Winnetka, Illinois

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Winnetka, Illinois
County: Cook
Township: New Trier
President: Edmund C. Woodbury
ZIP code(s): 60093
Area code(s): 847 and 224
Population (2000): 12,419
Density: 3,242.7/mi² (1,252.0/km²)
Area: 3.9 mi² (10.2 km²)
Per capita income: $92,956
(median: $277,371 per household)
Home value: $1,397,240 (2008)
(median: $1,532,440 (2008))
Website: www.villageofwinnetka.org
Demographics[1]
White Black Hispanic Asian
96.29% 0.2% 1.3% 2.4%
Islander Native Other
0.0% 0.0% 0.3%
Winnetka Village Hall
Tower Road Beach in Winnetka
Christ Church in Winnetka

Winnetka is a very affluent village located approximately 19 miles (31 km) north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. With a population of 12,419, 29.92% of Winnetka households (1,194 total households) had an income level above $500,000 in 2008. [2]

Winnetka is located at 42°6′22″N 87°44′16″W / 42.10611°N 87.73778°W / 42.10611; -87.73778Coordinates: 42°6′22″N 87°44′16″W / 42.10611°N 87.73778°W / 42.10611; -87.73778 (42.106227, -87.73801).[3]. Winnetka is located 198m (650ft) above sea level and has a magnetic declination of 3° 10' W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10 km2), of which 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.26 km2) (2.30%) is water.

Contents

[edit] History

The first houses were built in 1836. That year Erastus Patterson and his family arrived from Vermont and opened a tavern to service passengers on the Green Bay Trail post road. The village was first subdivided in 1854 by Charles Peck and Walter S. Gurnee, President of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Winnetka's first school opened in 1856. The town was incorporated in 1869 with a population of 450.

The oldest surviving house in Winnetka is the Schmidt-Burnham House. It was relocated in the 2003 from its previous location on Tower Road to the Crow Island Woods.[4]

The Crow Island School, designed by Eero Saarinen, was declared a National Landmark in 1990. It was declared 12th among all buildings and the best architectural design of all schools. 10,000 people showed up for the opening in 1938.

[edit] Claims to fame

[edit] Schools

The Winnetka Public Schools system (District 36) consists of three elementary schools and two middle schools.[6] Hubbard Woods, Crow Island, and Samuel Sewall Greeley Elementary Schools serve grades kindergarten through four. Students in fifth and sixth grades attend The Skokie School. Seventh and eighth graders attend Washburne School, named after educator Carleton Washburne.

Winnetka's schools were modeled after Washburne's educational philosophy in an experiment called the Winnetka Plan. The town's schools continue to reflect his educational philosophy.

Winnetka is in New Trier Township, and public school students who reside in Winnetka attend New Trier High School for grades 9 through 12.

[edit] Private schools

[edit] Notable residents

  • American actor Rock Hudson was born in Winnetka in 1925.
  • The four siblings who make up the Ying Quartet were born in Winnetka.
  • Former The Price is Right host Bob Barker lived in Winnetka for three years of his childhood.[citation needed]
  • Tom Cruise lived in Winnetka for a short time in his childhood.
  • Pat Ryan, the founder and executive chairman of Aon Corporation, lives in Winnetka.
  • Jenny Sanford, First Lady of South Carolina.
  • Chris O'Donnell, actor known for playing Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin (1997)
  • Sarah Churchwell, Academic,journalist and literary critic. Senior Lecturer of American Literature at University Of East Anglia in England. Author of "The Many Lives Of Marilyn Monroe". Often seen on the BBC's Newsnight Review programme. Writes for newspapers like TLS, The Independent and The Observer amongst others. Has been known to show up on "Big Brother's Little Brother", a Channel 4 entertainment show that runs alongside Big Brother and talks about whats been going on in the house.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 12,419 people, 4,162 households, and 3,433 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,242.7 people per square mile (1,252.0/km2). There were 4,310 housing units at an average density of 1,125.4/sq mi (434.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.29% White, 0.25% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,162 households out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the village the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The average income for a household in the village was $277,371 and the median income for a family was $200,000+. [8] In 2007, Winnetka was ranked by CNN Money as having the 4th highest median household income in the country. [9]. The 2008 CNN Money Top 25 Highest Earning Towns rankings failed to mention Winnetka due to an increase in the minimum population requirements.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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