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 1947. | |||||||||||||||
| County, State | Cook County, Illinois | |||||||||||||||
| Township | Bremen Township | |||||||||||||||
| 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) | |||||||||||||||
| Lat. / long. | ||||||||||||||||
| 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 along side 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 it's 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 located at (41.607583, -87.750575)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.8 km² (5.7 mi²). 14.6 km² (5.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.88%) is water.
Oak Forest is considered part of the larger metropolitan area frequently know as Chicagoland. It is mostly surrounded by Cook County Forest Preserves (hence the name), but it not completely isolated from the rest of Chicago Southland by more than a mile or less in any direction. 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 northeast.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 28,051 people, 9,785 households, and 7,338 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,916.9/km² (4,965.4/mi²). There were 10,022 housing units at an average density of 684.9/km² (1,774.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.38% White, 3.64% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.65% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.86% of the population.
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] 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 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 sizeable population in the south suburbs.
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.
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[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.
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, who defeated incumbent Patrick Gordon.
[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 from either the interchange to the south at 167th Street and Cicero Avenue or to the west at 159th Street and Pulaski Avenue. The Tri-State Tollway (I-294) onramp at 127th Street and Cicero Avenue is a short trip away as well.
The Oak Forest station of the Metra at 159th and Cicero is a popular option for communters to Chicago on the Rock Island District line that runs between Joliet, IL and the LaSalle Street Station in downtown Chicago.
Pace (transit) bus route 354 runs from Harvey down 147th and Central Avenue through Oak Forest to Tinley Park. Route 364 runs from Hammond, Indiana to Orland Square Mall in Orland Park down 159th Street through Oak Forest and other south suburbs. Route 383 runs down Cicero Avenue from Midway Airport in the south side of Chicago at about 59th Street to 159th Street at Oak Forest Hospital.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- City of Oak Forest
- Oak Forest High School
