Phoenix, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phoenix, Illinois
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Location of Phoenix in Cook County, Illinois.
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 Phoenix, Illinois
Location in Greater Chicago
Phoenix, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Phoenix, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Illinois | |
| County | Cook | |
| Township | Thornton | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.46 sq mi (1.20 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.46 sq mi (1.20 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,708 | |
| • Density | 3,681.03/sq mi (1,422.38/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP Code(s) |
60426
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| Area code(s) | 708 | |
| FIPS code | 17-59572 | |
Phoenix is a small village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located about 19 miles south of Chicago in a large area called the Chicago metropolitan area. In 2020, about 1,708 people lived in Phoenix.
Contents
History of Phoenix
The story of Phoenix is closely connected to its bigger neighbor, Harvey. Harvey was built as a city for factories and did not allow places that sold alcohol, like bars. Many early factories in Harvey were near the Illinois Central Railroad.
A businessman named William McLatchy owned a lot of land just outside Harvey. Soon, five bars opened in this area. A small neighborhood called Phenix Park was built there in the 1890s. Leaders in Harvey wanted to stop alcohol sales near their factories. They tried to make Phenix Park part of Harvey, which would make it "dry" (no alcohol sales).
However, the people living in Phenix Park wanted to make their own rules. They wanted to be an independent village. On August 29, 1900, they held an election. Most people (38 out of 56 votes) voted to become their own village. Even though Harvey tried to challenge this, the vote was upheld.
Becoming a Village
After becoming its own village, Phenix Park changed its name to Phoenix. By 1910, about 500 people lived there. Most of them were from Dutch or Polish families.
The first African American families moved to Phoenix in 1915. Many came from Chicago and the Southern states. Jobs in Harvey's factories and on the railroads helped people in Phoenix find work. The number of African American residents grew steadily in the 1920s.
By 1930, Phoenix had 3,033 residents. Most were White (84.2%), and 15.1% were Black. The village continued to grow through the 1940s and 1950s. New homes were built to keep up with the growing population. In 1960, the population reached 4,203.
Changes in the 1960s
In 1960, Phoenix had a mix of different ethnic groups. However, the community was divided by race. Most African Americans (65.3% of the population) lived in the northern part of the village. White residents (34.7% of the population) lived in the southern part.
In 1960, the leaders of Phoenix decided to let the mostly White southern part of the village join Harvey. This change happened in 1962. Because of this, Phoenix lost about one-third of its people. It also lost 60% of the money it collected in taxes. By 1990, the population of Phoenix was 2,217.
Geography of Phoenix
Phoenix is located in the southern part of Cook County, Illinois. Its exact location is 41°36′44″N 87°37′50″W / 41.61222°N 87.63056°W. The village is situated between the cities of Harvey and South Holland.
According to information from 2010, Phoenix covers an area of about 0.45 square miles (1.2 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Neighboring Areas
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 679 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,933 | 184.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,033 | 56.9% | |
| 1940 | 2,875 | −5.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,606 | 25.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,203 | 16.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,596 | −14.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,850 | −20.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,217 | −22.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,157 | −2.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,964 | −8.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,708 | −13.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 29 | 28 | 14 | 1.34% | 1.43% | 0.82% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,009 | 1,781 | 1,445 | 93.14% | 90.68% | 84.60% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 0.23% | 0.31% | 0.41% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.05% | 0.15% | 0.23% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.12% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0.19% | 0.00% | 0.76% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 22 | 30 | 19 | 1.02% | 1.53% | 1.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 87 | 116 | 204 | 4.03% | 5.91% | 11.94% |
| Total | 2,157 | 1,964 | 1,708 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 1,708 people living in Phoenix. These people lived in 612 households, with 261 of them being families. The population density was about 3,681 people per square mile.
About 85.30% of the people were African American. About 1.23% were White. Other groups included Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander. About 11.94% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of age, 17.8% of the population was under 18 years old. About 18.5% were 65 years or older. The average age in the village was 43.2 years.
Transportation
Pace provides bus service in Phoenix. Route 348 connects Phoenix to other places in the Southland area.
Notable People
Many well-known people have lived in Phoenix:
- Quinn Buckner (born 1954), a former professional basketball player and coach. He lived in Phoenix when he was a child.
- Kevin Duckworth (1964–2008), a professional basketball player. He also lived in Phoenix as a child.
- Sam Mack (born 1970), a former professional basketball player. He grew up in Phoenix.
- Claude Steele (born 1946), a psychologist. He was a childhood resident of Phoenix.
- Shelby Steele (born 1946), an academic who received a special award called the National Medal of the Humanities. He lived in Phoenix as a child.
- Melvin Van Peebles (1932–2021), an actor, filmmaker, writer, and composer. He was a childhood resident of Phoenix.
See also
In Spanish: Phoenix (Illinois) para niños
