Robbins, Illinois

Robbins, Illinois
County:	Cook
Township:	Bremen
Incorporated:	Village, 1917
Mayor:	Irene H. Brodie
ZIP code(s):	60472
Area code(s):	708
Population (2000):	6,635
Change from 1990:	down 11.51%
Density:	4,516.0/mi² (1,742.7/km²)
Area:	1.5 mi² (3.8 km²)
Per capita income:	$9,837 (median: $24,145)
Home value:	$65,609 (2000) (median: $55,300)
Website:	www.robbins-il.com
Demographics (2000) White Black Hispanic Asian 1.82% 96.25% 1.94% 0.08% Islander Native Other 0.00% 0.12% 0.93%

Robbins is a village in Cook County, Illinois. The population was 6,635 at the 2000 census. Irene H. Brodie is the current mayor of the city.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 6,635 people, 1,985 households, and 1,490 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,516.0 people per square mile (1,742.7/km²). There were 2,138 housing units at an average density of 1,455.2 per square mile (561.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 1.82% White, 96.25% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.93% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.

There were 1,985 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.1% were married couples living together, 40.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% 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 3.63.

In the village the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $24,145, and the median income for a family was $27,602. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $22,574 for females. The per capita income for the village was $9,837. About 30.2% of families and 35.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.3% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Robbins is in Illinois' 1st congressional district.

Transportation

Robbins is served by station on Metra's Rock Island District commuter rail line. Robbins is served by many PACE bus routes with important terminate such as Midway International Airport, UPS's Hodgkins Center, CTA's 95th Street Red Line Station, and Moraine Valley Community College.

Interstate 294 runs through Robbins, but it has no exits within the village limits. Access to Interstates 57 and 294 are within a five- eight minute drive.

Midway International Airport is within a 15- 20 minute drive. Also home to MDW's southern approach radar tower. O' Hare International Airport is within a 30-45 minute drive via Interstate 294 using the IL-50/ 83 Cicero Exit.

During the years 1930-1933, Robbins Airport, the first to be owned and operated by African Americans in the United States, was located here. It had the only flight school at the time where African Americans could be trained as pilots. It served as a model for the Tuskegee Airmen Program during WW II. Many great African-American pilots flew into this forgotten airport. the surrounding White communities, such as Blue Island and Midlothian, did not approve of this activity, and their police sometimes arrested black pilots after they had landed in Robbins. The one runway airport and hangar were destroyed by a tornado in 1933. School and operations were relocated by the invitation of white owners of the Harlem Airport in Chicago (it was located south of present-day Midway International Airport). From there many of the flight school instructors entered the Tuskegee Airmen Program. One notable instructor was John C. Robinson, who entered WWII as Supreme Commander of The Ethiopian Air Force. The activities of these men and women have been recognized by the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum.^{[citation needed]}

Notable natives and residents

• Cornel Darden Jr. - Researcher, Historian, and Librarian
• Nichelle Nichols - Born Grace Nichols in Robbins, best known for playing Uhura in Star Trek.
• Dwyane Wade - NBA basketball player for the Miami Heat. Wade mentions his hometown in a Converse commercial.
• Keke Palmer - Actress and singer, best known for the Nickelodeon show True Jackson VP
• Guy Black- Award-winning Radio Broadcasting Legend, Voice Over Pro. Ebony Magazine Singles Issue, Head of Operations for Foxxhole International Radio Network.
• Michon Ellis- Managing Director- LimeGreen Productions, LLC, Former McDonald's Corporation Director of Global Communications
• Joe Montgomery- Former professional American football running back for three seasons in the NFL for the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers
• Bessie Coleman and Cornelius Coffey - Founders of the Robbins Airport, an operations center for black aviation in the North.
• Michael A. Thomas, M.D. - Gynecologist, noted fertility specialist, prolific researcher in the field of contraception. Physician, professor, lecturer, author, and researcher at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
• SB Fuller - American Businessman
• Jan Bradley - 1960s R&B singer who had a hit with "Mama Didn't Lie"
• Shawn Wiggins- former wide receiver for Cleveland Browns
• James Loving-former wide receiver for Philadelphia Eagles

History of Robbins

Robbins was incorporated in 1917. The city's first mayor was Thomas J. Kellar. The citizens of the unincorporated area of Cook County known as Robbins, Illinois; sought to protect their property from the citizens of surrounding towns and also to provide the necessary public services required by a growing settlement. Thoma J. Kellar having worked at the Markham court house was tasked with investigating the procedures of incorporation.