1.25 sqmi, all land.

Surrounding areas

 * Blue Island
 * Blue Island [[Image:Up arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up-1.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up arrow right.svg|20px]] Riverdale
 * Posen [[Image:Left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Right.svg|20px]] Riverdale
 * Posen / Harvey [[Image:Down arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow right.svg|20px]] Harvey
 * Harvey

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 2,973 people, 1,209 households, and 838 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,380.30 PD/sqmi. There were 1,321 housing units at an average density of 1,057.65 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 15.47% White, 50.92% African American, 1.58% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 18.67% from other races, and 12.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.66% of the population.

There were 1,209 households, out of which 43.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.63% were married couples living together, 22.42% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.69% were non-families. 29.36% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.96% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.72 and the average family size was 2.95.

The village's age distribution consisted of 26.7% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $44,757, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $26,736 versus $15,552 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,349. About 27.4% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.5% of those under age 18 and 22.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Dixmoor is divided between two congressional districts. The area east of Interstate 57 and south of 142nd Street is in Illinois's 2nd congressional district, as are the area between 141st and 142nd Streets east of Wood Street and the area northeast of the Ashland Avenue-Thornton Road intersection; the rest of the village is in the 1st district.

Transportation
Pace provides bus service on routes 349 and 354 connecting Dixmoor to destinations across the Southland.

Notable people

 * Tony Jacobs, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.
 * Napoleon Harris, American politician and former American football linebacker who has been a member of the Illinois Senate representing the 15th district since 2013.

title: Dixmoor, Illinois


text:
Dolton, Illinois

Dolton is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,426 at the 2020 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.

Dolton is bordered by Chicago to the north, Riverdale and Harvey to the west, South Holland to the south and Calumet City to the east.

History
A post office has been in operation in Dolton since 1854. The village was named for a family of early settlers. The villages of Dolton and nearby Riverdale were effectively one community until each incorporated separately in 1892.

Geography
In 2021, Dolton was an area of 4.69 sqmi, of which 4.57 sqmi (or 97.50%) is land and 0.12 sqmi (or 2.50%) is water.

Surrounding areas

 * Chicago
 * Riverdale [[Image:Up arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up-1.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up arrow right.svg|20px]] Chicago
 * Riverdale / Harvey [[Image:Left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Right.svg|20px]] Calumet City
 * Harvey [[Image:Down arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow right.svg|20px]] South Holland
 * South Holland

Education
The entire village is part of South Suburban Community College District 510.

Demographics
In the 2020 census there were 21,426 people, 7,985 households, and 5,361 families in the village. The population density was 4,570.39 PD/sqmi. There were 8,768 housing units at an average density of 1,870.31 /sqmi.

The racial makeup of the village was 90.69% African American, 3.25% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 3.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.37% of the population.

There were 7,985 households. 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 25.45% were married couples living together. 35.94% had a female householder with no husband present. 32.86% were non-families. 29.42% of all households were made up of individuals. 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44. The average family size was 2.78.

The village's age distribution consisted of 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 27% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,237. The median income for a family was $57,634. Males had a median income of $33,939 versus $33,354 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,135. About 15.4% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Most of the village is part of the Dolton Park District, with a small portion served by the Calumet Memorial Park District. The entire village is part of the Dolton Public Library District and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Allegations of misspending and harassment
In November 2023, WGN News published a two-part series of articles alleging widespread misspending and harassment of political opponents by the mayor, Tiffany Henyard.

On February 20, 2024, it was reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had launched a probe into alleged misconduct by Mayor Henyard.

Transportation
Pace provides bus service on multiple routes connecting Dolton to destinations across the Southland.

Notable people
William Shaw, Illinois state legislator, served as the first African-American mayor of Dolton. He was followed as mayor by Ronnie Lewis, who was the first African-American to serve as an official in the Dolton government. Nelsan Ellis, who played Lafayette Reynolds in True Blood, grew up there.

title: Dolton, Illinois


text:
East Dundee, Illinois

East Dundee is a village in Kane County with a small section in Cook County. The population was 3,152 at the 2020 census.

Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, East Dundee has a total area of 3.15 sqmi, of which 2.91 sqmi (or 92.36%) is land and 0.24 sqmi (or 7.64%) is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 3,152 people, 1,453 households, and 850 families residing in the village. The population density was 999.37 PD/sqmi. There were 1,502 housing units at an average density of 476.22 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 74.08% White, 5.84% African American, 0.54% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 7.93% from other races, and 9.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.08% of the population.

There were 1,453 households, out of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.46% were married couples living together, 9.57% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.50% were non-families. 36.75% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.98% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 2.21.

The village's age distribution consisted of 13.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $73,199, and the median income for a family was $91,591. Males had a median income of $64,575 versus $33,723 for females. The per capita income for the village was $52,929. About 7.5% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

History
The village of East Dundee was incorporated in 1871, four years after West Dundee. A historic district along the Fox River and stores on Main Street constitute the commercial part of East Dundee. The historic feed and coal store became Dundee Lumber, which burned down in March 2007. A former railroad bed is now the Fox River Trail, which follows the east side of the Fox River through town. The train depot was rebuilt in 1984 as a tourist center. Santa's Village theme park operated from 1959 to 2006. It reopened in 2011 under new ownership as Santa's Village AZoosment Park.

DeLoris Doederlein, educator and politician, lived in East Dundee.

Transportation
Pace provides bus service on Routes 543 and 803 connecting East Dundee to Elgin and other destinations.

Notable residents

 * Nina Armagno (born 1966), first female general officer of the United States Space Force. She was a childhood resident of East Dundee.
 * DeLoris Doederlein (born 1925), member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993. She is a longtime East Dundee resident.

title: East Dundee, Illinois


text:
East Hazel Crest, Illinois

East Hazel Crest is a village in Cook County, Illinois, in the United States. It is a south suburb of Chicago. As of the 2020 census, the village population was 1,297.

History
East Hazel Crest was a part of Hazel Crest when it incorporated in 1911 until the Illinois Central Railroad elevated their commuter and mainline tracks above grade, isolating the rural community from the rest of Hazel Crest. The community voted for incorporation into their own village in 1918. The village later annexed a small commercial area and residential subdivision, Bremerton Woods, that lies west of the Illinois Central Railroad where the village administration and Metra station now stand.

Geography
East Hazel Crest is located at 41.57639°N, -87.65222°W (41.576384, -87.652171).

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, East Hazel Crest has a total area of 0.78 sqmi, all land.

Surrounding areas

 * Harvey
 * Hazel Crest [[Image:Up arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up-1.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up arrow right.svg|20px]] South Holland
 * Hazel Crest [[Image:Left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Right.svg|20px]] Thornton
 * Homewood [[Image:Down arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow right.svg|20px]] Homewood
 * Homewood

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 1,297 people, 575 households, and 356 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,654.34 PD/sqmi. There were 630 housing units at an average density of 803.57 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 57.98% African American, 25.60% White, 0.23% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 7.09% from other races, and 8.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.11% of the population.

There were 575 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.78% were married couples living together, 21.57% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.09% were non-families. 36.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.61% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 2.62.

The village's age distribution consisted of 15.9% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 18% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,583, and the median income for a family was $68,594. Males had a median income of $38,929 versus $31,902 for females. The per capita income for the village was $29,269. About 9.0% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government
East Hazel Crest is in Illinois's 2nd congressional district.

Transportation
The Calumet station provides Metra commuter rail service along the Metra Electric District. Trains travel north to Millennium station in Chicago, and south to University Park station. Pace provides bus service on Route 356 connecting East Hazel Crest to destinations across the Southland.

title: East Hazel Crest, Illinois


text:
Elgin, Illinois

Elgin is a city in Cook and Kane counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located 35 mi northwest of Chicago along the Fox River. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 114,797, making it the sixth-most populous city in the state.

History
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the Black Hawk Indian War of 1832 led to the expulsion of the Native Americans who had settlements and burial mounds in the area and set the stage for the founding of Elgin. Thousands of militiamen and soldiers of Gen. Winfield Scott's army marched through the Fox River valley during the war, and accounts of the area's fertile soils and flowing springs soon filtered east.

In New York, James T. Gifford and his brother Hezekiah Gifford heard tales of this area ripe for settlement, and they traveled west. Looking for a site on the stagecoach route from Chicago to Galena, Illinois, they eventually settled on a spot where the Fox River could be bridged. In April 1835, they established the city, naming it after the Scottish tune "Elgin".

