Oak Forest, Illinois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This Oak Forest is the city in Illinois. For the Houston, Texas neighborhood, see Oak Forest (Houston).
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| Incorporated | City in 1900. | |||||||||||||||
| County; State | Cook; Illinois | |||||||||||||||
| Township | Bremen | |||||||||||||||
| Government | Mayor-council | |||||||||||||||
| Mayor | JoAnn Kelly | |||||||||||||||
| Population (2000) | 28,051 (up 7.05% from 1990) | |||||||||||||||
| Pop. density | 1,916.9/km² (4,965.4/mi²) | |||||||||||||||
| ZIP code(s) | 60452 | |||||||||||||||
| Area code | 708 | |||||||||||||||
| Land area | 14.8 km² (5.7 mi²) | |||||||||||||||
| Income | Per capita: $23,487 Household: $60,073 |
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| Home value | Mean: $156,371 (2000) Median: $145,900 |
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| Website | www.oak-forest.org | |||||||||||||||
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Oak Forest is a suburban city about 24 miles south/southwest of downtown Chicago in Bremen Township in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,051 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
The area currently known as Oak Forest was originally called Cooper's Grove in the 1800s. Cooper's Grove was then bounded by Kenton, Cicero, Kilpatrick, Lamon, Lavergne and LeClaire Avenues. Mr. Cooper who settled here in the 1830s was said to have been the first resident of Bremen Township. A log cabin discovered by later settlers is believed to have been built by Cooper and was the first home built in the township.
The community was further established when settlers arrived to farm in the area (many German-born), sometime in the mid to late 1840s. The Cooper's Grove post office began service in 1848 and later changed its name to New Bremen alongside the Bachelor's Grove post office which began service in 1843 and later changed its name to Bremen after township governments were established in Cook County in 1850. Neighboring community Tinley Park was part of the community know as New Bremen starting in 1854 until it was later incorporated as Tinley Park in 1892. The population of Bachelor's Grove began to dwindle with people moving to New Bremen/Tinley Park or Blue Island to be along the railroad tracks for more economic opportunity. Christian Goesel settled along 147th and Oak Park Avenue (then Bachelor's Grove Road) in 1861 in a community named Goeselville where a satellite of the New Bremen/Tinley Park post office operated from 1884 to 1903. At its highest peak there were about 30 residents in this area with a few general stores to supply area farmers. This area was absorbed by Oak Forest with earlier settlements abandoned and forgotten. The earliest reference to the community as "Oak Forest" (probably so named for its proximity to nearby forest preserves and mature oak trees throughout and surrounding the area) is in an 1893 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway timetable. Oak Forest was incorporated as a village in 1947, and then incorporated as the City of Oak Forest in 1971. It became a Home Rule Community in 1981. The first Oak Fest Celebration - now an eagerly anticipated annual event - was first held in 1987.
[edit] Geography
Oak Forest is considered part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is mostly surrounded by Cook County Forest Preserves (hence the name). Some neighboring communities of Oak Forest include Crestwood to the north, Midlothian to the northeast, Markham to the east, Country Club Hills to the southeast, Tinley Park to the southwest, Orland Park to the west, beyond Bachelor's Grove Cemetery and Forest Preserve is Palos Heights to the northwest.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), of which, 5.7 square miles (14.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the 2000 census[1], there were 28,051 people, 9,785 households, and 7,338 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,965.4 people per square mile (1,916.9/km²). There were 10,022 housing units at an average density of 1,774.0/sq mi (684.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90% White, 4% African American.
The top five ancestries reported in Oak Forest as of the 2000 census were Irish (26.3%), German (25.1%), Polish (18.3%), Italian (13.0%) and Dutch (5.1%).[2]
There were 9,785 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $60,073, and the median income for a family was $68,862. Males had a median income of $48,808 versus $30,137 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,487. About 2.7% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Famous Resident
Matthew Petterson was a resident of Oak Forest for 21 years. He played baseball in the 1940's, with the St. Louis Browns. His best friend was Paul "The Pole" Nadolski who played baseball for the Washington Senators in the 1940's. He was also a resident of Midlothian, Illinois. Also home to Brad Andrews the most wanted person in Oak Forest.His ignorant language has got him in trouble with the law, plenty of times.
