Editing Brookfield, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Brookfield, Illinois
| settlement_type         = [[Village]]
| image_skyline           = La Grange Park and Brookfield, Illinois.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Part of Brookfield and neighboring [[La Grange Park, Illinois|La Grange Park]]
| image_flag              = Flag of Brookfield, Illinois.png
| flag_alt                = 
| image_seal              = Brookfield Illinois Seal.png
| seal_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_alt              = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map = File:Cook County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Brookfield Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 260px
| map_caption = Location of Brookfield in Cook County, Illinois
| pushpin_map = United States Chicago Greater#Illinois#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Brookfield
| coordinates             = {{Coord|41|49|22|N|87|50|51|W|type:city(19,000)_US-IL|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = {{US}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Civil township|Township]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Lyons Township, Cook County, Illinois|Lyons]], [[Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois|Proviso]], [[Riverside Township, Cook County, Illinois|Riverside]]
| established_title       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date        = 1893
| founder                 = 
| seat_type               = 
| seat                    = 
| government_footnotes    = 
| government_type         = [[Village-manager government|Village-manager]]
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = [[President (government title)#Sub-national|President]]
| leader_name             = Michael J. Garvey
| leader_title1           = 
| leader_name1            = 
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web |title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_urban_footnotes    = <!-- <ref> </re> -->
| area_rural_footnotes    = <!-- <ref> </re> -->
| area_metro_footnotes    = <!-- <ref> </re> -->
| area_magnitude          = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_note               = 
| area_water_percent      = 0.33
| area_rank               = 
| area_blank1_title       = 
| area_blank2_title       = <!-- square miles -->
| area_total_sq_mi        = 3.07
| area_land_sq_mi         = 3.06
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.01
| area_urban_sq_mi        = 
| area_rural_sq_mi        = 
| area_metro_sq_mi        = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi       = 
| area_blank2_sq_mi       = <!-- acres -->
| area_total_acre         = 
| area_land_acre          = 
| area_water_acre         = 
| area_urban_acre         = 
| area_rural_acre         = 
| area_metro_acre         = 
| area_blank1_acre        = 
| area_blank2_acre        = 
| length_mi               = 
| width_mi                = 
| dimensions_footnotes    = 
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_ft            = 
| population_footnotes    = 
| population_total        = 19476
| population_as_of        = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_sq_mi = 6356.40
| population_demonym      = 
| population_note         = Down 0.56% from 2000
| timezone1               = 
| utc_offset1             = 
| timezone1_DST           = 
| utc_offset1_DST         = 
| postal_code_type        = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code             = 60513
| area_code_type          = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code               = 708
| iso_code                = 
| geocode                 = {{FIPS|17|08576}}
| website                 = {{URL|www.BrookfieldIL.gov}}
| footnotes               = <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Standard of living ([[American Community Survey|2007-11]])
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = [[Per capita income]]
| demographics1_info1     = $31,651
| demographics1_title2    = [[Real estate appraisal|Median home value]]
| demographics1_info2     = $263,600
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 17-08576
|area_total_km2 = 7.95
|area_land_km2 = 7.93
|area_water_km2 = 0.02
|population_density_km2 = 2454.48
}}

'''Brookfield''' (formerly '''Grossdale''') is a village in [[Cook County, Illinois]], United States, located {{convert|13|mi|0}} west of downtown [[Chicago]]. Per the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 19,476.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brookfield village, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1708576|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 15, 2022}}</ref> The city is home to the [[Brookfield Zoo]].

==History==
Before 1803, the area now called Brookfield was mostly covered by prairie grasses, forests, and farms. Large portions of the area were inhabited by the Native Americans who long ago developed agriculture and corn cultivation, built villages and burial mounds, invented the bow and arrow, and made beautiful pottery.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
[[File:Picture of Samuel Eberly Gross.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Samuel Eberly Gross]]

Settlement of the village dates to 1889 when Samuel Eberly Gross, a Chicago lawyer turned real estate investor, began selling building lots plotted from farms and woodlands he had acquired along both sides of the [[Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad]] line, which provided passenger and freight service between Chicago and [[Aurora, Illinois]]. "Grossdale", as his development was originally called, offered suburban living at prices affordable to working-class families.

The first two buildings Gross erected were a train station south of the tracks at what is now Prairie Avenue, and a pavilion across the tracks. The [[Brookfield station (Illinois)|original train station]] was moved across the tracks and a few hundred feet east in 1981, and is now the home of the village's historical society and museum, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The pavilion housed the first post office, general store, Gross' real estate office, meeting rooms, and eventually a dance hall. Gross offered free train outings from Chicago to Grossdale where the prospects were met at the station by a band and treated to a picnic lunch, with a sales pitch from Gross. In addition to parcels of land, he had a number of house designs to offer at "cheap" prices.

