Westchester, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westchester, Illinois
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Westchester, Illinois Village Hall on Roosevelt Rd.
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| Motto(s):
"A good place to live"
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Location of Westchester in Cook County, Illinois.
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 Westchester, Illinois
Location in Greater Chicago
Westchester, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Westchester, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| County | Cook | ||
| Founded | 1926 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Village | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.69 sq mi (9.55 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.69 sq mi (9.55 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,892 | ||
| • Density | 4,582.75/sq mi (1,769.51/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP Code(s) |
60154
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| Area code(s) | 708 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-80047 | ||
Westchester is a village located in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It's a suburb just west of the big city of Chicago. In 2020, about 16,892 people lived here.
Contents
History of Westchester
The land that is now Westchester was first settled by German farmers in the mid-1800s. Later, in 1924, a man named Samuel Insull bought the land. He wanted to build a new town that looked like an English village. That's why many of Westchester's street names are English!
The Great Depression in the 1930s slowed down building plans. But even then, more people kept moving to Westchester. The town grew because it was the end point for Chicago's rapid transit line (the Garfield Park line). This train line made it easy for people to travel to and from Chicago. However, the train line was removed in 1951.
In 1956, new highways were built nearby, like I-290 and I-294. These highways helped people travel by car. But they also made it harder to get to nearby towns without a car.
Almost all the open land in Westchester has been developed for homes and shops. One special place that remains is the 85-acre (340,000 m2) Wolf Road Prairie. It's the largest black-soil prairie (a type of grassland) east of the Mississippi River.
Westchester's Location
Westchester is located at 41°51′14″N 87°53′1″W / 41.85389°N 87.88361°W. It covers an area of about 3.69 square miles (9.56 km2), and it's all land. The village shares its western border with Du Page County.
Getting Around Westchester
People in Westchester have a few ways to get around. Cermak Road and Roosevelt Road are two main roads that go through the village.
You can also use Pace Bus Service. Routes 301, 317, and 330 serve the community. Route 317 follows the path of the old CTA Blue Line extension that was removed. Pace is planning a new fast bus route called Pulse along the Cermak corridor, which should start in 2029.
Some people have asked for the Blue Line train service to return to Westchester. But the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) doesn't have plans to extend the Blue Line from Forest Park right now.
Westchester has a "Walk Score" of 43. This means you usually need a car to do most errands. The village also has rules that make people rely on cars, like requiring a certain number of parking spaces for buildings.
Westchester's Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 358 | — | |
| 1940 | 621 | 73.5% | |
| 1950 | 4,308 | 593.7% | |
| 1960 | 18,092 | 320.0% | |
| 1970 | 20,033 | 10.7% | |
| 1980 | 17,730 | −11.5% | |
| 1990 | 17,301 | −2.4% | |
| 2000 | 16,824 | −2.8% | |
| 2010 | 16,718 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 16,892 | 1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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In the 2020 census, 16,892 people lived in Westchester. There were 6,811 households, which are groups of people living together.
Most people in Westchester are White (55.95%). About 19.87% are African American, and 4.13% are Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background make up 21.02% of the population.
The average age in the village was 49.2 years old. About 15.6% of the population was under 18 years old.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 13,919 | 11,018 | 8,877 | 82.73% | 65.91% | 52.55% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,207 | 2,349 | 3,311 | 7.17% | 14.05% | 19.60% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 4 | 21 | 14 | 0.02% | 0.13% | 0.08% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 576 | 659 | 687 | 3.42% | 3.94% | 4.07% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 12 | 15 | 55 | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.33% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 149 | 170 | 396 | 0.89% | 1.02% | 2.34% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 956 | 2,485 | 3,550 | 5.68% | 14.86% | 21.02% |
| Total | 16,824 | 16,718 | 16,892 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Westchester's Economy
Westchester is home to the Westbrook Corporate Center. This is a large office complex with five 10-story buildings. It has won several awards for being a great office building.
Top Employers in Westchester
Here are some of the biggest employers in Westchester:
| # | Employer |
|---|---|
| 1 | G4S Secure Solutions Inc |
| 2 | Corn Products International (Ingredion) |
| 3 | Sogeti |
| 4 | Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds |
| 5 | CommScope Corp (Andrew Solutions) |
| 6 | Insurance Auto Auctions |
| 7 | Yellow Book USA, Inc |
| 8 | Revenue Cycle Solutions |
| 9 | Per Mar Security Services |
| 10 | Healthcare Financial Management Association |
Education in Westchester
Most students in Westchester attend schools in Westchester School District 92.5. This district has four schools:
- Westchester Primary School (Preschool – 2nd grade)
- Westchester Intermediate School (3rd grade – 5th grade)
- Westchester Middle School (6th grade – 8th grade)
- Britten School (Special Needs)
A small part of Westchester is served by Hillside School District 93. This district has one school for grades K-8 in Hillside.
For high school, students attend schools in the Proviso Township High Schools district. Most zoned students go to Proviso West High School in Hillside. Westchester students can also apply to Proviso Math & Science Academy in Forest Park.
Private Schools in Westchester
Westchester also has several private schools:
- Divine Providence School (PS–8, Catholic)
- Immanuel Christian Academy (K–8, Lutheran)
- Westchester Christian School (K-12, Non-Denominational)
- PAEC Academy (K-8, Special Needs)
Fun and Recreation in Westchester
The Village of Westchester has a Park District that offers many fun activities and places for everyone. There are also five golf courses within a short drive.
You can also find Eden Lanes Bowling Alley, Focus Time Escape Rooms, and the Wolf Road Prairie. In winter, there's the Westchester Woods Sledding Hill! The village has four youth sports groups and many forest preserves for outdoor fun.
Parks and Playgrounds
Westchester has many parks where you can play:
- Camberly Park
- Community Park
- Dury Lane Park
- Gladstone Park
- High Ridge Park
- Mayfair Park
- Middle School Athletic Fields
- Norfolk Park
- Primary School Park
- Sweetbriar Park
- Forest the Fox's Playbox at the Mayfair Recreation Center
Fitness Centers
If you like to stay active, check out:
- Westchester Community Center
- Mayfair Recreation Center
- Anytime Fitness
Swimming Pools
The John J. Sinde Community Swimming Pool is Westchester's public pool. It opened in 1977. The pool is 50 meters long and has a deep diving area. There's also a separate shallow wading pool with bubblers for younger kids. A tall, long water slide and a water play structure are also fun features. The pool usually opens from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The Chicago Highlands Club also has an outdoor pool. But you need to be a member or a guest of a member to use it.
Famous People from Westchester
- Philip Caputo, author and journalist
- Jim Durkin, state legislator
- Kathryn Hahn, actress
- Julian Love, NFL player
- Cameron Meredith, NFL player
- Gene Pingatore, basketball coach
- Saba, rapper and record producer
- Daniel P. Ward, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
- Bill Wightkin, NFL player
See also
In Spanish: Westchester (Illinois) para niños
