Melrose Park, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melrose Park, Illinois
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Downtown Melrose Park
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| Motto(s):
"Corporate King of the Suburbs"
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Location of Melrose Park in Cook County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Illinois | |
| County | Cook | |
| Township | Proviso, Leyden | |
| Incorporated | September 11, 1882 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.35 sq mi (11.27 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.35 sq mi (11.27 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 630 ft (190 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,796 | |
| • Density | 5,696.30/sq mi (2,199.22/km2) | |
| Demonym(s) | Melrose Parker | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP Code(s) |
60160, 60161, 60164
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| Area codes | 708/464, 847/224 | |
| FIPS code | 17-48242 | |
Melrose Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois. It is a suburb of the big city of Chicago. In 2020, about 24,796 people lived there.
This village was once home to Kiddieland Amusement Park, which was open from 1929 to 2010. Today, a Costco store stands where the park used to be. You can also find the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Stern Pinball, Inc. in Melrose Park. The village also hosts the Melrose Park Taste, a fun event for everyone.
Melrose Park has its own Metra railroad station, making it easy to travel to Chicago. It is also home to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, which provides healthcare for the community.
Contents
History of Melrose Park
According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, Melrose Park started as a small community. In 1882, people living in this area of Proviso Township decided to create their own village. They first called it "Melrose." Eleven years later, in 1893, they added "Park" to the name, and more people started moving in. The first Italian-American families arrived in 1888.
Early Challenges and Growth
On March 28, 1920, a very strong tornado hit the village. It was an F4 tornado, which is very powerful. The tornado was about 328 feet (100 meters) wide and traveled over 1094 yards (1000 meters). It sadly killed ten people and destroyed the Sacred Heart Church and its attached convent.
Around the year 1900, the number of people living in Melrose Park stopped growing as fast, and local businesses slowed down. But after World War I, things got better. Many manufacturing companies decided to open factories in the village. This new industry, along with Melrose Park's good location near the Proviso freight yards, created many new jobs.
Post-War Development and Modern Changes
After World War II, even more companies moved to Melrose Park. Some well-known companies included Zenith Electronics, Alberto-Culver, Jewel, and International Harvester (now Navistar). Many of these companies still have a presence in Melrose Park, keeping the local economy strong. However, some have changed or closed, like Alberto-Culver and the Navistar plant.
In the late 1990s, the village worked to make itself more attractive for businesses and new residents. They updated street signs and improved public areas, like the wooded parts near Silver Creek. Many busy streets were repaved, and the athletic field next to the village hall was completely redone. These improvements helped bring in new businesses and families looking to buy their first homes.
The athletic field next to the village hall is named after Ralph "Babe" Serpico. He was the father of the current mayor, Ronald M. Serpico.
Economy and Businesses
Melrose Park has been a place for many businesses over the years. Navistar International used to have a factory and an engine office here, but it closed in 2021. This building was once a Buick plant that made aircraft engines during WWII.
The village also has several healthcare facilities. Melrose Park Immediate Care is a medical and dental clinic in downtown Melrose Park. You can also find WellNow Urgent Care and West Lake Urgent Care here.
In March 2021, Lake Book Manufacturing, a company that prints books and employs nearly 300 people, became part of Grafica Veneta.
Geography of Melrose Park
Melrose Park covers an area of about 4.35 square miles (11.27 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 200 | — | |
| 1890 | 650 | 225.0% | |
| 1900 | 2,592 | 298.8% | |
| 1910 | 4,806 | 85.4% | |
| 1920 | 7,147 | 48.7% | |
| 1930 | 10,741 | 50.3% | |
| 1940 | 10,933 | 1.8% | |
| 1950 | 13,366 | 22.3% | |
| 1960 | 22,291 | 66.8% | |
| 1970 | 22,716 | 1.9% | |
| 1980 | 20,735 | −8.7% | |
| 1990 | 20,859 | 0.6% | |
| 2000 | 23,171 | 11.1% | |
| 2010 | 25,411 | 9.7% | |
| 2020 | 24,796 | −2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 census, there were 24,796 people living in Melrose Park. The village had 7,861 households and 5,450 families. The population density was about 5,696 people per square mile (2,199 people per square kilometer).
Many different groups of people live in Melrose Park. About 74.69% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. The village is a diverse place with people from various backgrounds.
The average household in Melrose Park had about 3.91 people. The average family size was 3.22 people. About 26.6% of the population was under 18 years old, and 10.1% were 65 years or older. The average age in the village was 33.6 years.
Education in Melrose Park
Melrose Park has several schools for students of all ages.
Elementary and Middle Schools
Different parts of Melrose Park are served by different elementary school districts:
- Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89
- Jane Addams Elementary School
- Melrose Park Elementary School
- Stevenson Middle School
- Mannheim School District 83
- Mannheim Middle School
- Scott Elementary School
- Enger School (for children with disabilities, located in Franklin Park)
- Bellwood School District 88
High Schools and Colleges
For high school, students from Melrose Park often attend Proviso East High School in Maywood, which is part of the Proviso Township High Schools District 209.
There are also private high schools nearby:
- Walther Christian Academy (in Melrose Park)
- Fenwick High School (in Oak Park)
- St. Patrick High School (in Chicago)
For college, students can attend Lincoln College of Technology in Melrose Park or Triton College, a community college in River Grove.
Transportation
The Melrose Park station offers train service through Metra. These trains travel east to the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago and west to Elburn station. Bus service in the village is provided by Pace, making it easy to get around the area.
Notable People from Melrose Park
Many interesting people have connections to Melrose Park:
- Dominic Armato – An actor, journalist, and food critic.
- Anna Chlumsky – An actress who graduated from Walther Christian Academy in Melrose Park.
- Tim Costo – A former baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds.
- Michael Finley – A former NBA all-star who played for the Dallas Mavericks and other teams.
- Roy Gleason – A former outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Vinnie Hinostroza – A professional ice hockey player.
- Carol Lawrence – A famous actress, singer, and dancer.
- Corey Maggette – A small forward and shooting guard for several NBA teams.
- Doc Rivers – A former guard for the Atlanta Hawks and now a coach in the NBA.
- Mike Woodard – A former second baseman for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox.
Sports
In 2012, Melrose Park was home to the Chicago Vipers, an indoor football team that played in the Continental Indoor Football League. They played their home games at Sports Zone. The team later changed its name to the Chicago Pythons and moved to Homer Glen before finishing their first season.
See also
In Spanish: Melrose Park (Illinois) para niños
