Elmwood Park, Illinois

For other places with the same name, see Elmwood Park (disambiguation).

Elmwood Park, Illinois
—  Village  —
Elmwood Park
Coordinates: 41°55′21″N 87°48′56″W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
Township	Leyden
Incorporated	1914
Government
• Type	Council-manager
• President	Peter N. Silvestri
Area
• Total	1.91 sq mi (4.9 km2)
• Land	1.91 sq mi (4.9 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.0 km2)  0%
Population (2010)
• Total	24,883
• Density	13,027.7/sq mi (5,030.0/km2)
Standard of living (2009-11)
• Per capita income	$26,133
• Median home value	$241,400
Area code(s)	708
Geocode	23724
Website	www.elmwoodpark.org

Saint Celestine Catholic Parish in Elmwood Park

Elmwood Park is a village bordering the northwest side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 24,883 at the 2010 census. The community has long maintained a large Italian-American population, with a more recent influx of Polish-American and Hispanic residents. One of Elmwood Park's most notable establishments is Johnnie's Beef, which is known for its Italian-style beef sandwiches.

Government

Peter N. Silvestri has presided as village president since May 1, 1989.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the village has a total area of 1.91 square miles (4.9 km²), all land.

History

Elmwood Park was incorporated as a village in 1914.

The emerald ash borer has been in the village since 2008, and Elmwood Park might lose its Centennial Green & White Ash trees just as the Village is gearing up for its 100th year of incorporation anniversary in 2014. Out of all the native tree types planted by the village's early settlers 90 to 140 years ago, American Ash is the sole surviving tree species. Ash trees found with ages of 30 to 50 years were planted in replacement of the village's namesake Elm's when they succumbed to Dutch elm disease in the 1960s and 1970s. So for the second time in fifty years, citizens are again preparing for the devastation of their green parkway's. Unlike the Elm's DED which had no cure when the disaster hit years ago, this time for the Ash, Scientists had discovered the first effective working insecticide only six years after they first identified the EAB in 2002. Now thirteen years after the EAB was discovered, there is four different insecticides to choose from. Even now Scientists know that unlike Elm's disease that is still virulently killing trees today, the glutinous EAB will die off from no more ash tree food within 12 years of it's first discovery to an area. Effects of this man-assisted "Extinction event" will take its greatest toll on bordering Cook County Forest Preserves, because when forest was allowed to reclaim the farm fields 70 years ago, and again when dead elm made new areas available, the local ash trees took advantage of situation by germinating larger populations over other native trees like oak, Hackberry, Shagbark Hickory, Silver maple and Black walnut. Sources of information: eabinfo.com & The monthly news letter of Elmwood Park 6/2013.^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,405 people, 9,858 households, and 6,525 families residing in the village. The population density was 13,328.4 people per square mile (5,135.6/km²). There were 10,150 housing units at an average density of 5,325.1 per square mile (2,051.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.54% White, 0.52% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.31% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.01% of the population.

There were 9,858 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the village the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $47,315, and the median income for a family was $58,358. Males had a median income of $40,634 versus $28,667 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,526. About 3.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Elmwood Park's public schools are operated under Illinois Community Unit School District #401. The schools include:

High school

• Elmwood Park High School

Middle school

• Elm Middle School

Elementary schools

• John Mills Elementary School
• Elmwood Elementary School
• Early Childhood Center

Transportation

Elmwood Park is accessible via the Elmwood Park station on Metra's Milwaukee District/West Line, which provides daily rail service between Elgin, Illinois, and Chicago Union Station.

Sister city

• Frosinone, Lazio, Italy (from 1996)

Notable people

• Val Belmonte, college hockey coach, CCHA Coach of the Year, current Vice President of Athletics at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut^{[citation needed]}
• Lee Loughnane, founding member of the rock band Chicago
• Ray Nitschke, linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Peter N. Silvestri, Cook County politician and Elmwood Park Village President

External links

• Village of Elmwood Park official website
• Elmwood Park Public Library
• Elmwood Park Public Library Local History Blog
• Fifty Years of Life in Elmwood Park, at Illinois Digital Archives
• Eppllocalhistory Photostream at Flickr.com
• Elmwood Park Community Unit School District #401
• Elmwood Park Neighborhood Civic Organization
• St. Celestine Parish
• Elmwood Park Pony Baseball and Softball
• City Data