Gross later added the subdivisions of Hollywood (1893) and West Grossdale (1895), each with its own train station. Residents voted to incorporate as the village of Grossdale in 1893. The name was changed in 1905 after residents became displeased with Gross, whose personal life and fortune had floundered. A contest to choose a new name yielded "Brookfield" in respect for [[Salt Creek (Des Plaines River tributary)|Salt Creek]], which runs through the area. Gross also has a school named after him called S.E. Gross.

In 1920, the old Plank Toll Road, now called [[Ogden Avenue]] (US Hwy 34), was paved, providing easy automobile access to and from Chicago.

The Chicago Zoological Park, commonly called the [[Brookfield Zoo]], opened in 1934. The zoo is located on land given to the Forest Preserve District by [[Edith Rockefeller McCormick]] in 1919.
[[Image:brookfield-zoo.jpg|thumb|center|425px|[[Brookfield Zoo]]]]

==Geography==
Brookfield is located at {{coord|41|49|22|N|87|50|51|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline}} (41.822681, -87.847532).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the 2010 census, Brookfield has a total area of {{convert|3.067|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.77%) is land and {{convert|0.007|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.23%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1708576
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=2015-08-02
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213062539/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1708576
  |archive-date=2020-02-13
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Most of Brookfield is flat land with various small hills and rises. Along [[Salt Creek (Des Plaines River tributary)|Salt Creek]] is a steep ravine that is home to many [[oak savanna]]s. These oak savannas are the primary ecosystem of Brookfield, and sprawl out from large, forested areas into small pockets in the village.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 1111
|1910= 2186
|1920= 3589
|1930= 10035
|1940= 10817
|1950= 15472
|1960= 20429
|1970= 20284
|1980= 19395
|1990= 18876
|2000= 19085
|2010= 18978
|2020= 19476
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1708576 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 19,476 people, 6,988 households, and 4,692 families residing in the village. The population density was {{Convert|6,341.91|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 7,785 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|2,535.00|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the village was 70.82% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.30% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.95% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.92% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 9.08% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 13.91% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 25.78% of the population.

There were 6,988 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.05% were married couples living together, 9.65% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.86% were non-families. 26.09% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.23% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 2.63.

The village's age distribution consisted of 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $84,891, and the median income for a family was $103,072. Males had a median income of $57,343 versus $47,355 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $38,222. About 4.3% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Brookfield village, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Brookfield village, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US1708576&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Brookfield village, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1708576&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Brookfield village, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1708576&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|16,961
|14,888
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,791
|88.87%
|78.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |65.68%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|165
|456
|style='background: #ffffe6; |597
|0.86%
|2.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.07%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|16
|11
|style='background: #ffffe6; |27
|0.08%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|235
|285
|style='background: #ffffe6; |346
|1.23%
|1.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.78%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|2
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3
|0.01%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|4
|11
|style='background: #ffffe6; |52
|0.02%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|165
|258
|style='background: #ffffe6; |640
|0.86%
|1.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.29%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,537
|3,069
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,020
|8.05%
|16.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |25.78%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''19,085'''
|'''18,978'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''19,476'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

==Government==
Nearly all of Brookfield is in [[Illinois's 3rd congressional district]]; the northernmost portion, a largely wooded area north of the zoo, is in the [[Illinois' 4th congressional district|4th district]].

== Newspapers and publications==
Throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, newspapers published in Brookfield included ''The Suburban Magnet'' and ''Brookfield Star''. The largest and most successful newspaper printed in Brookfield was the ''[[Brookfield Enterprise]]''. It was started in 1932 by Porter Reubendall, then owned and expanded in the 1950s by Elmer C. Johnson, and ceased publication in 1985.

==Public education==
Elementary school districts serving sections of Brookfield include: [[Brookfield School District 95]]<!--ELM 07320-->, [[LaGrange School District 102]]<!--ELM 21600-->, [[Lyons School District 103]],<!--ELM 23850--> and [[Riverside School District 96]]<!--ELM 33990-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17031_cook/DC20SD_C17031.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cook County, IL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|page=6 (PDF p. 7)|accessdate=2021-07-06}}</ref>

Brookfield-LaGrange Elementary School District 95 is the primary elementary school district for Brookfield residents, and is made up of one elementary school (Brook-Park Elementary School<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home - Brook Park Elementary School|url=http://www.district95.org/2/Home|access-date=2020-12-02|website=www.district95.org}}</ref>) and one junior high school (S.E. Gross Middle School<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home - SE. Gross Middle School|url=http://www.district95.org/1/Home|access-date=2020-12-02|website=www.district95.org}}</ref>). Other Brookfield students may attend schools in [[Riverside, Illinois|Riverside]] School District 96, [[La Grange, Illinois|LaGrange]] Elementary School District 102, or [[Lyons, Illinois|Lyons]] School District 103. District 95 and 96 teens then attend [[Riverside Brookfield High School]] in District 208, while students from SD 102 and SD 103 (the southeast portion of Brookfield) attend [[Lyons Township High School]], District 204, which has campuses in La Grange and [[Western Springs, Illinois|Western Springs]].

