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Illinois
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Village
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1907
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Cook County
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Commission
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Mayor
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Proviso Township
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Anthony Calderone
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15,688
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2,5030
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6,4808
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up
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516
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1990
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5614
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3118
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784
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683
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007
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015
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282
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60130
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708
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63
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24
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41
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5223
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87
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4840
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26,045
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26935
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44,103
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131,900
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143,130
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wwwforestparknet
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(formerly Harlem) is a village located in
Cook County, Illinois . As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 15,688. The Forest Park train stop on the
CTA Blue Line is the line's western terminus, located on the
Eisenhower Expressway at Desplaines Ave.
Forest Park is located at 41°52'23" North, 87°48'40" West (41.873031, -87.811155).
According to the
United States Census Bureau , the village has a total area of 6.3
Km&2 (2.4
Mi&2 ). 6.3 km&
2 (2.4 mi&
2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
As of the
Census of 2000, there were 15,688 people, 7,632 households, and 3,480 families residing in the village. The
Population Density was 2,503.0/km&
2 (6,480.8/mi&
2). There were 7,981 housing units at an average density of 1,273.3/km&
2 (3,297.0/mi&
2). The racial makeup of the village was 56.14%
White , 31.18%
African American , 0.15%
Native American , 6.83%
Asian , 0.07%
Pacific Islander , 2.80% from
Other Races , and 2.82% from two or more races. 7.84% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 7,632 households out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.9% were
Married Couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.4% were non-families. 45.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the village the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 39.8% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $44,103, and the median income for a family was $52,611. Males had a median income of $39,402 versus $32,255 for females. The
Per Capita Income for the village was $26,045. 7.0% of the population and 6.3% of families were below the
Poverty Line . 7.5% of those under the age of 18 and 6.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The Park District of Forest Park, located near the center of the village, has a 15 acre park, with an aquatic center. Shopping is mostly located on Madison Street, a narrow street with turn of the century gaslights. Previously known for dominance of bars, it now also features antique merchants, boutiques, and eating establishments. Forest Park is sometimes referred to as FoPo by its teenage residents.
Every summer, in the last few days of July and first few of August, Forest Park's Park District plays host to the Forest Park No Glove National Invitational Softball Tournament. This is an invitational to all the best 16-inch
Softball teams in
Chicagoland (and sometimes from other regions). The game is slow-pitch softball played without gloves, a favorite in Chicagoland.
The city has several industries, but two of the prominent ones are Mohr Oil and
Ferrara Pan Candy Co. The candy factory can be seen and smelled from the Harlem Blue Line stop. Mohr Oil can only be seen from there.
The town is served by a weekly newspaper, the Forest Park Review, coming out every Wednesday. It is printed by
Wednesday Journal, Inc.
For much of its history, Forest Park was known as a "city of cemeteries," with more dead "residents" than living ones. Some figures estimate the ratio at 30:1, dead to alive! Forest Park cemeteries include:
Altenheim ,
German Waldheim (now merged into Forest Home),
Jewish Waldheim ,
Woodlawn (including
Showmen's Rest ), and
Concordia . Forest Home cemetery is home to the famous
Haymarket Riot monument.
Forest Park was also once host to the
Forest Park Amusement Park , a small but popular amusement park at the end of the trainlines. Prohibition, however, hurt it enough to force it to close. Its former location is now around the Desplaines Ave. Blue Line stop (Forest Park).
The community (formerly part of a larger town called Harlem) officially took the name Forest Park on August 12, 1907, meaning it is now 98 years old. A centennial celebration is planned.
KJ (Singer and Actor) was born and raised in Forest Park, attending both Grant White school and Forest Park Middle School.
Stephen Euin Cobb (Science fiction author and host of ''
The Future And You '') attended Grant White and Field Stevenson grade schools; graduated from Proviso East High School in the class of 1974; flew model rockets at Miller's Meadow; had summer passes to the Forest Park Public Pool; marched in the Octoberfest Parade as a Cub Scout.
Darius Brooks , a grammy-winning gospel singer, recently opened a record label,
Journey Music Group , in the town on Madison St.
