Winnetka, Illinois
Template:Chicagoland municipality Winnetka is a village located approximately 19 mi (30 km) north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. It has a population of 12,419, with a high level of affluence. New Trier High School, a nationally renowned public school, is located in Winnetka.
History
The first houses were built in 1836, the first school in 1856. The village was incorporated in 1869 with a population of 450 by Charles Pack and Walter S. Gurnee, President of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.
The name Winnetka is claimed to have been found in a book, meaning beautiful land in a local Native American language. However, no language has been found with a word anything resembling both Winnetka and the definition.[1] Though a charming story, the name was most likely made up.
The oldest house in Winnetka is the Schmidt-Burnham House. It was relocated in the 2003 from its original location on Tower Road to the Crow Island Woods.[citation needed]
Claims to fame
- In 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke in Winnetka. A plaque dedicated to him is on the Village Green, a park in the town, where he spoke.Cite error: A
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(see the help page). 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.
Crow Island School received an award from the American Institute of Architects as the school most advanced in elementary school design in the United States soon after it opened. In 1956 Crow Island School was selected by fifty architects and scholars as 12th among all buildings and 1st among schools in the Architectural Record poll to name the "most significant buildings in the past 100 years of architecture in America." Also, in 1989 the State of Illinois and the United States Department of the Interior National Park Service listed Crow Island School in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Samuel Sewell Greeley School has a great student environment. Greeley is a square, so it's easy for students to get around. What makes Greeley have a great student environment is the Willouhby Woods, a small garden courtyard located in the center of the school. Willouhby Woods, which is a relaxing place, is great place to read, write or meditate. Greeley also has very high test scores.
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.
Private schools
- Faith, Hope & Charity School, (JK-8) Catholic school
- North Shore Country Day School, a private K-12 academy
- Sacred Heart School, (JK-8) Catholic school
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR 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 median income for a household in the village was $167,458, and the median income for a family was $200,000+. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $61,513 for females. In 2007, Winnetka was ranked by CNN Money as having the 4th highest average household income in the country. [2]
One of the more conservative suburbs of Chicago, Winnetka favored George W. Bush with 60% of the vote in 2000 and 2004.[citation needed]