River Forest, Illinois | |
---|---|
![]() River Forest Public Library | |
Nickname(s): RF, RoFo | |
![]() Location of River Forest in Cook County, Illinois. | |
Coordinates: 41°53′35″N87°49′3″W / 41.89306°N 87.81750°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Illinois |
County | Cook |
Township | River Forest |
Government | |
• Type | Village |
Area | |
• Total | 2.48 sq mi (6.43 km2) |
• Land | 2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2) |
• Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,794 |
• Density | 4,724.60/sq mi (1,824.37/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
ZIP Code(s) | 60305 |
Area code | 708 |
FIPS code | 17-64304 |
Wikimedia Commons | River Forest, Illinois |
Website | www |
River Forest is a suburban village adjacent to Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 11,717. [2] Two universities make their home in River Forest, Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago. The village is closely tied to the larger neighboring community of Oak Park. There are significant architectural designs located in River Forest such as the Winslow House by Frank Lloyd Wright. River Forest has a railroad station with service to Chicago on Metra's Union Pacific West Line.
The Native American history of the area is closely tied to the Des Plaines River and includes Menominee and Chippewa settlements near what is now the Desplaines Avenue and Roosevelt Road forest preserves of Cook County. The Menominees would eventually be driven out by the Potowatomi Nation in 1810. The Potawatomi were in turn pushed west of the Mississippi by the Treaty of Chicago of 1833. [3]
1831 saw the establishment of a steam sawmill on the east bank of the Des Plaines River. In 1842, the first planked road in what is now Lake Street was created. [3] The community was known as Noyesville at the time. In 1848 the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad completed construction of tracks westward from Chicago, and train service commenced in January 1849.
In the 1850s two families acquired land and drove development in the area. David Thatcher settled in what is now western River Forest and named that part of the community Thatcher. Henry Quick arrived from Harlem, New York and named the eastern part of Noyesville as well as Harlem Avenue after his home town. [3]
River Forest lies along the Des Plaines River to the west and is bordered by Illinois Route 43 to the east and Illinois Route 64 to the north. Along with the Des Plaines River, much of the western boundary of River Forest consists of the Thatcher Woods forest preserve of Cook County and the Des Plaines River Trail. According to the 2010 census, River Forest has a total area of 2.482 square miles (6.43 km2), of which 2.48 square miles (6.42 km2) (or 99.92%) is land and 0.002 square miles (0.01 km2) (or 0.08%) is water. [4]
Climate data for River Forest, Illinois | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32 (0) | 37.4 (3.0) | 48.2 (9.0) | 60.8 (16.0) | 71.6 (22.0) | 80.6 (27.0) | 84.2 (29.0) | 82.4 (28.0) | 77 (25) | 62.6 (17.0) | 50 (10) | 37.4 (3.0) | 60.4 (15.8) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.4 (−7.0) | 23 (−5) | 32 (0) | 41 (5) | 51.8 (11.0) | 62.6 (17.0) | 68 (20) | 66.2 (19.0) | 59 (15) | 46.4 (8.0) | 35.6 (2.0) | 24.8 (−4.0) | 44.2 (6.8) |
[ citation needed ] |
Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago are both located in River Forest.
There are two public elementary schools, Lincoln Elementary School and Willard Elementary School, and one public middle school, Roosevelt Middle School. The elementary and middle schools are in River Forest Public Schools District 90. River Forest shares a high school with Oak Park, known as Oak Park and River Forest High School, located in Oak Park. [5]
River Forest is home to two Catholic grade schools and one Lutheran grade school. St. Luke Parish and St. Vincent Ferrer School are Catholic schools, and Grace Lutheran School is Lutheran. All three enroll children from 3 years old through eighth grade. River Forest has one all-girls' secondary school, Trinity High School.
River Forest also has the Keystone Montessori School, established in 1994. It serves children 9 months of age to 8th grade as an alternative learning style for children. [6] It educates children using the philosophy of Maria Montessori.
The River Forest Public Library is located at 735 Lathrop Avenue.
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2022) |
The United States Postal Service operates the River Forest Post Office at 401 William Street. [7]
Metra operates a station in River Forest along the Union Pacific West Line at 8001 W. Central Avenue [8]
Pace runs routes 309 and 313 along Lake Street through River Forest, stopping a block from the Metra station. [9] [10] Pace also runs routes 307 and 318, with southbound busses driving on North Avenue (318 only) and Harlem Avenue on the edge of River Forest.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 1,539 | — | |
1910 | 2,456 | 59.6% | |
1920 | 4,358 | 77.4% | |
1930 | 8,829 | 102.6% | |
1940 | 9,487 | 7.5% | |
1950 | 10,823 | 14.1% | |
1960 | 12,695 | 17.3% | |
1970 | 13,402 | 5.6% | |
1980 | 12,392 | −7.5% | |
1990 | 11,669 | −5.8% | |
2000 | 11,635 | −0.3% | |
2010 | 11,172 | −4.0% | |
2020 | 11,717 | 4.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 2010 [12] 2020 [13] |
As of the 2020 census [14] there were 11,717 people, 4,040 households, and 2,754 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,720.79 inhabitants per square mile (1,822.71/km2). There were 4,266 housing units at an average density of 1,718.78 per square mile (663.62/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 72.91% White, 7.51% African American, 0.12% Native American, 8.01% Asian, 2.70% from other races, and 8.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.46% of the population.