[edit] Name confusion and notable places
Oak Forest is home to Oak Forest High School which is one of four high schools in Bremen Community High School District 228. Oak Forest High School is sometimes mistaken for Oak Park and River Forest High School by those from Chicagoland who are not familiar with the Chicago Southland. Oak Forest is, in fact, not Oak Park nor is it River Forest.
Oak Forest is part of Community College District 510 (South Suburban College). Higher education is also readily available at the South Suburban College "University and College Center." In addition to SSC, you will also find branches of DePaul University, University of Saint Francis, Chicago State University, Governors State University and Illinois Institute of Technology.
Also located in Oak Forest is Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County.
The Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, allegedly one of the most haunted places in the world is located near Oak Forest in the Rubio Forest Preserve.
Chicago Gaelic Park is a banquet hall and restaurant/bar in Oak Forest serving the South Side Irish community which has a sizable population in the south suburbs. There is an annual Irish Fest held on the Gaelic Park grounds Memorial Day weekend.
The George W. Dunne Golf Course and Driving Range is located in Oak Forest just south of 159th Street (U.S. Route 6).
St. Damian Catholic Church is the largest Catholic congregation in Cook County.[citation needed]
[edit] Politics
Nationally, Oak Forest is part of Illinois' 1st congressional district and is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democrat Bobby Rush (with the exception of some very small areas totaling under 1/20 sq mi at its southeast edge, which are in the 2nd district) .
Oak Forest is part of the 19th legislative district of Illinois and is represented by Democrat Maggie Crotty (an Oak Forest resident) to the Illinois General Assembly.
The current mayor of Oak Forest is JoAnn Kelly. Her father, Bernard J. Kelly, was mayor from 1968 to 1972.
[edit] Transportation
Oak Forest is served by U.S. Route 6 (159th Street), Illinois Route 50 (Cicero Avenue). Central Avenue serves as a sort of Main Street for Oak Forest, where the local Jewel, Post Office, Acorn Public Library, Oak Forest Park District, Police Station/Fire Department/City Hall, and Oak Forest High School are all located.
Nearby Interstate 57 serves Oak Forest, just north of its intersection with Interstate 80. It a close drive south to the I-57 interchange at 167th Street and Cicero Avenue or east to the interchange at 159th Street (U.S. Route 6) and Pulaski Road/Crawford Avenue. The Tri-State Tollway (I-294) is also accessible within a few miles of Oak Forest.
Pace (transit) bus route 354 runs from Harvey down 147th and Central Avenue through Oak Forest to Tinley Park. Pace bus route 364 runs from Hammond, Indiana to Orland Square Mall in Orland Park down 159th Street (U.S. Route 6) through Oak Forest and other south suburbs. Pace bus route 383 runs down Cicero Avenue (Illinois Route 50) from Chicago Midway International Airport in the south side of Chicago to 159th Street at Oak Forest Hospital.
The Oak Forest station of the Metra commuter rail line, located at 159th and Cicero, is a popular option for commuters to Chicago. This station is part of the Rock Island District Metra line that runs between Joliet, IL and the LaSalle Street Station in the Chicago Loop.
[edit] Gateway Project
In early 2007, Mayor JoAnn Kelly announced plans for a "Gateway Project", consisting of a mixed use commercial & residential development at the corner of Illinois Route 50 (Cicero Avenue) and 159th Street. The project is said to provide the community with a transit-oriented development at the METRA commuter rail line. The development is alleged by the mayor to greatly enhance the tax base of the City and generate additional commercial interest in the Cicero Avenue Corridor. [3]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Oak Forest, Illinois is at coordinates Coordinates:
- City of Oak Forest
- Oak Forest High School
- Acorn Public Library
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