Skokie, Illinois facts for kids

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This article is about Skokie (disambiguation)|Skokie. For other uses, see Skokie, Illinois (disambiguation).

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Skokie, Illinois

Village

Downtown Skokie in 2013

Flag

Logo

Location of Skokie in Cook County, Illinois

Skokie, Illinois

Location in Greater Chicago

Skokie, Illinois

Location in Illinois

Skokie, Illinois

Location in the United States

Country

State

Niles

1888; 137 years ago

Government

• Type

Council–manager

Area

• Total

10.06 sq mi (26.07 km²)

• Land

10.06 sq mi (26.07 km²)

• Water

0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²) 0%

Population

(2020)

• Total

67,824

• Density

6,739.27/sq mi (2,602.03/km²)

Up 2.27% from 2000

Standard of living (2011)

• Per capita income

$32,169

• Median home value

$297,900

ZIP code(s)

60076, 60077, 60203

Area code(s)

847 & 224

Geocode

70122

FIPS code

17-70122

Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Potawatomi word meaning "marsh." In 2020, about 67,824 people lived there. Skokie is located about 15 miles north of downtown Chicago.

For many years, Skokie was known as "The World's Largest Village." Its streets connect to Chicago's street system. The Chicago Transit Authority also serves the village, linking it closely to the city.

Skokie started as a farming community settled by people from Germany and Luxembourg. After World War II, many Jewish people moved there. In the mid-1960s, about 58% of the people in Skokie were Jewish. Today, about 30% of the population is Jewish, and there are many synagogues. Skokie is also home to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. This museum opened in 2009.

Skokie has been in the news twice because of important cases decided by the United States Supreme Court. In the 1970s, a group wanted to hold a rally in Skokie. The village had many Holocaust survivors living there. The case was about free speech rights. Skokie lost the case, but the rally never happened there.

A Look Back: Skokie's History

How Skokie Began

A 1925 "Chicago"-style bungalow in Skokie

Skokie Village Hall

In 1888, the community was first called Niles Centre. Around 1910, the name was changed to "Niles Center." However, this caused confusion with mail because of the nearby village of Niles.

So, in the 1930s, people started a campaign to change the name again. On November 15, 1940, residents voted to call it "Skokie." This name comes from a Native American word.

In the 1920s, many new homes were built in Skokie. These included apartment buildings and "Chicago"-style bungalows. Building slowed down after the Great Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression.

Development picked up again in the 1940s and 1950s. Many families moved from Chicago to Skokie. This led to more businesses opening, like the Old Orchard Shopping Center, now called Westfield Old Orchard.

The first African-American family moved to Skokie in 1961. Groups working for open housing helped make the suburb more welcoming to everyone.

The Name "Skokie"

Old maps show the Skokie marsh as Chewab Skokie. This name likely came from a Potawatomi term meaning "great marsh." Other Native American words like skoutay or scoti mean "fire."

The name "Skokie Marsh" was used by scientists as early as 1901. The village officially changed its name from "Niles Center" to "Skokie" in 1940. A man named James Foster Porter, who had explored a "Skoki Valley" in Canada, also supported the name "Skokie."

Important Court Cases

Skokie has been part of two important cases that went to the United States Supreme Court. These cases helped shape laws for the whole country.

Free Speech and Skokie

In 1977 and 1978, a group called the National Socialist Party of America (NSPA) wanted to march in Skokie. This group was a neo-Nazi group. They first planned to march in Chicago, but local authorities stopped them.

The NSPA then chose Skokie for their march. Many Holocaust survivors lived in Skokie. The village government tried to stop the march, saying it would cause problems. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) helped the NSPA. They argued that the NSPA had a right to free speech under the First Amendment.

An Illinois court first tried to stop the march. They said the Nazi symbol (swastika) would upset people in Skokie. However, the court also said that the village could not prove the uniforms or papers would cause violence.

Eventually, Chicago allowed the NSPA to hold their rally there instead. So, the march never happened in Skokie. This event was shown in a 1981 TV movie called Skokie. It was also made fun of in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.

Wetlands and the Law

In 2001, Skokie and 22 other communities wanted to use a wetland for waste disposal. This led to a lawsuit. The case went to the Supreme Court. The court's decision changed a federal rule about protecting wetlands that are used by migratory birds.

Skokie's Location and Layout

Skokie covers about 10.06 square miles of land. It is surrounded by other towns. These include Evanston to the east, Chicago to the southeast and southwest, and Wilmette to the north.

The village has a grid pattern of streets. Major roads run east-west every half mile, like Old Orchard Road and Dempster Street. Important north-south roads include Skokie Boulevard and McCormick Boulevard.

Skokie's north-south streets often have the same names and house numbers as Chicago's streets. For example, Cicero Avenue in Chicago becomes Skokie Boulevard in Skokie. East-west streets continue Evanston's names but use Chicago's numbering system.

People of Skokie

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	529	—
1910	568	7.4%
1920	763	34.3%
1930	5,007	556.2%
1940	7,172	43.2%
1950	14,832	106.8%
1960	59,364	300.2%
1970	68,322	15.1%
1980	60,278	−11.8%
1990	59,432	−1.4%
2000	63,348	6.6%
2010	64,784	2.3%
2020	67,824	4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020

In 2020, Skokie had 67,824 residents. The population density was about 6,739 people per square mile.