==Transportation==
Brookfield's connection to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy lives on with [[Metra]]'s [[BNSF Line]], which serves three stations in the Brookfield area: [[Congress Park (Metra)|Congress Park]], [[Brookfield (Metra)|Brookfield]], and [[Hollywood (Metra)|Hollywood]]. Metra trains operate daily between Chicago and Aurora. Various [[Pace (transit)|Pace]] bus stops exist throughout the village, as well as common trolleys. The [[Salt Creek Trail]] is accessible in town.

==Attractions==
*The [[Brookfield Zoo]], managed by the [[Chicago Zoological Society]], is open every day of the year.
*The [[Galloping Ghost Arcade]] is the largest video arcade in the United States, with over 976 video (retro and modern), pinball, and ticket redemption games.
*North Kiwanis Park is a major area for many annual events such as German Fest, Fall Fest, Battle of the Bands, and the Brookfield [[Fourth of July]] Parade.
*The Brookfield [[oak savanna]]s are a popular nature preserve, with many animal and plant species.
*The Grossdale Train Station now houses the Brookfield Historical Society. It is the oldest structure in Brookfield, having been built in the 1880s before the city was founded.
*[[Salt Creek (Des Plaines River tributary)|Salt Creek]] flows through many suburbs and is a tributary to the [[Des Plaines River]]. The creek is wide and long, with gentle, murky water, good fishing, and vast amounts of wildlife.
*The Festival of Sausages, a celebration of German heritage, is hosted in Brookfield every year by local resident Chad Vandemark.
*Jaycee Ehlert Park is the largest park in Brookfield. A [[North American F-86 Sabre|North American F-86L Sabre]] is on display as a Korean War memorial.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3GZZ_F_86_Sabre_Ehlert_Park_Brookfield_Il |title=F-86 Sabre - Ehlert Park - Brookfield, IL - Static Aircraft Displays |access-date= 2021-11-08}}</ref> It was home to Brookfield's renowned carnival, "Brookfest", before it was cancelled in the mid-2000s due to various gang fights and firework malfunctions.

== Notable people ==

* [[William L. Blaser]], Illinois state representative and businessman<ref>'Illinois Blue Book 1965-1966,' Biographical Sketcgh of William L. Blaser, pg. 198-199</ref>
* [[Milt Bocek]], former outfielder of the [[Chicago White Sox]]
* [[Douglas Campbell (Michigan politician)|Douglas Campbell]], Green Party candidate from [[Michigan]]
* [[Michael Colgrass]], Pulitzer Prize-winning composer
* [[Jim Holvay]], guitarist/songwriter for the band The Mob, known for four hit songs written for [[The Buckinghams]] ("[[Kind of a Drag]]," "[[Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)]]," "[[Don't You Care]]," and "[[Susan]]")
* [[Chris Klein (actor)]]
* [[Tom Kondla]], basketball player with the [[Minnesota Pipers]] and [[Houston Mavericks]] of the [[American Basketball Association]]
* [[Joy Layne]], 1950s pop singer<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.rblandmark.com/News/Articles/8-13-2013/Brookfield-pop-star's-career-a-secret-no-longer/ | title=Brookfield pop star's career a secret no longer | date=13 August 2013 }}</ref>
* [[George Marsh (Medal of Honor)|George Marsh]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient during the [[American Civil War]], born and enlisted in Brookfield<ref name="Projects">{{Cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/1030|title=George Marsh|access-date=June 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140609135708/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=1030|archive-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Lou Saban]], football player and coach for several college and professional teams
* [[Allen C. Skorepa]], [[lichenologist]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Brookfield (Illinois)}}
*[http://www.brookfieldil.gov Village of Brookfield official website]
*[http://www.brookfieldlibrary.info Brookfield Public Library]

{{Brookfield, Illinois}}
{{Cook County, Illinois}}
{{Chicagoland}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Geographic location|
|Center=Brookfield
|Northeast=[[Riverside, Illinois|Riverside]]
|Southwest=[[LaGrange, Illinois|LaGrange]]
}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Brookfield, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1889]]
[[Category:Cities in Cook County, Illinois]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in Illinois]]