River Forest, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
River Forest, Illinois
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_Public_Library.jpg)
River Forest Public Library
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| Nickname(s):
RF, RoFo
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Location of River Forest in Cook County, Illinois.
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 River Forest, Illinois
Location in Greater Chicago
River Forest, Illinois
Location in Illinois
River Forest, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| County | Cook | ||
| Township | River Forest | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Village | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 2.48 sq mi (6.43 km2) | ||
| • Land | 2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,794 | ||
| • Density | 4,724.60/sq mi (1,824.37/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP Code(s) |
60305
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| Area code(s) | 708 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-64304 | ||
| Wikimedia Commons | River Forest, Illinois | ||
River Forest is a village located right next to Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 11,717 people lived there. River Forest is home to two universities: Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago. It is also very close to the larger town of Oak Park.
The village is known for its interesting buildings. You can find many unique architectural designs here, like the Winslow House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. River Forest also has a train station that connects to Chicago.
Contents
History of River Forest
The history of River Forest is closely connected to the Des Plaines River. Native American tribes like the Menominee and Chippewa once lived near the river. Later, the Potowatomi Nation took over the area in 1810. The Potawatomi then moved west after the Treaty of Chicago in 1833.
In 1831, a sawmill was built on the east side of the Des Plaines River. By 1842, the first planked road was made on what is now Lake Street. At that time, the community was called Noyesville. In 1848, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad finished building train tracks from Chicago. Train service started in January 1849.
In the 1850s, two families helped the area grow. David Thatcher settled in what is now western River Forest and named his part Thatcher. Henry Quick came from Harlem, New York. He named the eastern part of Noyesville and Harlem Avenue after his hometown.
Geography and Climate
River Forest is located along the Des Plaines River to its west. It is bordered by Illinois Route 43 on the east and Illinois Route 64 on the north. A large part of River Forest's western edge includes the Thatcher Woods forest preserve and the Des Plaines River Trail.
The village covers about 2.48 square miles (6.43 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land.
Weather in River Forest
| Climate data for River Forest, Illinois | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32 (0) |
37.4 (3.0) |
48.2 (9.0) |
60.8 (16.0) |
71.6 (22.0) |
80.6 (27.0) |
84.2 (29.0) |
82.4 (28.0) |
77 (25) |
62.6 (17.0) |
50 (10) |
37.4 (3.0) |
60.4 (15.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.4 (−7.0) |
23 (−5) |
32 (0) |
41 (5) |
51.8 (11.0) |
62.6 (17.0) |
68 (20) |
66.2 (19.0) |
59 (15) |
46.4 (8.0) |
35.6 (2.0) |
24.8 (−4.0) |
44.2 (6.8) |
River Forest has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. The hottest month is usually July, and the coldest is January.
Education in River Forest
River Forest is home to two universities: Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago.
For younger students, there are two public elementary schools: Lincoln Elementary School and Willard Elementary School. There is also one public middle school, Roosevelt Middle School. These schools are part of the River Forest Public Schools District 90. River Forest shares a high school with Oak Park, called Oak Park and River Forest High School. This high school is located in Oak Park.
The village also has several private schools. There are two Catholic grade schools, St. Luke Parish and St. Vincent Ferrer School. Grace Lutheran School is a Lutheran grade school. All three of these schools teach children from age 3 through eighth grade. River Forest also has an all-girls' high school, Trinity High School.
The Keystone Montessori School is another option in River Forest. It opened in 1994. This school teaches children from 9 months old up to 8th grade using the ideas of Maria Montessori.
The River Forest Public Library is located at 735 Lathrop Avenue. It is a great place for students to find books and resources.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,539 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,456 | 59.6% | |
| 1920 | 4,358 | 77.4% | |
| 1930 | 8,829 | 102.6% | |
| 1940 | 9,487 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 10,823 | 14.1% | |
| 1960 | 12,695 | 17.3% | |
| 1970 | 13,402 | 5.6% | |
| 1980 | 12,392 | −7.5% | |
| 1990 | 11,669 | −5.8% | |
| 2000 | 11,635 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 11,172 | −4.0% | |
| 2020 | 11,717 | 4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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According to the 2020 census, River Forest had 11,717 people living in 4,040 households. About 2,754 of these were families. The population density was about 4,720 people per square mile.
Many different groups of people live in River Forest. In 2020, about 72.91% of the people were White. About 7.51% were African American, and 8.01% were Asian. About 8.46% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In 2020, about 25.4% of the people in River Forest were under 18 years old. The average age was 40.8 years. The median income for a household was $125,288. For families, the median income was $193,171.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 10,084 | 9,050 | 8,308 | 86.67% | 81.01% | 70.91% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 553 | 733 | 869 | 4.75% | 6.56% | 7.42% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 9 | 4 | 9 | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 362 | 505 | 932 | 3.11% | 4.52% | 7.95% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 20 | 38 | 93 | 0.17% | 0.34% | 0.79% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 136 | 170 | 515 | 1.17% | 1.52% | 4.40% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 466 | 670 | 991 | 4.01% | 6.00% | 8.46% |
| Total | 11,635 | 11,172 | 11,717 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Architecture and Design
River Forest is famous for its many different styles of American homes from the early 1900s. Several buildings were designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. His designs, and others in the Prairie School style, are very special.
The Winslow House and the River Forest Tennis Club are two of the most well-known examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's early work in the village.
Notable People from River Forest
Many interesting people have lived in River Forest, including:
- Anita Alvarez, an attorney
- Charles F. Baumrucker, a jeweler, businessman, and politician
- Chris Columbus, a filmmaker who directed movies like Home Alone
- James Dewar, who invented the Twinkie snack cake
- Paul Harvey, a well-known radio commentator
- Gail Mancuso, a television and film director
- Franklin Clarence Mars, who founded Mars, Incorporated (the candy company)
- Kathryn McGee, an activist
- Kevin Murphy, an actor
- Edwin Perkins, who invented Kool-Aid
- Jerry Saltz, an art critic
- Anne Smedinghoff, a diplomat
- Carlos Zambrano, a former pitcher for the Chicago Cubs baseball team
Community Events and Activities
River Forest has hosted several exciting events for its community:
- In 2016, River Forest hosted the Illinois State Tournament for Little League Baseball at Keystone Park.
- The village's Little League team won the Illinois State Baseball Championship in 2019.
A special event called the 9/11 Lemon-Aid stand has been held yearly for 18 years. It takes place on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae. All the money raised goes to local charities. In its first year, the event raised $400 for Hepzibah Children's Association. More recently, it raised $36,000 for Kidz Express. So far, the event has donated a total of $323,000 to different causes.
Every year, the Rotary Club of Oak Park River Forest organizes a Food Truck Rally in Keystone Park. This event brings together 10 food trucks offering sweet and savory treats, plus drinks. There is also live music and a fun area for families. All the money earned from this event goes to local charities.
See also
In Spanish: River Forest (Illinois) para niños
