Oak Park (Illinois)
| Oak Park | |||
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 Lake Street in Oak Park |
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| Location in Illinois | |||
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| Basic data | |||
| Foundation : | 1830s | ||
| State : | United States | ||
| State : | Illinois | ||
| County : | Cook County | ||
| Coordinates : | 41 ° 48 ′ N , 87 ° 48 ′ W | ||
| Time zone : | Central ( UTC − 6 / −5 ) | ||
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Inhabitants : - Metropolitan Area : |
52,524 (status: 2000) 9,572,572 (status: 2010) |
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| Population density : | 4,305.2 inhabitants per km 2 | ||
| Area : | 12.2 km 2 (about 5 mi 2 ) of which 12.2 km 2 (about 5 mi 2 ) are land |
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| Height : | 189 m | ||
| Postcodes : | 60301-60304 | ||
| Area code : | +1 708 | ||
| FIPS : | 17-54885 | ||
| GNIS ID : | 414842 | ||
| Website : | www.oak-park.us | ||
 Lake Theater |
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Oak Park, Illinois is a western suburb of Chicago in Cook County , Illinois , United States . Oak Park has a direct connection to downtown Chicago, the Loop , thanks to public transportation , the Chicago Elevated, and the Chicago Transit Authority buses . At the 2000 Census, 52,524 people lived in the city.
history
In 1837 Joseph Kettlestrings acquired 172 acres of land west of Chicago. By 1850 the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad had been built as far as Elgin and the route passed through Oak Park. The town's population boomed during the 1870s when Chicago residents settled here after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 . The village of Oak Park was formally incorporated after a referendum in 1902.
The prohibition of alcohol has in Oak Park has a long history. From the time it was founded, no alcohol was allowed to be sold within the city limits. This law was relaxed somewhat in 1973 when restaurants and hotels were allowed to serve alcohol and again in 2002 when selected outlets were allowed to sell packaged spirits.
Philander Barclay was a local historian, bicycle repairman, and one of the area's first amateur photographers. He lived in Oak Park during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which was probably one of the most interesting periods in local history. Barclay was an unequal contemporary to Frank Lloyd Wright , Ernest Hemingway, and Doris Humphrey .
His parents owned a drugstore, and early in his life Philander began riding his bike around the area, taking photographs of places and people. By his death in 1940, he had amassed an impressive and indispensable collection of more than 1,000 images, now guarded by the Oak Park and River Forest Historical Society . A selection is also available online.
Over the past few years, rising taxes have caused hundreds of residents to move away from Oak Park, but those losses have been offset by the arrival of higher-income families from the area. Currently, Oak Park can be characterized by expensive homes, peaceful parks, and an excellent school system. However, this is offset by rising taxes and high vacancy rates for business premises. On the other hand, Oak Park is considered to be one of the most beautiful suburbs in Chicago.
Currently, the people of Oak Park are at odds over the development and renovation of the center. Many residents fear the loss of the historical structures because dilapidated buildings are being replaced by high-priced apartments and modern shopping centers. As a countermeasure to the high vacancy rate, the street on Marion Street Mall from Lake Street will be opened to traffic in order to increase the attractiveness and the flow of traffic through the center. This development is displacing a once tree-covered area within the center that never managed to generate sufficient sales and footfall as residents had hoped when the area was designed in the late 1970s. However, apart from the new cobblestone street and sidewalks, the city council will build sculptures, trees, a fountain and archways to improve the appearance of the street. This decision has sparked much debate because many residents do not want the mall to go away, while others hope it will improve the vitality of business life.
Oak Park has become a favorite tourist destination in the Chicago area in recent years as many travelers come to see Frank Lloyd Wright's structures that are spread across the city. Oak Park has the largest collection of its buildings, including the Unity Temple and the George W. Smith House . Oak Park is known for the many historic homes, most of which are in the north of the village.
geography
Oak Park is located immediately west of Chicago and the boundary between the two communities is formed by Austin Boulevard on the eastern edge and North Avenue to the north of Oak Park. Oak Park borders Cicero from Austin to Lombard and Berwyn from Lombard to Harlem to the south along Roosevelt Road . Harlem also forms the western parish boundary. Between Roosevelt Road and South Boulevard the place borders on Forest Park and between North Boulevard and North Avenue to the west on River Forest .
