Western Springs, Illinois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Western Springs | |
| Village | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| Township | Unknown |
| Coordinates | |
| Density | 4,756.7 /sq mi (1,837 /km²) |
| Timezone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | XXXXX |
| Area code | 708 |
   Location of Western Springs within Illinois
|
|
| Wikimedia Commons: Western Springs, Illinois | |
Western Springs is an affluent suburb of Chicago located in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 12,493. It is twinned with the town of Rugeley, England.
In November, 2007, BusinessWeek.com listed Western Springs second in a list of the 50 best places to raise children.[1] The rankings were based on five factors, including school test scores, cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, number of schools and risk of crime. Western Springs ranked behind Groesbeck, Ohio.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Western Springs is located at 41°48'20" North, 87°54'4" West (41.805531, -87.901035)[2].
Western Springs is located 15 miles west of the Loop, and encompasses roughly the area between Willow Springs Road, Ogden Avenue, Interstate 294 and Plainfield Road.
According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2000 the village had a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²). 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
On March 21, 2005, the Village of Western Springs annexed the former Timber Trails golf course which is now being developed into a new community of single-family homes and townhomes. The property added 105.9 acres to the village which converts to approximately .17 square miles.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 12,493 people, 4,318 households, and 3,614 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,756.7 people per square mile (1,834.1/km²). There were 4,444 housing units at an average density of 1,692.0/sq mi (652.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.32% White, 0.18% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The top five ancentries reported in Western Springs as of the 2000 census were Irish (29.9%), German (27.8%), Polish (13.8%), Italian (13.5%) and English (9.0%).[4]
There were 4,318 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $98,876, and the median income for a family was $108,870. Males had a median income of $82,580 versus $41,214 for females. The per capita income for the village was $43,699. 0.9% of the population and 0.7% of families were below the poverty line. 1.0% of those under the age of 18 and 1.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
[edit] Economics
Western Springs has long been a wealthy town. It is ranked #74 on the list of highest-income places with populations over 1,000.[5] It is ranked #38 on the list of Illinois locations listed by per capita income. [6]
[edit] Tear-Downs
Like most western suburbs in the area, a number of Western Springs' older homes have been renovated or replaced with expensive housing.
[edit] Government
Western Springs' village president is Jack Lynch. Western Springs is in Illinois' 3rd congressional district.
[edit] Area organizations
American Association of University Women
Boy Scouts of America
Campfire Boys and Girls
4-H Tower Town
Girl Scouts of Praire Winds
Home School Council
Interfaith Community Partners
Job's Daughters Kiwanis Club of Western Springs
Lyons Township Office
Old Town Northwest Association
Parents Without Partners
Proviso Township Office
Ridgewood Civic Association
Rotary Club of Western Springs
Springdale Civic Association
Theatre of Western Springs - Website
Veterans of Foreign War
Village Club of Western Springs
West Suburban Chamber of Commerce
Western Springs Garden Club
Western Springs Business Association
Western Springs Children's Museum
Western Springs Community Center Assoc.
Western Springs Fire and Rescue
Western Springs Historical Society
Western Springs Historical Society Archives
Western Springs Masonic Temple
Western Springs Women's Club
Western Springs V.F.W.
[edit] Schools
The Village of Western Springs is served by two elementary school districts, and 1 high school district.
Western Springs School District 101 has 4 schools which are Field Park, Forest Hills, and Laidlaw Elementary Schools all serve K-5 students , and McClure Junior High which serves students in grades 6-8. Other students attend schools in La Grange Highlands School District 106 which has 2 schools. La Grange Highlands Elementary which serves K-5 students, and La Grange Highlands Middle School for grade 6-8 students.
High school students then move onto Lyons Township High School District 204 which is made up of 2 two year campuses. Freshmen and Sophmores attend the South Campus in Western Springs, and Juniors and Seniors attend the North Campus in LaGrange.
St.John of The Cross Catholic school offers Parochial education to students from pre-school to grade 8. Some high school students may then attend Nazareth Academy in nearby LaGrange Park.
[edit] Parks
Ridge Acres Park
Ridgewood Park
Laidlaw Park
Spring Rock Park
Springdale Park
Forest Hills Park
Clarke Park
Northwest Park
Northeast Park
Field Park
[edit] Hospitals
Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital (3 miles from downtown western springs)
Adventist Hinsdale Hospital (4 miles from downtown western springs)
[edit] Transportation
The BNSF Railway runs through Western Springs. Daily commuter service on that line, connecting Aurora and Chicago, is provided by Metra.
A new train station was built in 2004-2005. The new station is a virtual replica of a train station that was demolished in 1972. Some residents questioned the necessity of building new stations in 1972 and 2004 as in both cases, the older train station was completely functional.
[edit] Notable people associated with Western Springs
- Melinda Culea - actress
- James Young, (aka: James "J.Y." Young) - Guitarist for the band STYX
- Billy Graham - Christian evangelist
- David Hasselhoff - actor
- John Hattendorf - maritime historian
- Dan Lipinski - U.S. Congressman
- Ellmore Patterson - co-founder of Warner-Patterson Co. and sports promoter
- George Beverly Shea - gospel singer with Billy Graham.
- Steve Dahl - Radio Personality, also responsible for the infamous "Disco sucks" campaign/Disco Demolition Night promotional event at Comiskey Park, located in Chicago, Illinois, in 1979.
[edit] Histories
- Western Springs, 1886-1986: A Centennial History of the Village (Western Springs Historical Society, 1986)
- Western Springs: 19th Century Houses and Their Owners (Western Springs Historical Society) (1978)
[edit] References
- ^ Newton, Diana (2007-12-06), “Deerfield great place to live”, Deerfield Review: 5, 12, <http://www.pioneerlocal.com/deerfield/news/682814,de-best-120607-s1.article>
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Profile of General Demographic Characteristics, Western Springs, IllinoisPDF (38.8 KiB). U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed 2007-04-07.
- ^ [1] Highest Income Places in the United States
- ^ [2] Illinois locations by Per Capita Income
[edit] External links
- Western Springs, Illinois is at coordinates Coordinates:
