Mokena, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Village of Mokena
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The gable bank barn at the historic McGovney–Yunker Farmstead
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| Motto(s):
Planned Progress, Pleasant Living
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Location of Mokena in Will County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| County | Will | ||
| Township | Frankfort, New Lenox | ||
| Incorporated | 1880 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Village | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 8.68 sq mi (22.47 km2) | ||
| • Land | 8.68 sq mi (22.47 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,887 | ||
| • Density | 2,292.19/sq mi (885.05/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
60448
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| Area codes | 708 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-49854 | ||
| Website | http://www.mokena.org/ | ||
Mokena (pronounced moh-KEE-nuh) is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb located southwest of Chicago. In 2020, about 19,887 people lived there. Mokena is a growing community!
Contents
The Meaning Behind Mokena's Name
The name Mokena comes from a Native American language. It means "turtle." The word might come from languages like Anishinaabemowin or Potawatomi. These languages were spoken by people who lived in this area long ago.
Mokena is located at 41°32′4″N 87°52′37″W / 41.53444°N 87.87694°W. It covers about 8.89 square miles (23 square kilometers) of land. The village is surrounded by other towns. These include Tinley Park to the northeast and Frankfort to the south.
Learning in Mokena: Schools and Colleges
Mokena has several school districts for younger students. These include Mokena School District 159, New Lenox School District 122, Frankfort School District 157C, and Summit Hill School District 161.
- Schools in District 159 are Mokena Elementary School (MES), Mokena Intermediate School (MIS), and Mokena Junior High School (MJHS).
For high school, students attend Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Depending on where they live, they go to either Lincoln-Way Central High School or Lincoln-Way East High School. For higher education, students can attend Joliet Junior College or Rasmussen College.
Who Lives in Mokena?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 522 | — | |
| 1890 | 364 | −30.3% | |
| 1900 | 281 | −22.8% | |
| 1910 | 359 | 27.8% | |
| 1920 | 475 | 32.3% | |
| 1930 | 562 | 18.3% | |
| 1940 | 657 | 16.9% | |
| 1950 | 903 | 37.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,332 | 47.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,643 | 23.3% | |
| 1980 | 4,578 | 178.6% | |
| 1990 | 6,128 | 33.9% | |
| 2000 | 14,583 | 138.0% | |
| 2010 | 18,740 | 28.5% | |
| 2020 | 19,887 | 6.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Mokena had 18,740 people living there. There were 6,358 households, with many families. The village is mostly White (94.5%), with smaller groups of African American (1.3%), Asian (2.0%), and other races. About 4.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, almost half of the households (48.5%) had children under 18. Most households (73.7%) were married couples living together. The average household had about 3.10 people.
The population is quite young, with 32.4% of residents under 18. The median age was 34 years old. This means half the people were younger than 34 and half were older.
Getting Around Mokena: Transportation
Mokena has good transportation options. The Metra train service, called the Rock Island District, serves the village. There are two train stations: Hickory Creek and Front Street. These trains can take you to downtown Chicago's LaSalle Street Station.
I-80 runs along the northern border of Mokena. This highway connects to other major roads like I-355 and I-57. Main roads going north-south include US Route 45 (LaGrange Rd) and Wolf Rd. East-west roads include 191st St, LaPorte Rd., and US Route 30 (Lincoln Highway).
Trains also carry freight through Mokena. The Canadian National Railway (CN) tracks run along the southern edge. The Metra Rock Island District tracks go through the middle of the town.
Famous People from Mokena
Many interesting people have connections to Mokena!
- Dean Anna – A professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB).
- James Augustine – A former basketball player for the University of Illinois and in the NBA.
- Terry Boers – A well-known sports radio host and columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Exene Cervenka – A singer and writer who grew up in Mokena.
- Karla DeVito – An actress and singer.
- Clay Guida and Jason Guida – Brothers who are both mixed martial artists.
- Don C. Hall – An actor and former Wisconsin state legislator.
- Ron Kittle – A former MLB baseball player who lives in Mokena.
- Denise Richards – A famous model and actress who once lived in Mokena.
- Bob Strait – A racing car driver.
See also
In Spanish: Mokena (Illinois) para niños