Early Elgin achieved fame for the butter and dairy goods it sold to the city of Chicago. Gail Borden established a condensed milk factory here in 1866, and the local library was named in his honor. The dairy industry became less important with the arrival of the Elgin Watch Company. The watch factory employed three generations of Elginites from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, when it was the largest producer of fine watches in the United States (the factory ceased production in 1965 and was torn down in the summer of 1966) and the operator of the largest watchmaking complex in the world. Today, the clocks at Chicago's Union Station still bear the Elgin name.

From 1910 until 1920, with the exception of the World War I years, the city hosted the Elgin National Road Races, which attracted the top national racing champions as well as many of the major automobile manufacturers. The races were sponsored by the Elgin Watch Company who offered a $1,000 prize and a silver trophy to the winner. The races contributed significantly to the development of the modern automobile.

Elgin has a long tradition of education and invention. Elgin is home to the Elgin Academy, the oldest coeducational, non-sectarian college preparatory school west of the Allegheny Mountains. Elgin High School boasts five Navy admirals, a Nobel Prize winner, a Pulitzer Prize winner, a Tony Award winner, two Academy Award-winning producers, Olympic athletes and a General Motors CEO among its alumni. Elgin resident John Murphy invented the motorized streetsweeper in 1914 and later formed the Elgin Sweeper Corporation. Pioneering African-American chemist Lloyd Hall was an Elgin native, as was the legendary marketer and car stereo pioneer Earl "Madman" Muntz; and Max Adler, founder of the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, America's first planetarium.

In the 1990s, Elgin became one of the few cities in northern Illinois to host a riverboat casino. The Grand Victoria Casino initially generated controversy, but went on to be a significant source of income for the city. Drawing nearly four million people annually, as of March 2005 it was the fifth most popular tourist attraction in Illinois. The Grand Victoria Foundation, to which the casino had contributed an amount in excess of $116 million, provides community grants to nonprofits in the city. In the years since, more casinos have opened in the area and the Grand Victoria Casino had seen attendance and revenue decline.

In 2013, Elgin ranked number one in the Chicago metropolitan area in new home starts while ranking second in new home closings. Elgin's downtown has also been the center of city renovations and new developments. New townhouses, condo towers, loft spaces, and art galleries have opened in the last decade. In October 2003 the Gail Borden Public Library moved into a new $30 million, 139,980 square foot, 460,000 volume-capacity building, and in August 2009 opened its first-ever satellite branch. The 10,000 square foot Rakow Branch, situated on Elgin's West Side, was LEED registered, and was designed to be expandable up to 30,000 square feet. Elgin opened the 185,000 sq. ft. Centre of Elgin recreation facility across the street from the library. In 2009, Gail Borden was one of five libraries to receive the National Medal for Museum and Library Service issued by the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington D.C. In 2014, Elgin completed the Central Business District Streetscape Improvement Project and the Riverside Drive Promenade.

A significant Laotian American community calls Elgin home. Elgin has been a sister city of Vientiane, the capital of Laos, since 1967. Some Laotian Americans have opened stores and restaurants, contributing to the city's cultural diversity. Elgin is also home to a sizable Latino population, contributing to 45.7% of the population in 2020.

Topography
Elgin is located at 42.03833°N, -88.32278°W (42.0384225, −88.3226510).

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Elgin has a total area of 38.60 sqmi, of which 38.03 sqmi (or 98.52%) is land and 0.57 sqmi (or 1.48%) is water.

Climate
On March 28, 1920, Elgin was struck by several tornadoes along the Fox River that caused significant damage to Chicago and several western suburbs. Twenty-three people were killed and several businesses and homes were destroyed, including the Opera House and Grant Theater.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 114,797 people, 36,825 households, and 26,310 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,974.02 PD/sqmi. There were 40,530 housing units at an average density of 1,050.00 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 43.42% White, 6.60% African American, 2.40% Native American, 6.48% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 24.33% from other races, and 16.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47.44% of the population.

There were 36,825 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.29% were married couples living together, 13.59% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.55% were non-families. 24.15% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.43% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.60 and the average family size was 2.99.