The entire village of Oak Park lies on the bottom of the Ice Age Lake Chicago , which covered most of the city of Chicago during the Wisconsin glaciation and the remains of which form Lake Michigan . Ridgeland Avenue to the east of Oak Park runs along the former shoreline and was once a cliff. One of the four continental watersheds of North America runs as a slight elevation in a north-south direction through the place and separates the catchment areas of the Saint Lawrence River and the Mississippi River .
According to the United States Census Bureau , the village has an area of 12.2 km², which extends exclusively to land.
traffic
Oak Park can be reached from Chicago by Chicago Transit Authority transportation, both the Blue and Green Line trains and the METRA Union Pacific / West Line stop at the Oak Park Metra station . The connection between Oak Park and other suburbs of Chicago is also ensured by a system of omnibuses . Oak Park is one of more than 20 localities connected to the I-GO car-sharing network.
The Eisenhower Expressway (formerly Congress Expressway ) on Interstate 290 is the main road link between Chicago and Oak Park. Oak Park has its own street numbering system similar to that in Chicago.
The cycling has in Oak Park has a long tradition. Augusta Boulevard, which runs through the village, is part of the Grand Illinois Trail and the start of the Illinois Prairie Path is right next door. Oak Park is known as one of the most bike-friendly communities in the Chicago area and has a large number of active cycling associations. The proximity to trails and the ancient tree-lined roads also attract cyclists from all over the region. Oak Park also has a taxi company that uses cycle rickshaws to transport people and offers guided tours.
District
Although Oak Park is located in a geographically limited area, the locality comprises completely different neighborhoods. The northern areas of Oak Parks, usually north of Lake Street, are traditionally the most affluent areas of the parish, including the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District . Actual mansions can be found in the northern section of Oak Parks, particularly on tree-lined Chicago Avenue and northern Oak Park Avenue . The area between Lake Street and Madison Street or the middle of Oak Park consists of different architectural styles and reflects different income levels; Buildings from the Victorian era in the 19th century alternate with smaller structures from the period after the Second World War . Oak Park south of Madison Street is commonly referred to as a lower income area with many smaller and less expensive houses. However, this is unfounded as this is where the Seward Gunderson Historic District is located, where some of the first homes of the 20th century were built.
Although there are several business districts in Oak Park, such as the I-290 section of Oak Park Avenue and Chicago Avenue in Harlem, the center of Oak Park is the most important commercial area. It is bounded to the west by Harlem Avenue , to the east by Oak Park Avenue and Euclid Avenue , to the south by South Boulevard and Pleasant Street, and to the north by Ontario Street. However, high taxes, traffic problems and other factors are causing vacancies to grow. Small independent mom and pop shops have closed and have been replaced by chain stores like Starbucks . There have been heated debates within the city administration about the reasons for and the possibilities for a solution.
Demographics
The United States Census 2000 counted 52,524 residents in 23,079 households and 12,970 families in Oak Park. The population density was 4,314.8 inhabitants / km². The number of residential units was 23,723, which corresponds to a density of 1,948.8 apartments / km².
The inhabitants passed in 2000 to 68.78% of whites , 22.44% African American , 0.15% Native American , 4.15% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 1.63% from other races , and 2.82% from two or more races. 4.52% of the population stated in the census to be Hispanic or Latinos .
Children under the age of 18 lived in 29.5% of households and married couples lived together in 41.1% of households, 11.6% of households had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.8% of households were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone age 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 2.26 people and the average family consisted of 3.06 people.
Of the population, 24.2% were less than 18 years old, 6.7% were in the 18 to 24 age group, 35.2% were between 25 and 44 years old and 24.4% were between 45 and 64 years old. 9.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 women there were 86.9 men; For every 100 women over 18, there were 82.2 men.
