Wheeling, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wheeling, Illinois
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Pond on North Wolf Road
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| Motto(s):
"Revolving Around Community"
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Location of Wheeling in Cook County, Illinois.
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 Wheeling, Illinois
Location in Greater Chicago
Wheeling, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Wheeling, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| Counties | Cook, Lake | ||
| Founded | 1894 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 8.73 sq mi (22.61 km2) | ||
| • Land | 8.67 sq mi (22.46 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 650 ft (200 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 39,137 | ||
| • Density | 4,513.03/sq mi (1,742.46/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP Code(s) |
60089, 60090
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| Area code(s) | 847 and 224 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-81087 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 421000 | ||
Wheeling is a village located in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is a suburb of Chicago, found about 23 miles (37 km) northwest of downtown Chicago. In 2020, about 39,137 people lived there. Wheeling got its name from Wheeling, West Virginia.
Contents
Village History: How Wheeling Began
The land where Wheeling, Illinois, is now was once home to Native American tribes. In the early 1680s, the Miami Confederacy lived here. This group included the Illini and Kickapoo tribes. Later, the Iroquois and Meskwaki tribes moved into the area in the early 1700s.
The Potawatomi tribe, who were friends with the French, started to take over northern Illinois in the 1700s. By the early 1800s, they controlled a large area from Green Bay to the Illinois River. Today, the descendants of these Potawatomi live on a reservation in Mayette, Kansas.
The first cabin in Wheeling Township was built in 1833 by a person named Mr. Sweet. He sold it to George Strong for $60. Mr. Strong became the first person to live there permanently.
In 1834, Joseph Filkins opened the first tavern and hotel in the area. It was at the corner of Dundee Road and Milwaukee Avenue. By 1835, there were 18 cabins, and a post office opened inside Filkins’ Tavern.
In 1837, Russell Wheeler and Charles Daniels opened a general store next to the tavern. The people who moved to this area formed the Village of East Wheeling. This village later became known simply as Wheeling.
Wheeling's Geography and Climate
Wheeling covers about 8.74 square miles (22.61 square kilometers) of land. A small part of this area, about 0.24 square miles (0.62 square kilometers), is water.
Wheeling's Weather: What to Expect
Wheeling has a temperate climate. This means it has four distinct seasons. Winters are usually very cold and can have a lot of snow. Summers are often hot and humid, but sometimes they can be pleasantly warm. Rain and other types of precipitation are spread out evenly throughout the year.
| Climate data for Wheeling, Illinois | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32 (0) |
36 (2) |
45 (7) |
57 (14) |
68 (20) |
78 (26) |
83 (28) |
81 (27) |
74 (23) |
62 (17) |
49 (9) |
36 (2) |
58.416 (14.68) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 16 (−9) |
19 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
38 (3) |
47 (8) |
57 (14) |
63 (17) |
62 (17) |
54 (12) |
42 (6) |
33 (1) |
20 (−7) |
36.916 (2.73) |
Wheeling's Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 811 | — | |
| 1900 | 331 | −59.2% | |
| 1910 | 260 | −21.5% | |
| 1920 | 313 | 20.4% | |
| 1930 | 467 | 49.2% | |
| 1940 | 550 | 17.8% | |
| 1950 | 916 | 66.5% | |
| 1960 | 7,169 | 682.6% | |
| 1970 | 13,243 | 84.7% | |
| 1980 | 23,266 | 75.7% | |
| 1990 | 29,911 | 28.6% | |
| 2000 | 34,496 | 15.3% | |
| 2010 | 37,648 | 9.1% | |
| 2020 | 39,137 | 4.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, Wheeling had 39,137 people living there. There were 15,148 households and 9,673 families. About 27.2% of households had children under 18. Many households, 48.45%, were married couples.
The people in Wheeling come from many different backgrounds. About 50.33% of the people were White. About 16.73% were Asian, and 2.36% were African American. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 33.34% of the population.
The average age in Wheeling was 38.4 years old. About 19.9% of the population was under 18. About 16.0% were 65 years or older.
Wheeling's Economy and Businesses
Wheeling has a mix of businesses. A long time ago, there was a famous hotel called the Union Hotel. It was built in 1856 and later became several restaurants. The building was taken down in 1996 to build new homes.
Camp Ramah, a Jewish day camp, is located in Wheeling. This camp offers summer programs for kids.
Wheeling was also home to the American offices of some video game companies. These included Jaleco USA and Taito, which made popular video games.
The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago is also in Wheeling. It helps share Korean culture with the community.
Arts and Culture in Wheeling
Wheeling has public libraries that serve its residents. These include the Indian Trails Public Library District and the Prospect Heights Public Library District.
The village also has its own historical museum. This museum shows how Wheeling has changed since it was founded in 1894. It holds events to celebrate the town's history. Wheeling was an important stop for early settlers traveling between Chicago and Wisconsin.
Education in Wheeling: Schools and Learning
Wheeling offers many choices for education, from elementary schools to colleges.
Primary and Secondary Schools
Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21 serves many students in Wheeling. It has five elementary schools and three middle schools. Some elementary schools are Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, and Mark Twain. Middle schools include Oliver Wendell Holmes and Jack London.
Some students in Wheeling also go to schools in Prospect Heights School District 23. These schools include Betsy Ross Elementary and Douglas MacArthur Middle School.
Most high school students attend Wheeling High School. Some students also go to Buffalo Grove High School. Both of these high schools are part of Township High School District 214. This is one of the largest high school districts in Illinois.
There are also private schools in and near Wheeling. J. Slowacki School serves students from pre-kindergarten to 11th grade. East Capitol High School is for grades 9-12. St. Viator High School also serves grades 9-12. St. Alphonsus Ligouri School is a Catholic school for grades K-8 in nearby Prospect Heights.
Colleges and Universities
Wheeling has several options for higher education. National Louis University is a private university. It offers degrees in education, arts, sciences, and business. Worsham College of Mortuary Science is a private school that teaches about mortuary science. For community college, students can attend William Rainey Harper College, which is located in Palatine.
Other Educational Opportunities
The Consulate-General of South Korea in Chicago has a Korean Education Center in Wheeling. This center helps teach about Korean language and culture.
Wheeling's Transportation and Infrastructure
Wheeling has good transportation options for its residents.
Getting Around: Transportation Options
Wheeling has a Metra station. Metra is a commuter rail service that runs trains between Antioch and Chicago Union Station. This service is available Monday through Friday.
Pace provides bus service in Wheeling. These buses connect Wheeling to other nearby towns like Des Plaines and Buffalo Grove.
Chicago Executive Airport is a busy airport located in Wheeling and Prospect Heights. Both villages manage it together. It used to be called Palwaukee Municipal Airport. It is the third busiest airport in Illinois, after Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports.
Notable People from Wheeling
Many interesting people have connections to Wheeling.
- John Francis Daley, actor
- Charlie Kirk, director of Turning Point USA
- Mark Newman, executive with New York Yankees
- Dan Patlak, former commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review
- Haley Reinhart, singer
- Mike Rucinski, ice hockey center
- Deborah Voigt, opera singer
See also
In Spanish: Wheeling (Illinois) para niños