Skokie is a diverse community. According to the 2020 census:

About 51% of residents were White.
About 8% were African American.
About 28% were Asian.
About 11% were Hispanic or Latino.

Many families live in Skokie. About 32.5% of households had children under 18. The average household size was 3.37 people. The median age in Skokie was 42.9 years.

Skokie has a large Jewish population, about 28% of residents. There are more than a dozen synagogues. Skokie also has a significant Assyrian population. Some groups say there are over 20,000 Assyrians in Skokie. At the local high school district, about 30% of students are Assyrian.

Skokie's Economy

Skokie has a strong economy. In 2003, it was one of the first towns in the U.S. to have its police, fire, and public works departments nationally recognized. Money magazine also named Skokie one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the U.S. that year.

Skokie has many manufacturing and retail businesses. It is also growing in health sciences. The Illinois Science + Technology Park was built on the site of old Pfizer research labs. This park has many research facilities. In 2006, NorthShore University HealthSystem added 500 jobs by moving their data center there. Map maker Rand McNally is also based in Skokie.

The village is working to improve its downtown area. They are focusing on Transit Oriented Development, which means building things near public transportation.

Top Employers

Here are some of the largest employers in Skokie as of 2018:

NorthShore University HealthSystem
Federal-Mogul
Niles Township High School District 219
Macy's
Georgia Nut Company
Nordstrom
Village of Skokie
Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County
Skokie Park District
Generation Brands

Well-Known Companies from Skokie

Peapod (online grocer)
FelPro (now Tenneco)
Mayfair Games
Rand McNally
USRobotics
Bell & Howell
G.D. Searle (now Pfizer)

Arts and Culture in Skokie

Westfield Old Orchard is an upscale shopping center. It was one of the first of its kind in the country. It is also the third-largest mall in Illinois by size.

Fountain at Westfield Old Orchard

The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park is located along the North Shore Channel. It has over 70 sculptures. You can take tours of the park from May to October. There is also a statue of Mahatma Gandhi with his famous quotes. It was dedicated in 2004.

Skokie also has the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. This center includes Centre East, Northlight Theatre, and the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra. It celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center opened in Skokie on April 19, 2009.

The early history of Skokie was featured in a 2023 documentary called Holy Ground.

Skokie Public Library

On October 7, 2008, the Skokie Public Library won the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. It was recognized for its cultural programs and services in many languages.

Parks and Recreation

North Shore Center for Performing Arts in Skokie

The Skokie Park District takes care of public spaces and historical sites. They manage over 240 acres of parkland and ten facilities.

The Skokie Valley Trail is a path for walking and biking. It connects Chicago to Lincolnwood and Skokie. There are plans to make the trail longer, reaching from Chicago to the northern suburbs. This project is expected to finish by 2025.

The North Shore Channel Trail also runs through Skokie.

Education in Skokie

Public Schools

Skokie has several primary school districts:

Skokie School District 68
Skokie/Morton Grove School District 69
Fairview South School District 72
East Prairie School District 73
Skokie School District 73.5

Niles Township High School District 219 runs the public high schools. A small part of Skokie is also served by the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and Evanston Township High School.

High Schools

Niles North High School in Skokie

Niles North
Niles West
Niles Township District 219 is known for its excellent fine arts program. In 2007, it won an award from the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.
Niles East High School closed in 1980.

Junior High Schools

Oliver McCracken Middle School (District 73.5)
East Prairie School (Pre-K through 8th) (District 73)
Fairview South School (District 72)
Lincoln Junior High (District 69)
Old Orchard Junior High (District 68)
Chute Middle School in Evanston serves some Skokie students.

Elementary Schools

Jane Stenson School (District 68)
Devonshire School (District 68)
Highland School (District 68)
Madison School (District 69)
Edison School (District 69)
Fairview South School (District 72)
Elizabeth Meyer School (District 73.5)
John Middleton School (District 73.5)
East Prairie School (District 73)
Walker Elementary School (Skokie/Evanston District 65)
Dr. Bessie Rhodes Magnet School (Skokie/Evanston District 65)

Religious Day Schools

Jewish Schools:
- Arie Crown Hebrew Day School
- Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School
- Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School
- Ida Crown Jewish Academy
- Fasman Yeshiva High School
Muslim Schools:
- MCC Academy (Pre-K through elementary in Skokie)
Roman Catholic Schools:
- St. Joan of Arc School

Colleges and Universities

Oakton College (Ray Hartstein Campus)
Hebrew Theological College, a private university. It was one of the first Modern Orthodox Jewish higher education schools in America.
National-Louis University has a campus near the Skokie Courthouse.

Transportation in Skokie

Public Transportation

The Chicago "L" Yellow Line ends at the Dempster Street station in Skokie. A new Yellow Line station at Oakton Street opened in 2012. This station serves downtown Skokie.

The CTA and Pace bus routes also serve the village. The Pace Pulse Dempster Line started running through Skokie in 2023.