العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolOAK FOREST, ILLINOIS
:''This Oak Forest is the city in Illinois. For the Houston, Texas neighborhood, see Oak Forest (Houston).''
'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.
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 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.
Oak Forest is located at (41.607583, -87.750575).
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 known as Chicagoland. It is mostly surrounded by Cook County Forest Preserves (hence the name), but it is not completely isolated from the rest of Chicago Southland by more than a mile 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 northwest.
As of the 2000 census, 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.
The top five ancentries 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%).[1]
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.
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 sizeable 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.
Nationally, Oak Forest is part of Illinois' 1st congressional district (with the exception of some very small areas totaling under 1/20 mi² at its southeast edge, which are in the 2nd 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. Her father, Bernard J. Kelly, was mayor from 1968 to 1972.
In early August 2007, longtime Oak Forest maintenance worker Don Hall Jr.'s employment with the city was terminated. 10 years prior he was changed to light duty maintenance work after injuring his hand while repairing a water main under an agreement reached with the city, its attorneys and Hall. Hall was terminated when it was revealed to the new Director of Public Works and City Administrator that he could not perform overtime duties under the city's union contract.
The city then eliminated Hall's position, claiming his employment was unnecessary and that they did not have proof of any agreement made between Hall and the city. Hall provided documents from the city attorneys from arbitration sessions where the city claimed it did not need any additional light duty maintenance work because Hall is filling this role.
The city found this to be inadequate documentation and proceeded with termination.[2][3]
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, Baseball fields, 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/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. 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 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.
In early 2007, Mayor JoAnn Kelly announced plans for a controversial "Gateway Project", consisting of removing the parking from the train station at 159th & Cicero Avenue and replacing it with commercial establishments such as "condominium buildings and then you’ve got sandwich shops and a video store", according to Kelly. The train station parking lot is to be relocated south of the actual train station across Cicero Avenue, West of King Heating & Air Conditioning. [4]
This plan comes to the detriment of those living Southeast and Northeast of the train station, as they say, as it becomes far more difficult for them to park their cars every day having to traverse Cicero Avenue and 159th Street. These streets are already congested in the morning time without a large commercial development.
Two other points brought up by Oak Forest residents include the undue stress this may put on the already hurting Pace Bus service, as parking spaces will decrease. Pace already does not service south of 159th street which creates a large offset of residents who must drive to the train station to get to work every day.
Residents are also asking why this "Gateway Project" is not to be located South of 159th Street. Kelly responded in a letter to residents that due to situations of traffic flow, this is not optimal. Residents recall just months prior to the letter that the sole occupier of the land South of 159th Street, King Heating & Air Conditioning was forced to remove its iconic advertising statue of the Tin Man from its roof due to enforcement from the City. The statue had been on the building for 35 years. King Heating & Air Conditioning owner Tim Wilson said of this event, "They just don’t want the tin man up there, and I don’t think they want King Heating in Oak Forest." This is leading Oak Forest residents to speculate that after this debacle, Kelly was unable to negotiate a purchase of the land South of 159th Street, causing the relocation of the Metra train parking lot.
[5]
1. Profile of Selected Social Characteristics, Oak Forest, Illinois. U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed 2007-07-11.
2. http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/510933,dst_oakforest_815.article
3. http://www.oak-forest1.org/page4.html
4. http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/homes/news/514876,oakforest19.article
5. http://www.snipsmag.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000130846
★ City of Oak Forest
★ Oak Forest High School
'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.
| Contents |
| History |
| Geography |
| Demographics |
| Name confusion and notable places |
| Politics |
| Don Hall Jr. Firing |
| Transportation |
| Gateway Project |
| References |
| External links |
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 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.
Geography
Oak Forest is located at (41.607583, -87.750575).
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 known as Chicagoland. It is mostly surrounded by Cook County Forest Preserves (hence the name), but it is not completely isolated from the rest of Chicago Southland by more than a mile 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 northwest.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, 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.
The top five ancentries 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%).[1]
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.
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 sizeable 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.
Politics
Nationally, Oak Forest is part of Illinois' 1st congressional district (with the exception of some very small areas totaling under 1/20 mi² at its southeast edge, which are in the 2nd 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. Her father, Bernard J. Kelly, was mayor from 1968 to 1972.
Don Hall Jr. Firing
In early August 2007, longtime Oak Forest maintenance worker Don Hall Jr.'s employment with the city was terminated. 10 years prior he was changed to light duty maintenance work after injuring his hand while repairing a water main under an agreement reached with the city, its attorneys and Hall. Hall was terminated when it was revealed to the new Director of Public Works and City Administrator that he could not perform overtime duties under the city's union contract.
The city then eliminated Hall's position, claiming his employment was unnecessary and that they did not have proof of any agreement made between Hall and the city. Hall provided documents from the city attorneys from arbitration sessions where the city claimed it did not need any additional light duty maintenance work because Hall is filling this role.
The city found this to be inadequate documentation and proceeded with termination.[2][3]
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, Baseball fields, 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/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. 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 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.
Gateway Project
In early 2007, Mayor JoAnn Kelly announced plans for a controversial "Gateway Project", consisting of removing the parking from the train station at 159th & Cicero Avenue and replacing it with commercial establishments such as "condominium buildings and then you’ve got sandwich shops and a video store", according to Kelly. The train station parking lot is to be relocated south of the actual train station across Cicero Avenue, West of King Heating & Air Conditioning. [4]
This plan comes to the detriment of those living Southeast and Northeast of the train station, as they say, as it becomes far more difficult for them to park their cars every day having to traverse Cicero Avenue and 159th Street. These streets are already congested in the morning time without a large commercial development.
Two other points brought up by Oak Forest residents include the undue stress this may put on the already hurting Pace Bus service, as parking spaces will decrease. Pace already does not service south of 159th street which creates a large offset of residents who must drive to the train station to get to work every day.
Residents are also asking why this "Gateway Project" is not to be located South of 159th Street. Kelly responded in a letter to residents that due to situations of traffic flow, this is not optimal. Residents recall just months prior to the letter that the sole occupier of the land South of 159th Street, King Heating & Air Conditioning was forced to remove its iconic advertising statue of the Tin Man from its roof due to enforcement from the City. The statue had been on the building for 35 years. King Heating & Air Conditioning owner Tim Wilson said of this event, "They just don’t want the tin man up there, and I don’t think they want King Heating in Oak Forest." This is leading Oak Forest residents to speculate that after this debacle, Kelly was unable to negotiate a purchase of the land South of 159th Street, causing the relocation of the Metra train parking lot.
[5]
References
1. Profile of Selected Social Characteristics, Oak Forest, Illinois. U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed 2007-07-11.
2. http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/510933,dst_oakforest_815.article
3. http://www.oak-forest1.org/page4.html
4. http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/homes/news/514876,oakforest19.article
5. http://www.snipsmag.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000130846
External links
★ City of Oak Forest
★ Oak Forest High School
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
Featured Companies
| Golf Holidays International |
