Chicago Heights, Illinois

Chicago Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 31,373 at the 2005 census.

History

The first European settler in the area was Absalom Wells in 1833. He built a log cabin where the Vincennes Trail crossed Thorn Creek, but then moved farther west to where Chicago Road is now. The first permanent settlers were Adam and Phoebe Brown who built an inn at the intersection of Sauk Trail and the Vincennes Trace. In 1835, a large group from Ireland arrived. At this time, the town was known as Thorn Grove. The first school was built in 1836. The Reformed Presbytherian Church of Thorn Grove was formed in December 1843. The Batchhelder and McCoy homes in Thorn Grove were stops on the Underground Railroad. The first railroad arrived in 1853. The village was renamed Bloom. It was then renamed again in 1892 to Chicago Heights and incorporated as a village. In 1897, the village had twenty factories. By 1901, Chicago Heights had a population of over 5,000 and became a city. Its population nearly tripled in the next ten years.

Geography

Chicago Heights is located at 41°30′43″N 87°38′25″W (41.512034, -87.640201)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.8 km²), of which, 9.6 square miles (24.8 km²) of it is land and 0.10% is water. The city lies on the high land of the Tinley Moraine, with the higher and older Valparaiso Moraine lying just to the south of the city.

The city's major crossroads are at Dixie Highway (Route 1) and Lincoln Highway (Route 30).

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2005, there were 31,373 people. As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 31,373 people, 10,703 households, and 7,823 families in the city. The population density was 3,424.4 people per square mile (1,322.3/km²). There were 11,444 housing units at an average density of 1,195.7/sq mi (461.7/km²). The racial makeup was 45.02% White, 37.90% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 13.46% from other races, and 2.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.77% of the population.

There were 10,703 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% 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 3.53.

The population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,958, and the median income for a family was $42,681. Males had a median income of $34,207 versus $26,276 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,963. About 13.7% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Chicago Heights is in Illinois' 2nd congressional district.

Athletics

Notable sports figures from Chicago Heights include former Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo, LPGA Hall of Fame golfer Carol Mann, major league baseball players Jim Bouton, Bret Saberhagen, Ted Uhlaender and Bret Prinz, NFL football players Bryant Young, Mike Prior and Rodney Harrison, NHL hockey player Todd Krygier, award-winning Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune sports columnist Mike Downey and sports radio talk-show host Terry Boers.

Logo	Club	Sport	League	Venue	Championships
	Chicago Heights Soldiers	Basketball	IBL	Markham Fieldhouse (in Markham, Illinois)	None

File:100 3725.JPG

US 30 in Chicago Heights

References

4. Kenneth J. Schoon, Calumet Beginnings, 2003, p. 115-117

External links

• City of Chicago Heights