Westchester, Illinois
Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Westchester is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a western suburb of Chicago. The population was 16,892 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
[edit]The area now known as Westchester was occupied by German farmers beginning in the mid-19th century. Samuel Insull purchased the land in 1924 with plans to develop it for residential use and create an English-style town. As a result, the town's name and the majority of its street names are of English origin.<ref>https://www.westchester-il.org/community/history</ref>
The Great Depression slowed development during the 1930s, although the population continued to grow. The town's suburban development was stimulated by its being the western terminal of Chicago's Garfield Park rapid transit line. The extension of the line was removed in 1951. In 1956, the federal government began postwar construction of the Interstate Highway System, resulting in the construction of nearby expressways I-290 and I-294. These have provided residents with car-based travel in the region, however they also serve as barriers against access to neighboring communities.
Residential and retail development has consumed nearly all open land within the village, save for the protected Template:Convert of Wolf Road Prairie.<ref>Encyclopedia of Chicago. Accessed April 23, 2007</ref> It is the largest black-soil prairie remnant east of the Mississippi River.<ref>"Wolf Road Prairie - Into the Wild", Chicago Wilderness Magazine, Spring, 2004. Accessed April 23, 2007</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the 2010 census, Westchester has a total area of Template:Convert, all land. It shares its western border with Du Page County.<ref name="census-g001">Template:Cite web</ref>
Transportation
[edit]Residents of Westchester have a small variety of transportation options available to them. Cermak Road and Roosevelt Road are two major stroads that cut through the village. Residents also have bus service through Pace Bus Service, with routes 301,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 317,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 330<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> serving the community. Route 317 follows the former extension to the CTA Blue Line before it was removed. Pace is planning for a Pulse rapid transit route to be constructed along the Cermak corridor, currently served by the 322 route. Service is planned to begin in 2029.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There have been calls to restore Blue Line service to the community and plans have existed,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> however, CTA currently has no plans to extend the Blue Line from Forest Park.<ref name="CTA Planning and Expansions Projects">Template:Cite web</ref> Westchester has a Walk Score of 43, meaning most errands require driving a car.<ref name="Walk Score">Template:Cite web</ref> The village also has several zoning provisions that foster car dependency, such as minimum parking requirements.<ref name="Westchester, IL, Code">Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
[edit]Template:US Census populationAs of the 2020 census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> there were 16,892 people, 6,811 households, and 4,385 families residing in the village. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,230 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the village was 55.95% White, 19.87% African American, 0.62% Native American, 4.13% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.30% from other races, and 11.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.02% of the population.
There were 6,811 households, out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.92% were married couples living together, 9.41% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.62% were non-families. 31.73% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.81% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 2.36.
The village's age distribution consisted of 15.6% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $88,861, and the median income for a family was $108,067. Males had a median income of $57,055 versus $48,533 for females. The per capita income for the village was $43,868. About 2.3% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 2000 | % 2010 | Template:Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 13,919 | 11,018 | 8,877 | 82.73% | 65.91% | 52.55% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,207 | 2,349 | 3,311 | 7.17% | 14.05% | 19.60% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 4 | 21 | 14 | 0.02% | 0.13% | 0.08% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 576 | 659 | 687 | 3.42% | 3.94% | 4.07% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 12 | 15 | 55 | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.33% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 149 | 170 | 396 | 0.89% | 1.02% | 2.34% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 956 | 2,485 | 3,550 | 5.68% | 14.86% | 21.02% |
| Total | 16,824 | 16,718 | 16,892 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Government
[edit]Westchester is completely within Illinois' 7th congressional district being represented by Danny Davis.
The current Village President is Greg Hribal, serving a two-year term following the temporary appointment of Nick Steker as acting president after the death of the previous elected president Frank Perry from cancer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Economy
[edit]Westchester is home to Westbrook Corporate Center, located at Wolf Road and Cermak Road. Constructed in 1986 and renovated in 1996, the complex consists of five 10-story towers encompassing more than Template:Convert of office space. Westbrook Corporate Center has won the 2000/2001 BOMA- International Office Building of the Year Award, 2000/2001 BOMA- North Central Region Office Building of the Year Award, and 1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2000/2001 BOMA- Suburban Chicago Office Building of the Year Award.
