Editing Robbins, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                   = Robbins, Illinois
| native_name            = 
| native_name_lang       = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type        = [[List of towns and villages in Illinois|Village]]
| image_skyline          = 
| image_alt              = 
| image_caption          = 
| image_flag             = 
| flag_alt               = 
| image_seal             = Robbins Seal.png
| seal_alt               = 
| image_shield           = 
| shield_alt             = 
| nickname               = 
| motto                  = 
| image_map = File:Cook County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Robbins Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 260px
| map_caption = Location of Robbins in Cook County, Illinois.
| pushpin_map = United States Chicago Greater#Illinois#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Robbins
| coordinates            = {{coord|41|38|35|N|87|42|29|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint          = 
| coordinates_footnotes  = 
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = United States
| subdivision_type1      = State
| subdivision_name1      = Illinois
| subdivision_type2      = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook]]
| subdivision_type3      = [[Civil township|Townships]]
| subdivision_name3      = [[Bremen Township, Cook County, Illinois|Bremen]], [[Worth Township, Cook County, Illinois|Worth]]
| established_title      = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date       = 1917
| founder                = 
| seat_type              = 
| seat                   = 
| government_footnotes   = 
| government_type        = 
| leader_party           = 
| leader_title           = [[List of mayors of Robbins, Illinois|Mayor]]
| leader_name            = Darren Bryant
| 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|accessdate=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
| area_rank            = 
| area_blank1_title    = 
| area_blank2_title    = <!-- square miles -->
| area_total_sq_mi  = 1.45
| area_land_sq_mi   = 1.45
| area_water_sq_mi  = 0.00
| 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         = 4629
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_sq_mi = 3194.62
| population_demonym       = 
| population_note          = 
| timezone1                = 
| utc_offset1              = 
| timezone1_DST            = 
| utc_offset1_DST          = 
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code|<span style="white-space:nowrap;">ZIP code(s)</span>]]
| postal_code              = 60472
| area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|<span style="white-space:nowrap;">Area code(s)</span>]]
| area_code                = [[Area codes 708 and 464|708/464]]
| iso_code                 = 
| geocode                  = 64616
| website                  = {{URL|www.robbins-il.com}}
| footnotes                = <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Standard of living ([[American Community Survey|2007-11]])
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = [[Per capita income]]
| demographics1_info1     = $13,089
| demographics1_title2    = [[Real estate appraisal|Median home value]]
| demographics1_info2     = $77,600
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 17-64616
|area_total_km2 = 3.75
|area_land_km2 = 3.75
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|population_density_km2 = 1233.52
}}

'''Robbins''' is a village and southwest suburb of [[Chicago]] in [[Cook County, Illinois]], United States. The population was 4,629 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Robbins village, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1764616|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref>  It is the second oldest [[African American]] incorporated town in the north following [[Brooklyn, Illinois]], and was home to the country's first black-owned airport, [[Robbins Airport (Illinois)|Robbins Airport]].