The city's age distribution consisted of 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $72,999, and the median income for a family was $82,334. Males had a median income of $41,402 versus $30,037 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,423. About 8.8% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
According to Elgin's 2018 Comprehensive Plan, the top employers in the city are:

Arts and culture
Elgin is home to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Other classical music groups include the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Elgin Master Chorale, and the Elgin Children's Chorus. Outdoor music can be heard at the Wing Park Bandshell. Theatre groups include the Janus Theatre Company, Elgin Theatre Company, the Independent Players, Children's Theatre of Elgin, Fox Valley Youth Theatre, and Nothing Special Productions. Together, The Hemmens Cultural Center and Elgin Community College's Visual & Performing Arts Center host dozens of performances a year by performers ranging from Chicago's Hubbard Street Dance Company to comedian Bill Maher.

After losing many landmark businesses in the 1980s, downtown Elgin experienced a renaissance in the 1990s with the arrival of the Grand Victoria riverboat casino and improvement in the local economy. Many historic buildings have been transformed into stylish clubs and restaurants.

Architecture
The city was known for its historic architecture and landmarks from the Victorian era, including some fine examples of homes in the Queen Anne style. Many of the most remarkable homes once belonged to National Watch Company executives. Many interesting Sears Catalog Homes arrived in Elgin as kits from 1908 to 1940. The Elgin Tower Building and the Elgin Professional Building are two large towers constructed in Elgin's heyday, before the Great Depression. The Tower Building was recently renovated, converting it to residential apartments.

Predating Victorian homes were homes made of native cobblestone. It was believed that Elgin had at one time the largest concentration of cobblestone homes outside of Rochester, New York. Several such homes built by the earliest settlers still stand. They can be seen in Elgin's historic districts, two of which are recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

The Elgin Public Museum at Lords Park was the oldest building in Illinois built expressly as a museum that was still serving that purpose.

Open Elgin is a free, self guided tour of downtown Elgin's architecture. Each April, over two dozen buildings are accessible on the tour, though the event has been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The nine-member Elgin Heritage Commission promotes historic preservation activity. The Gifford Park Association was also active in historic preservation, and conducts a popular annual house tour.

Parks and recreation
Elgin's city parks include 112 acre Lords Park, which features the Elgin Public Museum and a small zoo featuring a herd of American bison, and 121 acre Wing Park, which includes a golf course and outdoor swimming pool. Other golf courses within Elgin include the Highlands of Elgin, the Elgin Country Club, and Bowes Creek Country Club. The Centre of Elgin, which among other features includes an aquatic park and a climbing wall, remains one of the largest municipal recreation centers in the United States. The Elgin Sports Complex on the city's southwest side offers ten lighted ballfields, ten soccer fields and The Hill BMX track. The complex hosts several local, regional and national tournaments every year. Elgin connects to Algonquin and Dundee to the north, and St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia to the south by the Fox River Trail bike path.

Although one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Illinois, Elgin still retains some of the natural habitat diversity that first brought settlers to this area. On the east, the city borders the 4200 acre Poplar Creek Preserve, maintained by the Cook County Forest Preserves, which includes bike trails, hiking trails and equestrian trails. The Shoe Factory Road Prairie located in the preserve provides an example of the hill prairies that once dotted the region. Poplar Creek Preserves connects to the 4000 acre Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve via a conservation easement covering parts of the Sears campus.

Elgin boasts two highly protected nature preserves, the Bluff Spring Fen and Trout Park. For its size, Bluff Spring Fen has a remarkable number of distinct plant communities, including a hill prairie and a fen, or alkaline spring marshland, which is home to several rare orchids. Trout Park also includes a similar calcareous seep community, with the addition of a unique forest community of oaks, ashes, maples, and uncommon species such as arborvitae and witch-hazel. When the park was created in the 1920s, the local newspaper ran a lengthy front-page story with lists of the plant species of Trout Park, reflecting both the great variety of plants present and the interest Elginites had in conservation. In the 1960s, the Northwest Tollway bisected the site and reduced it in size.

