Park Forest Illinois IL Warrant Search

Park Forest, Illinois Park Forest is a village located south of Chicago in Cook County and Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 23,462. Park Forest is bordered by Olympia Fields to the north, Chicago Heights to the east, University Park to the south, and Richton Park and Matteson to the west. History Developers Nathan Manilow, Carroll F. Sweet and Philip M. Klutznick held a press conference in the Palmer House in Chicago on October 28, 1946 to announce the planned development of a new self-governing community in Chicago's south suburbs. This project, soon to be referred to as Park Forest, was to be developed by American Community Builders (ACB). The Village of Park Forest was designed by Elbert Peets in the tradition of planned communities around the nation to provide housing for veterans returning from World War II.Studs Terkel, in his oral history of World War II, 'The Good War,' (Pantheon Books, NY, 1984) says Park Forest and other such middle-class suburbs grew out of the new prosperity after the War. First he quotes an unnamed GI, 'The war changed our whole idea of how we wanted to live when we came back. We set our sights pretty high. . . . I am now what you'd call middle class.' Terkel goes on: 'The suburb, until [about 1946], had been the exclusive domain of the 'upper class.' It was where the rich lived. The rest of us were neighborhood folk. At war's end, a new kind of suburb came into being. . . . Thanks to the GI bill, two new names were added to American folksay: Levittown and Park Forest.'A new middle class had emerged. Until now, the great many, even before the Depression, had had to scuffle from one payday to the next. . . . [Before there had only been one] car on the block. Now everybody was getting a car. Oh, it was exciting. (Terkel, p. 12)'Park Forest was honored in 1954 as an 'All-America City' for its citizens' help in the creation of Rich Township High School, on Sauk Trail. It was awarded this same honor again in 1976 for open housing and racial integration and initiatives. A village landmark was the Park Forest Plaza, an outdoor regional shopping center of over 50 stores and restaurants which included Sears, Marshall Fields and Goldblatt's.In 1956, William Whyte, an editor at Fortune magazine, published a book called The Organization Man that defined the nature of corporate life for a generation. The book described how America (whose people, he said, had 'led in the public worship of individualism') had recently turned into a nation of employees who 'take the vows of organization life' and who had become 'the dominant members of our society'. Park Forest was one of the communities that figured most prominently in Whyte's study of the home life of 'the organization man,' and should be read by anyone seeking an insight into early Park Forest. Although officially desegregated from its inception, Park Forest's first African-American family took residence there in 1959.Park Forest is known for the 'Scenic 10,' a 10-mile race held annually on Labor Day that attracts runners from around the globe. In 2008, the race was shortened to a five-mile course to attract more local runners and renamed the 'Scenic Five.' On March 26, 2003, a meteor exploded over the Midwest, showering Park Forest with dozens of meteorite fragments. These fragments are currently on display at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. For further reading see Park Forest (meteorite). Geography Park Forest is located at 41°29′2″ North, 87°41′13″ West (41.483979, -87.687054).According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.8 km²), of which, 4.9 square miles (12.8 km²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water. The village is generally bounded by U.S. Highway 30 on the north, Western Avenue (Chicago) on the east, Central Park Avenue on the west and Thorn Creek on the south. Parts of Park Forest are east of Western Avenue, however. Park Forest is bisected by the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway double track main line. Transportation Metra operates commuter railroad service to downtown Chicago. Stations bordering Park Forest include the 211th Street (Lincoln Highway) (Metra) and Matteson (Metra) stations on the Metra Electric Line, which runs parallel to the Canadian National Railway (former Illinois Central) but on its own closely adjacent tracks. Topography The village is actually quite hilly. This is especially evident in the Forest Preserves scattered around and near the village. The land is characteristic of steep ravines and hills. Also, near or bordering the village is Sauk Lake, bordered by steep, sandy bluffs on each side. The village borders the Valparaiso Moraine. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 23,462 people, 9,138 households, and 6,186 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,763.6 people per square mile (1,837.5/km²). There were 9,470 housing units at an average density of 1,922.7/sq mi (741.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 55.42% White, 39.41% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.54% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. 4.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 9,138 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.In the village the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.The median income for a household in the village was $47,579, and the median income for a family was $55,801. Males had a median income of $41,970 versus $31,063 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,493. 6.7% of the population and 5.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.5% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Government Park Forest is in Illinois' 2nd congressional district. Arts & Culture Illinois Theatre Center Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Na'ama Rose Dance Center eNews Park Forest Notable Park Foresters Janna Allen- Songwriter Tom Berenger- Actor (born Thomas Michael Moore) Etel Billig- Actress and Drama Faculty who co-founded theIllinois Theatre Center Steve Billig- Actor and co-founder of theIllinois Theatre Center Chris Bury- Journalist and ABC Nightline Correspondent Stuart Chen-Hayes- Associate Professor of Counselor Education, City University of New York/Lehman College and co-founder,Counselors for Social Justice John N. Cook- Author Stephen Cook- Attorney and founder of theCenter For Consumer Law Advocacy Aree Davis- Actress (born Ariel Alexandria Davis) Jim Edgar- Former Governor of Illinois Steve Fisher- San Diego State University head basketball coach, formerly University of Michigan head basketball coach who won NCAA championship, began coaching career at Park Forest's Rich East High School. David Liebe Hart- Outsider musician, street performer, sign painter, artist, puppeteer and actor. Cast member of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Arthur W. ('Art') Hodes- Ukraine-born jazz pianist, writer, and educator. Craig Hodges- Professional basketball player who wonNBAChampionships with theChicago Bullsin 1991 and 1992 and was a three-time 3-Point Contest champion. Eugene Izzi- Crime writer Cindy (Utes) James- US Olympic Trials qualifier in road running (4 times) Bill Keese- State Representative, Texas Susan Kempter- Author and String Pedagogy Director, University of New Mexico Philip Klutznick- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, developer and co-founder of Park Forest, Chicago Bulls franchise President, President of World Jewish Congress, Staff Director of B'nai B'rith. David Mamet- Author, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and film director George Marema- Entrepreneur and co-owner, KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn, Seattle, WA Jeff Mariotte- Author and editor Larry McCarren- Football player and Sports Commentator; Twice Pro Bowl Center for theGreen Bay Packers(1973–1984) and Jonathon Mohr- Associate Professor of Psychology, George Mason University, Arlington, VA Buddy Mondlock- Singer/songwriter Berry Oakley- Bassist and founding member ofThe Allman Brothers Band. Bruce Pavitt- Founder, Sub Pop Records Kathy Reichs- Professor of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; forensic anthropologist, and novelist Tim Reid- Actor Ann H. Rest- State Senator, Minnesota Stephen Shames- Photographer, Artist, Author Charles J. Shields- Author Pete Stanicek- Major League Baseball player, Baltimore Orioles Aliko Stevens- Sports Broadcaster, NBC, Florida Lisa Tannebaum- Harpist; Co-founder, Treetops Chamber Music Society, Stamford, CT Kim Thayil- Guitarist for rock groupSoundgarden Dawn Upshaw- Soprano Hiro Yamamoto- Bassist, Singer/Songwriter, Co-founder ofSoundgarden Brad Zutaut- Actor Tom Zutaut- Owner, Stereo Pristine Music, Los Angeles; formerly with Warner Bros. and Elektra Records; signed Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses; now works with McQueen