==History==
Robbins was incorporated on December 14, 1917<ref>{{cite journal |title= ROBBINS, ILL SAYS:-"Give Us Housing And Transportation And We'll Work Out Our Own Destiny"|journal=The Pittsburgh Courier|volume=XXIV | issue =42 |date=October 15, 1938|pages=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108935020/the-saga-of-chicagos-only-negro-twon/\via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= Negro Colony in East Makes Good - Thos. J. Kellar, Founder Highly Honored   |newspaper=The Denver Star|date=December 11, 1917 |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92640581/the-denver-star/ |accessdate=}}</ref> and named for Eugene S. Robbins, a real estate developer who laid out the village's early subdivisions.<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title=Illinois Negros Have Model Municipality - Contains All Modern Conveniences And Is Free From Idleness And Loafing  |newspaper=[[The Dallas Express]]|date=December 6, 1919 |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92641745/the-dallas-express/ |page=1}}</ref>  The village's founder and [[List of mayors of Robbins, Illinois|first mayor]] was [[Thomas J. Kellar]], who noted in an early interview "Our people in Robbins are mostly people who got tired of the white fights and the crowded city. They come out here to raise chickens, make gardens, and be a little more free".<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= Chicago Boasts All Negro Town - Robbins, ILL has Negro Mayor and Board of Trustees - Town's Population is 2500 with 11 Churches  |newspaper=[[The Pittsburgh Courier]]|date=September 22, 1938 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92641091/the-pittsburgh-courier/  |page=3}}</ref> Robbins was the only municipality in the north that was entirely governed by African-Americans.<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title=The Saga of Chicago's Only Negro Town   |newspaper=[[The Pittsburgh Courier]]|date=October 15, 1938 |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92642633/the-pittsburgh-courier/ |quote=...according to state historians, acquired the unique distinction of being the only municipality of its kind in the so-called far north, being entirely governed by coloured officials.}}</ref> Kellar, who was a clerk for the Cook County Board of Assessors, was tasked with investigating the procedures of incorporation. Thomas J. Kellar School in Robbins was named in his honor and first opened for the 1954 school year.<ref>{{cite journal |title= 1800 Students for District 143 1/2 District Schools Sept. 1|journal=The Blue Island Sun-Standard|date=August 26, 1954|pages=2}}</ref>
<br />
After incorporation the community became a popular recreation spot for black Chicagoans, who crowded its picnic grounds and nightclubs on summer weekends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Weise|first=Andrew, Ann Durkin Keating and Janice L. Reiff |title=The Encyclopedia of Chicago|year=2004|publisher=The University of Chicago Illinois  |location=Chicago|isbn=0226310159|pages=713}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/9dc3ff40-8df4-0132-fd57-58d385a7b928/book#page/29/mode/2up|title = - NYPL Digital Collections}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Robbins has a total area of {{convert|1.45|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1764616
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=December 25, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213062823/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1764616
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===Surrounding areas===
<div style= width:500px;">
:{{pad|17.4em}} [[Alsip, Illinois|Alsip]]
:{{pad|10.5em}} [[Crestwood, Illinois|Crestwood]] [[Image:Up arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up-1.svg|30px]] [[Image:Up arrow right.svg|20px]] [[Blue Island, Illinois|Blue Island]] 
:{{pad|10em}} [[Crestwood, Illinois|Crestwood]] [[Image:Left.svg|30px]] {{pad|1.5em}}[[Image:Right.svg|30px]] [[Blue Island, Illinois|Blue Island]] 
:{{pad|10.7em}} [[Midlothian, Illinois|Midlothian]] [[Image:Down arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow.svg|30px]] [[Image:Down arrow right.svg|20px]] [[Blue Island, Illinois|Blue Island]]  / [[Posen, Illinois|Posen]]
:{{pad|16em}} [[Midlothian, Illinois|Midlothian]]
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 431
|1930= 753
|1940= 1349
|1950= 4766
|1960= 7511
|1970= 9641
|1980= 8853
|1990= 7498
|2000= 6635
|2010= 5337
|2020= 4629
|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/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Robbins 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 – Robbins village, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US1764616&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</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) – Robbins village, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1764616&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) – Robbins village, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1764616&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|156
|117
|style='background: #ffffe6; |240
|2.35%
|2.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.18%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|6,288
|4,990
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,908
|94.77%
|93.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |84.42%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|8
|11
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2
|0.12%
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|4
|6
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10
|0.06%
|0.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|11
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20
|0.17%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.43%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|39
|37
|style='background: #ffffe6; |103
|0.59%
|0.69%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.23%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|129
|175
|style='background: #ffffe6; |346
|1.94%
|3.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.47%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''6,635'''
|'''5,337'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''4,629'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1764616 |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 4,629 people, 1,551 households, and 951 families residing in the village. The population density was {{Convert|3,194.62|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 1,887 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|1,302.28|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the village was 84.77% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 5.92% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.32% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.22% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.54% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.47% of the population.

There were 1,551 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.05% were married couples living together, 29.08% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.68% were non-families. 34.82% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.96 and the average family size was 2.97.

The village's age distribution consisted of 20.9% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $35,815, and the median income for a family was $59,538. Males had a median income of $27,092 versus $26,667 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $16,108. About 20.3% of families and 33.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.9% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Robbins is in [[Illinois's 1st congressional district]].

===Mayor===
{{further|List of mayors of Robbins, Illinois}}
In April 2021, Darren E. Bryant was elected [[List of mayors of Robbins, Illinois|mayor of Robbins]]. At age 29, he is the youngest African-American mayor ever elected in Illinois.<ref>Rhinehart, Charlene (May 9, 2021). [https://www.blackenterprise.com/darren-e-bryant-makes-history-as-youngest-black-mayor-in-illinois/ "Darren E. Bryant Makes History as Youngest Black Mayor in Illinois"]. Blackenterprise.com. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

==Transportation==
Robbins is served by a [[Robbins (Metra station)|station]] on [[Metra]]'s [[Rock Island District]] commuter rail line. Robbins is served by two [[Pace (transit)|Pace]] bus routes, 359 Robbins/South Kedzie Avenue and 385 87th/111th/127th.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/search_results.asp?TYPE=community&KEYWORD=Robbins |title=Pace Bus - Search Results |website=www.pacebus.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206133452/http://pacebus.com/sub/schedules/search_results.asp?TYPE=community&KEYWORD=Robbins |archive-date=December 6, 2003}}</ref>

[[Interstate 294]] runs through Robbins, but it has no exits within the village limits. Access to Interstates 57 and 294 are within a five- to eight-minute drive.