In recent years, Elgin has increased its efforts to be more environmentally sustainable. In 2017, the city introduced free curbside textile recycling to residents, and it is the first city in Illinois to do so. Additionally, Elgin encourages its residents to compost and use rain barrels, which it sometimes subsidizes for residents to purchase. The city also has a proposed Sustainability Action Plan that includes plans for creating renewable sources of energy for the city, a curbside organics/composting pilot-program, and information about community gardens.

Government
Elgin was chartered as a city by the State of Illinois in 1854, and 100 years later it became the first city in Illinois to adopt a council-manager form of government. Residents elect eight at-large council members and a mayor, who serve on a part-time basis. The city manager, a full-time professional, serves at the pleasure of the mayor and city council.

The current council members are Corey Dixon, Dustin Good, Rosamaria Martinez, Anthony Ortiz, Tish S. Powell, Carol J. Rauschenberger, F. John Steffen and Steven Thoren. Elgin's current mayor is David Kaptain and city manager is Rick Kozal.

The city council meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers, located on the second floor of City Hall. Agenda and minutes are available on the city's website. Residents may attend in person at City Hall, watch the live video stream from the online newsroom, or view the replays on cable Channel 17.

The city is represented in the Illinois legislature by Representatives Anna Moeller (D), Dan Ugaste (R), and Fred Crespo (D) and Senators Cristina Castro (D) and Don DeWitte (R). In the US House of Representatives, Elgin is represented by Lauren Underwood (D), Delia Ramirez (D), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D).

Elgin includes portions of Hanover Township in Cook County and Elgin Township, Plato Township, Rutland Township, Dundee Township, and Campton Township in Kane County. Elgin Township is governed by a supervisor (Kenneth C. Bruderle), highway commissioner (Jason Krabbe), assessor (Steven P. Surnicki), clerk (Karen Dowling) and four trustees (Mark Bialek, Alejandro Lopez, Janet Rogalla and Eric Stare) elected to four-year terms.

Elgin Fire Department has 133 sworn firefighters and seven fire stations. The front-line fire apparatus consists of four Advanced Life Support (ALS) fire engines, three ALS Quints, five ALS ambulances, two boats, a rescue raft, and a Battalion Chief, along with several vehicles used for inspections and other official business.

Education
Five public school districts and 18 private schools serve Elgin.

K–12 public

 * Elgin Area School District U46 is Elgin-based, and serves most of Elgin. U-46 is the second largest school district in Illinois, serves an area of 90 sqmi in Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties. Almost 40,000 children of school age are in its area. Elgin's two public high schools include Elgin High School, Larkin High School, and Elgin Math and Science Academy Charter School.
 * Community Unit School District 301—Burlington-based, serves some western portions of Elgin
 * Community Unit School District 300—Carpentersville-based, serves some northwestern portions of Elgin
 * Community Unit School District 303—St. Charles-based, serves some southwestern portions of Elgin

K–12 private
Private schools include:
 * Harvest Christian Academy
 * The Einstein Academy
 * Elgin Academy
 * Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool
 * Northwest Baptist Academy
 * St. Edward Central Catholic High School
 * St. John's Lutheran School and Preschool
 * St. Edwards Preparatory Catholic School
 * St. Mary Elementary School
 * St. Thomas More Catholic Elementary School
 * Westminster Christian School

Accredited colleges and universities

 * Elgin Community College serves the district #509 communities of St. Charles, Burlington, South Elgin, Wayne, Bartlett, Algonquin, Dundee, Hampshire and smaller towns, and was one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state.
 * Judson University, an accredited, four-year liberal arts American Baptist college, sits on the banks of the Fox River on the city's northwest side. Judson features graduate programs in architecture, education, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Services Administration, Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, Leadership in Ministry and the Doctor of Education in Literacy programs.
 * National Louis University, an accredited private non-profit undergraduate and graduate institution of higher learning, in colleges of education, arts and sciences, and business and management.

Metra
Elgin has three stations on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line, which provides daily rail service between Elgin and Chicago Union Station): National Street, Elgin, and Big Timber Road. Big Timber Road is the western terminus of this service, however it is not serviced by the Metra on weekends or major U.S. holidays as trains terminate in Elgin on those days.

The Chicago & North Western had a line to Freeport which ran through Elgin.