Top employers
[edit]According to the Village's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref name="cafr2009">Template:Cite web</ref> the top employers in the city are:
Education
[edit]Public schools
[edit]Westchester School District 92.5 serves most of the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There are four schools in this district:
- Westchester Primary School (Preschool – 2nd grade)
- Westchester Intermediate School (3rd grade – 5th grade)
- Westchester Middle School (6th grade – 8th grade)
- Britten School (Special Needs)<ref name="ProvisoLinks">"Links & Contacts". Village of Westchester, Illinois.</ref>
In addition Hillside School District 93, which operates a single K-8 school in Hillside, serves a section of Westchester.<ref name=Home>Home. Hillside School District 93. Retrieved on March 18, 2017. "About Since 1918 Hillside School District 93[...]" - See also U.S. Census Bureau School District Map page 4 of Cook County</ref> In 1968 the school district proposed a bond for a junior high school,<ref name=Discussneed>Template:Cite news</ref> on a Template:Convert parcel of land in Westchester.<ref name=Schoolsiteturns>Template:Cite news "Concord purchased the land in an auction in 1998. Hillside School District 93 had [...]"</ref> The voters rejected the referendum and the plans were scrapped. The president of Concord Homes, Roger Mankedick, stated in a Chicago Sun-Times stated that the student population that was supposed to surround the school never came.<ref name=CuniffWestchsite>Template:Cite news</ref> The Chicago Tribune stated there was a decline in students in the area surrounding the school site. In 1998 the district instead sold the land to Concord Homes for $2.6 million.<ref name=Schoolsiteturns/>
Proviso Township High Schools district serves high school residents. Zoned students attend Proviso West High School in Hillside.<ref name="ProvisoLinks"/> Westchester residents may apply to Proviso Math & Science Academy in Forest Park.
Private schools
[edit]The following private Catholic school of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago is located in the village:
- Divine Providence School (PS–8)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other private schools are located in the village:
- Immanuel Christian Academy (K–8, Lutheran)
- Westchester Christian School (K-12, Non-Denominational)
- PAEC Academy (K-8, Special Needs)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Recreation
[edit]The Village of Westchester is home to the Westchester Park District, which provides many recreational amenities and activities for both residents and non-residents. There are also five different golf courses available within 3 miles or a 10-minute drive from Westchester: The Chicago Highlands Club; located on the southwest side of the village, Fresh Meadow Golf Club in Hillside, Meadowlark Golf Course in Hinsdale, and The Oakbrook Golf Club and Butler National Golf Club in Oakbrook. Additionally, Westchester is home to Eden Lanes Bowling Alley, Focus Time Escape Rooms, the Wolf Road Prairie, the Westchester Woods Sledding Hill, 4 youth sports organizations, and multiple forest preserves.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Parks and playgrounds
[edit]- Camberly Park
- Community Park
- Dury Lane Park
- Gladstone Park
- High Ridge Park
- Mayfair Park
- Middle School Athletic Fields
- Norfolk Park
- Primary School Park
- Sweetbriar Park
- Forest the Fox's Playbox at the Mayfair Recreation Center
Fitness
[edit]- Westchester Community Center
- Mayfair Recreation Center
- Anytime Fitness
Aquatics
[edit]John J. Sinde Community Swimming Pool serves as Westchester's public pool. The facility was dedicated with a ribbon-cutting event on June 5, 1977, and officially opened on June 11, 1977. The facility features a beautiful 50-meter pool with a 12-foot-deep diving well. Other enjoyable features are a separate zero-depth wading pool with bubblers. The main pool has a 25-foot-high, 150-foot-long water slide and an SCS interactive water play structure in the shallow end. A concession stand and grass area round out the facility. The facility is typically in operation from Memorial Day through Labor Day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Chicago Highlands Club also boasts an outdoor seasonal pool, however those wishing to use it must possess a membership to the club or be a guest of a current member.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
[edit]- Philip Caputo, author and journalist (A Rumor of War); born in Westchester
- Marco D'Amico, mafia member of the Chicago Outfit
- Mario Anthony DeStefano, member of the Chicago Outfit
- Jim Durkin, state legislator representing Illinois' 82nd District
- Kathryn Hahn, actress (Crossing Jordan); born in Westchester
- Julian Love, NFL player (Seattle Seahawks)
- Cameron Meredith, NFL player (New Orleans Saints)
- Gene Pingatore, basketball coach at St. Joseph High School; lived in Westchester
- Saba, rapper and record producer
- Michael Sarno, member of the Chicago Outfit
- Daniel P. Ward, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court; lived in Westchester
- Bill Wightkin, NFL player (Chicago Bears); lived in Westchester