The average income per household was 59,183 US $ and the median family income was 81,703 US $. The men had an average income of $ 51,807, compared with $ 40,847 for women. The per capita income was US $ 36,340. About 3.6% of families and 5.6% of the population are below the poverty line ; this affected 5.8% of those under 18 years of age and 7.9% of those aged 65 or over.
education
The eight public elementary schools and the two middle schools are operated by the Oak Park Elementary School District . Oak Park is also home to two high schools : Oak Park and River Forest High School (usually as OPRF known) - a public school, which is run jointly by the neighboring communities of Oak Park and River Forest - and Fenwick High School , a Catholic-supported college preparatory school run by Dominicans . Both high schools, which some see rivalries between, have long histories of high academic standards. OPRF, for example, impresses with an outstanding alumni (a traditional award for excellence), which has received, among others, the graduates Ernest Hemingway , Ray Kroc , Dan Castellaneta , actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , ballet ballerina Helene Alexopoulos and astronomer Chad Trujillo . OPRF is also one of the few high schools in the country that can propose students to the Cum Laude Society , one of seven such schools in the state of Illinois.
Architecture in Oak Park
Frank Lloyd Wright spent the first 20 of his 70-year career in Oak Park. He lived and worked in the parish between 1889 and 1909, planning numerous homes, including his own. Wright's earliest independent works can be found here, such as Winslow House (in the neighboring River Forest), but also the first examples of his Prairie Style houses . He also designed the Unity Temple , a Unitarian church building that was built between 1905 and 1908. Several well-known architects and artists such as Richard Bock , William Eugene Drummond , Marion Mahony Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin worked with Wright at the time in his studio in Oak Park and contributed their part to his work at the time. Many of Oak Park's buildings were designed by other Prairie School architects such as George W. Maher , Robert C. Spencer , John Van Bergen, and EE Roberts . In addition, various buildings in other architectural styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries are scattered across the city.
Attractions
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
- Oak Park Conservatory
- Unity Temple
- Oak Park and River Forest High School
Personalities
sons and daughters of the town
Personalities who have worked on site
Oak Park is the birthplace of psychologist Carl Rogers , writers Ernest Hemingway , Richard Bach , Edith Nash , Andrew Greeley and Agnes Newton Keith , and actors William Bishop , Bob Newhart and Betty White (from " Golden Girls "). Frank Lloyd Wright lived in Oak Park and some of the buildings he designed are spread across the city. Oak Park was also the hometown of the evangelical Christian and Zionist William Eugene Blackstone in the 19th century . Also from Oak Park are McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc , the gynecologist Kermit E. Krantz , the comedians Kathy Griffin and Judy Tenuta , the actors Thomas Lennon and Johnny Galecki , the journalist Dorothy Thompson , the director George Schaefer , the geochemist Wallace S. Broecker , the former head coach of the Denver Broncos , Mike Shanahan , the New York Archbishop Edward Egan , and Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger of the independent rock group the Fiery Furnaces , the novelist Carol Shields , the artist Leslie Erganian , screenwriter Jessica Bendinger and English voice of Homer Simpson , Dan Castellaneta .
The comic artist Chris Ware and Gene Ha also live in Oak Park, as the former " Frasier " actor John Mahoney , rocker Ben Weasel , astronaut Lee Archambault , and the host of NPR telecast " Wait Wait ... Don 't Tell Me! “ , Peter Sagal . Well-known previous residents include Tarzan inventor Edgar Rice Burroughs , chemist Percy Lavon Julian , entrepreneur Richard Sears , long-time owner of the Chicago Bears , George Halas , astronaut Joseph Kerwin , poet Charles Simic , rapper Ludacris , actor and filmmaker Kieran Brandon Ford ; television journalist, author and meteorologist Tim Joyce , cryptographer Bruce Schneier , journalist and screenwriter Charles MacArthur , mafiosi Sam Giancana and Tony Spilotro , astronomer Chad Trujillo , business writer Steven Levitt , director John Sturges and actor Mason Gamble .
Music bands
- The Fiery Furnaces (founded in 2000), indie rock band
Individual evidence
- ↑ Oak Park village history ( Memento of the original from January 24, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Accessed July 13, 2007