Elgin used to have a streetcar system, operated by the Aurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric Company. Additionally, Elgin was served by several interurban lines. The most prominent of these was the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad which provided frequent service into Chicago. There was also the Elgin and Belvidere Electric Company.

Pace
Local bus service is provided by Pace (the Suburban bus provider of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Transportation Authority). Pace operates about a dozen bus routes in the city with service running Monday through Saturday. Most of the routes terminate at the Elgin Transportation Center located at 102 West Chicago Street in downtown. Routes generally run every half hour and meet up at the terminal at the same time to provide convenient transferring. Several routes also travel out of Elgin to other nearby suburbs, such as Carpentersville, West Dundee (Spring Hill Mall), Schaumburg (Woodfield Mall), and St. Charles (and connecting bus service to Aurora and Geneva).

Pace operates an express route between Elgin and the Rosemont station on the Blue Line. The service operates along I-90. Access to the bus route is via the Elgin Transportation Center, the Randall Road park and ride lot, and the IL-25 park and ride lot.

Major highways
Major highways in Elgin include:

Interstate Highways

Interstate 90

US Highways

US 20

Illinois Highways

Route 19

Route 25

Route 31

Route 58

Route 72

Notable people
Notable people of Elgin include the following:

 * Brandon Johnson, is currently serving as the 57th Mayor of Chicago (2023); Cook County Board Commissioner (2018–2023)
 * Max Adler, vice-president of Sears & Roebuck; benefactor of Adler Planetarium
 * Bruce Boxleitner, actor
 * Harry Chamberlin, U.S. Army brigadier general and Olympic medalist in equestrian events
 * Paul Flory, chemist; Nobel Prize winner (1974)
 * Eugenia St. John Mann, President, Illinois State WCTU; President, Kansas Equal Suffrage Association
 * Jessica Mink, astronomer; co-discover of the rings around the planet Uranus
 * Earl "Madman" Muntz, marketer, car stereo and 4-track cartridge pioneer
 * James Roche, chairman of General Motors
 * Wade Schaaf, dancer and choreographer
 * Tom Shales, journalist; Pulitzer Prize winner (1988)
 * James Christopher Gaffigan, comedian and actor
 * Dan Andriano, musician

Commemorative coin
In 1936, a commemorative silver half dollar was issued by the United States Mint commemorating the centennial of Elgin. The coin was meant to raise money for the pioneer family memorial proposed by Elgin sculptor Trygve Rovelstad, and sold for $1.50. The obverse features the profile of a pioneer with the dates 1673 * 1936, while the reverse features a pioneer family; both images are based on a centennial "Pioneer Medal" made by Rovelstad. The date 1673 was in reference to the expedition of Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette, despite the fact that their journey took them nowhere near the future site of Elgin.

The coin did not prove to be a popular success, probably because of the Great Depression and the great variety of commemorative coins being issued at the time. Five thousand of the 25,000 coins initially minted were unsold and melted down by the mint. Rovelstad's pioneer statue was not installed until 2001.

In film

 * Scenes from the film Four Friends (1981) were shot in the west side neighborhood just above the Woodruff and Edwards foundry.
 * Part of the comedy film Dennis the Menace (1993) was set in Elgin.
 * The Elgin Mental Health Center appears in the movie Primal Fear (1996).
 * A scene in the suspense/thriller film Contagion (2011) was filmed in Elgin's Sherman Hospital.
 * Parts of the horror film Plastic (2011) were shot in Elgin.
 * A scene in the film A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) was shot in Elgin's Bluff City Cemetery.
 * Purge Feed footage depicts Elgin in The Purge (2013).

In television

 * The exterior of the home in the television series Grace Under Fire was on Elgin's east side at 445 DuPage Street.
 * In "Unearthed", an episode of the television series Prison Break, Dr. Sara Tancredi stayed at a motel in Elgin.
 * The television series Roseanne was set in the fictional town of Lanford but was modeled after Elgin. At one point, Jackie attends a trucking school in Elgin. In the episode "Crime and Punishment", Roseanne offers to take Jackie to the hospital in Elgin.
 * Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas featured the Elgin Police Department's community policing strategies in its episode "Energy Problems, Millennial Problems, Community Policing Problems" which aired on April 27, 2018.
 * The NBC series Superstore mentions Elgin.

title: Elgin, Illinois