Franklin Park, Illinois

Chicagoland municipality
muni-name = Franklin Park
state = Illinois
muni = Village
date = 1892
county = Cook
gov = Trustee-village
head_label = President
township = Leyden
gov_head = Daniel B. Pritchett
pop = 19,800
density-km = 1,610.2
density-mi = 4,172.1
status = up
percent = 5.13
prevyear = 1990
white = 62.22
black = 0.76
hispanic = 22.07
asian = 2.48
islander = 0.05
native = 0.29
other = 14.61
zips = 60131
acode = 847 & 224
area-km = 12.1
area-mi = 4.7
pci = 17,550
geocode = 27702
mhi = 46,688
mnhv = 144,400
mhv = 148,205
website = vofp.com

Franklin Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,800 at the 2004 census.

Geography

Franklin Park is located at coor dms|41|56|2|N|87|52|24|W|city (41.933780, -87.873462)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2004, there were 19,800 people, 6,484 households, and 4,765 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,172.1 people per square mile (1,610.2/km²). There were 6,641 housing units at an average density of 1,425.7/sq mi (550.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 62.22% White, 0.76% African American, 0.29% Native American, 2.48% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 14.61% from other races, and 2.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.07% of the population.

There were households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.52.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $46,688, and the median income for a family was $54,433. Males had a median income of $35,769 versus $27,435 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,550. About 5.2% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

History

Cook County, convert|13|mi|km W of the Loop. Franklin Park has more than met the expectations of Lesser Franklin, who settled in the area in the 1890s. He envisioned an industrial center that would blend with residential neighborhoods. A century later, Franklin Park boasted over 1,200 industries and related businesses covering 60 percent of the community.

German farmers settled in the 1840s. By the mid-1870s the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road tracks of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad) laid tracks and built a station on Elm Street. The Minneapolis, St. Paul, & Sault Ste Marie (Soo Line) and the Indiana Harbor Belt railroads followed.

In the early 1890s Franklin, a real-estate broker, purchased four farms totaling convert|600|acre|km2. At the railroads' intersection he built the community's center. He named the town Franklin Park and enticed prospective buyers with parades along LaSalle Street in Chicago. He offered free Sunday train rides to the property. A pavilion was built on Rose Street where potential customers received free food and beer, heard speeches, danced, and participated in contests. Lot sales exceeded a million dollars.

The community was incorporated in 1892. Before the turn of the century the first industry was founded. Lesser Franklin donated land for an iron foundry in 1900 and offered another parcel to the Siegel, Cooper Company to build a factory in 1905. Records from the 1923 foundry and school rosters listed the majority of workers and residents as Polish, Italian, and Slavic immigrants. World War II and a national preparedness program brought Douglas Aircraft and Buick Motors into the area. By 1948, 40 manufacturing firms called Franklin Park home. During the next decade 155 new companies were added. The Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Suburban Manufacturing Association have continually supported the efforts of businesses.

Population increased from 3,007 in 1940 to 18,322 by 1960. Town government promoted industrial development with zoning laws favoring their growth. A central alarm at the fire department gave both residents and industries access to heat- and smoke-detection systems. Water reserves provided large users with millions of gallons daily.

The village has remained in search of land for industrial expansion. In 1990 Franklin Park annexed 65 acres and was the fourth largest industrial area in Illinois. By 2000, population was at 19,434 with a Hispanic population around 38 percent. Most residents were blue-collar workers employed by the complex of industries. Good location and easy access to O'Hare Airport cargo terminals, railroad freight terminals, major expressways for routing, and spur tracks accessing the rear of buildings have made Franklin Park a desirable place for industry.

Transportation

Franklin Park has three Metra stations: Belmont Avenue on Metra's North Central Service, which provides daily rail service between Antioch, Illinois and Chicago, Illinois (at Union Station); Franklin Park and Mannheim on the Milwaukee District/West Line which connects Chicago to Elgin, Illinois.

chools

*High Schools
**East Leyden High School

*Middle Schools
**Hester Jr. High

*Elementary Schools
**Passow Elementary School
**South Elementary School
**North Elementary School
** East Early Childhood Center

References

External links

Franklin Park Public Library [http://www.franklinparklibrary.org/]

Geographic Location
Center = Franklin Park, Illinois
North = Schiller Park, Illinois
Northeast = O'Hare, Chicago
East = River Grove, Illinois
Southeast = Melrose Park, Illinois
South = Unincorporated Cook County
Southwest = Northlake, Illinois
West = Bensenville, Illinois
Northwest = O'Hare, Chicago