There were 4,040 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.69% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.83% were non-families. 31.83% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.32% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 2.47.
The village's age distribution consisted of 25.4% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $125,288, and the median income for a family was $193,171. Males had a median income of $116,643 versus $57,703 for females. The per capita income for the village was $79,929. About 1.3% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 [12] | Pop 2020 [13] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 9,050 | 8,308 | 81.01% | 70.91% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 733 | 869 | 6.56% | 7.42% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 4 | 9 | 0.04% | 0.08% |
Asian alone (NH) | 505 | 932 | 4.52% | 7.95% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 0 | 0.02% | 0.00% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 38 | 93 | 0.34% | 0.79% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 170 | 515 | 1.52% | 4.40% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 670 | 991 | 6.00% | 8.46% |
Total | 11,172 | 11,717 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
River Forest is perhaps best known for the diversity of early 20th century American residential architectural styles including several Frank Lloyd Wright designs and others within the Prairie School. The Winslow House and the River Forest Tennis Club are most notable for Frank Lloyd Wright's early styles.
River Forest hosted the 2016 Little League Baseball Illinois State Tournament at Keystone Park.
2019 Little League Illinois State Baseball Champions [15]
For 18 years, the neighborhood has hosted a yearly 9/11 Lemon-Aid stand on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae which donates all proceeds to local charities. The first year, the event raised $400 for Hepzibah Children's Association. Last year, $36,000 was raised for Kidz Express. To date, $323,000 has been donated by the event. [16]
Every year, the Rotary Club of Oak Park River Forest hosts the Food Truck Rally in Keystone Park that donates all net proceeds to local charities. The event includes 10 trucks with sweet, savory, and beer trucks; a live music stage; and a family activities area. [17]
Brookfield is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located 13 miles (21 km) west of downtown Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 19,476. The city is home to the Brookfield Zoo.
Deer Park is a village in Lake and Cook Counties, Illinois. Per the 2020 census, the population was 3,681. The village is one of the few left in the Chicago area that enjoy a green belt which is bordered by two large natural areas providing outdoor recreation and open space. The village is home to popular shopping and dining destinations: Deer Park Town Center and the Town Center Promenade. The town is also home to the Vehe Farm, an Illinois Centennial Farm.
Des Plaines is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 60,675. The city is a suburb of Chicago and is located just north of O'Hare International Airport. It is situated on and is named after the Des Plaines River, which runs through the city just east of its downtown area.
Flossmoor is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,704 at the 2020 census. Flossmoor is approximately 24 miles south of The Loop/Downtown Chicago. It is closely tied to neighboring Homewood, sharing a high school and park district.
Franklin Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,467 at the 2020 census, up from 18,333 at the 2010 census. It was named for real estate broker Lesser Franklin who bought acres of the area when it was a majority of farming fields.
Golf is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, incorporated in 1928. As of the 2020 census, the village had a population of 514. The community is primarily residential, and has a dedicated police department, post office, and Metra train stop.
Harvey is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 20,324 at the 2020 census.
Hazel Crest is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,382 at the 2020 census.
Matteson is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,073 at the 2020 census. It is a suburb of Chicago.
Northfield is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located approximately 19 miles (31 km) north of downtown Chicago. As of the 2020 census, the village's population was 5,751. It is part of a collection of upscale residential communities north of Chicago that belong to New Trier and Northfield Townships and the greater North Shore.
Oak Forest is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The city is out 24 miles (39 km) south-southwest of downtown Chicago in Bremen Township. Per the 2020 census, the population was 27,478.
Palos Park is a village in southwestern Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 4,899.
River Grove is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,612 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Riverside is a suburban village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population of the village was 9,298 at the 2020 census. It is a suburb of Chicago, located roughly 9 miles (14 km) west of downtown Chicago and 2 miles (3 km) outside city limits. A significant portion of the village is in the Riverside Landscape Architecture District, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
Summit is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,161 at the 2020 census. The name Summit, in use since 1836, refers to the highest point on the Chicago Portage between the northeast-flowing Chicago River and the southwest-flowing Des Plaines River located just north of the city.
University Park is a village in Will County with a small portion in Cook County in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is a south suburb of Chicago. The village is one of the region's few planned communities; it was developed in the 1960s as Wood Hill, then Park Forest South, and finally University Park. Governors State University was established in the village in 1969. The village population was 7,145 at the 2020 census.
Worth is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 10,970.
Glen Ellyn is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. A suburb located 24 miles (39 km) due west of downtown Chicago, the village has a population of 28,846 as of the 2020 Census.
Lake Villa is a village in Lake County, Illinois United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 8,741. Lake Villa lies within Lake Villa Township and about 50 miles north of Chicago and is part of the United States Census Bureau's Chicago combined statistical area (CSA).
Libertyville is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States, and a northern suburb of Chicago. It is located 5 miles (8 km) west of Lake Michigan along the Des Plaines River. The 2020 census population was 20,579. It is part of Libertyville Township, which includes the village, neighboring Green Oaks, and portions of Vernon Hills, Mundelein, unincorporated Waukegan and Lake Forest, and part of Knollwood CDP. Libertyville neighbors these communities as well as Gurnee to the north and Grayslake to the northwest. Libertyville is about 40 miles north of the Chicago Loop and is part of the United States Census Bureau's Chicago combined statistical area (CSA).