[[Midway International Airport]] is within 25-30 minute drive. The village is home to MDW's southern approach radar tower. [[O'Hare International Airport]] is within a 30-45 minute drive via Interstate 294 using the IL-50/ 83 Cicero Exit.

[[Robbins Airport (Illinois)|Robbins Airport]], the first to be owned and operated by African-Americans in the United States, was located here from 1930 to 1933. It had the only flight school at the time where African-Americans could be trained as pilots, and served as a model for the [[Tuskegee Airmen]] Program during [[World War II]]. Many great African-American pilots flew into this forgotten airport. The surrounding white communities, such as [[Blue Island, Illinois|Blue Island]] and [[Midlothian, Illinois|Midlothian]], did not approve of this activity, and their police sometimes arrested black pilots after they had landed in Robbins. The one-runway airport and hangar were destroyed by a tornado in 1933. School and operations were relocated by the invitation of white owners of the Harlem Airport in Chicago (it was located south of present-day Midway International Airport). From there, many of the flight school instructors entered the Tuskegee Airmen Program. One notable instructor and the man considered to be the founder of the Robbins airport was [[John C. Robinson (aviator)|John C. Robinson]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Phillip Thomas  |title=Father of the Tuskegee Airmen, John C. Robinson|year=2012 |publisher=Potomac Books |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-1597974875 |pages=46}}</ref> who was Supreme Commander of the [[Ethiopian Air Force]] when [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]] invaded [[Ethiopia]] in 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=212205 |title=Potomac Books - Father of the Tuskegee Airmen, John C. Robinson |publisher=Potomacbooksinc.com |access-date=August 25, 2014}}</ref> The activities of these men and women have been recognized by the [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s Air and Space Museum.<ref>Lambertson, Giles. 'The Other Harlem', ''Air & Space Smithsonian'', 2010, vol. 24, no.7, pp. 54-59.</ref>

==Law enforcement==

In 2024, the Robbins police department had under its employment 46 police officers who had been fired from other police departments, a number higher than any other police department in Illinois.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duarte |first1=Lourdes |title=Officers fired for cause still finding jobs as police, investigation shows |url=https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/officers-fired-for-cause-still-finding-jobs-as-police-investigation-shows/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |work=[[wgntv.com]] |date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Posen-Robbins School District 143½]] serves Robbins.<ref>"[http://www.prsd1435.org/Pages/default.aspx WELCOME TO POSEN-ROBBINS SCHOOL DISTRICT 143.5] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524143437/http://www.prsd1435.org/Pages/default.aspx |date=2013-05-24 }}." [[Posen-Robbins School District 143½]]. Retrieved on February 24, 2013.</ref>

== Notable people ==
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· The article must mention how they are associated with <city name>, whether born, raised, or residing.
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* [[Jan Bradley]], soul singer ("Mama Didn't Lie"); grew up in Robbins
* [[Bessie Coleman]], co-founder of the Robbins Airport with aviators [[John C. Robinson (aviator)]] and [[Cornelius Coffey]], an operations center for black aviation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=76,4,4,6 |title=Black Aviators {{pipe}} Riots to Renaissance {{pipe}} DuSable to Obama: Chicago's Black Metropolis |publisher=WTTW |access-date=August 25, 2014}}</ref>
* [[S. B. Fuller]], businessman (founded [[Fuller Products Company]]) and publisher (''[[New York Age]]'' and ''[[Pittsburgh Courier]]'')<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sherrod |first=Pamela|title= S.B. FULLER: THE DEAN OF BLACK ENTREPRENEURS |journal=The Chicago Tribune|date=June 9, 1987|pages=Business 1}}</ref> 
* [[Thomas J. Kellar]], founding [[List of mayors of Robbins, Illinois|mayor of Robbins]]
* [[List of Philadelphia Eagles players#L|James Loving]], wide receiver for [[Philadelphia Eagles]]{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}
* [[Joe Montgomery]], running back with the [[New York Giants]] and [[Carolina Panthers]]; born in Robbins
* [[Nichelle Nichols]], actress, known for playing [[Uhura]] in ''[[Star Trek]]''; born Grace Nichols in Robbins
* [[Keke Palmer]], actress, TV show host, singer, activist, fashion designer, known for movie [[Akeelah and the Bee]]; grew up in Robbins
* [[Jim Smith (wide receiver)|Jim Smith]], wide receiver for [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], two-time Super Bowl champion; grew up in Robbins
* [[Dwyane Wade]], former [[NBA]] shooting guard, three-time NBA champion; grew up in Robbins

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.robbins-il.com Village of Robbins official website]

{{Portal bar|Chicago|Illinois}}
{{Cook County, Illinois}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Robbins, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Villages in Cook County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Chicago metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1917]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Majority-minority cities and towns in Cook County, Illinois]]
[[Category:African-American cultural history]]
[[Category:Villages in Illinois]]