Editing Phoenix, Illinois (section)

==History==
The development of Phoenix is closely tied to its larger neighbor, [[Harvey, Illinois|Harvey]]. Harvey was established as an industrial city with no [[bar (establishment)|saloons]]. Many of its early factories were located between the [[Illinois Central Railroad]] and Harvey's eastern boundary at Halsted Street. One local businessman, [[William McLatchy]], owned a large tract of land in an unincorporated area outside of Harvey. Soon, five saloons had opened in the area and a small housing subdivision known as Phenix Park was constructed during the 1890s.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Chicago">{{cite web | url = http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/966.html | title = Phoenix, IL | publisher = Encyclopedia of Chicago | access-date = July 29, 2009}}</ref> City leaders in Harvey, seeing businesses just outside their boundaries selling alcohol to local workers, sought to annex Phenix Park and render it "dry" or free of alcohol-related establishments. The residents of Phenix Park wanted to retain local control of their affairs as an independent village. On August 29, 1900, an election was held to determine the future status of the area. A total of 56 votes were cast with 38 (67.9%) voting in favor of incorporation and 18 (32.1%) against.<ref name="Village History"/> Despite legal challenges from Harvey, the result was upheld.

After incorporation, the name Phenix Park was changed to Phoenix. By 1910, the village had a population of 500, with most residents being of either [[Dutch people|Dutch]] or [[Polish people|Polish]] ancestry. The first [[African American]]s moved to Phoenix in 1915. Most came from Chicago and the [[Southern United States|South]]. Industry in Harvey and the railroads provided a strong employment base for Phoenix residents. The African American population steadily increased during the 1920s. By 1930, the village was home to 3,033 people. The demographic makeup of the community was 84.2% White, 15.1% Black, and 0.7% other.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Chicago"/> Growth continued through the 1940s and 1950s. New housing was constructed to accommodate this growth. The population in 1960 was 4,203. At this time, Phoenix had a diverse ethnic composition but the community was racially segregated. African Americans, comprising 65.3% of the population, lived in the northern portion of the village while Whites, forming 34.7% of the population, lived in the southern portion of Phoenix. In 1960, the municipal administration of Phoenix voted to de-annex the predominantly White portion of the village into Harvey. The exchange occurred in 1962 and with it, Phoenix lost one-third of its population as well as 60% of its tax base.<ref name="Village History"/>

By 1990, the population was 2,217.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Chicago"/>

On October 16, 1979, Phoenix Mayor William Hawkins was shot and fatally wounded in an ambush outside of his home.  He died two days later.<ref>"Ambushed Mayor of Suburb In Chicago Dies of Wounds", "Around the Nation", ''The New York Times'', October 19, 1979, p. A14</ref>  Bobby Joe Anderson, a city policeman, was indicted 13 years later for the crime and was convicted of first degree murder in the killing of Hawkins.<ref>[https://casetext.com/case/people-v-anderson-892 ''People of the State of Illinois v. Bobby Joe Anderson''], 653 N.E.2d 395 (Ill.App. Ct. 1995), CaseText.com</ref>