Ford Heights, Illinois

Chicagoland municipality
muni-name = Ford Heights
muni = Village
date = 1949
state = Illinois
county = Cook
township = Bloom
gov =
head_label = Mayor
gov_head = Saul L. Beck
pop = 3,456
status = down
percent = 18.85
prevyear = 1990
density-km = 753.9
density-mi = 1,954.9
white = 1.77
black = 95.89
hispanic = 2.52
asian = 0.12
islander = 0.00
native = 0.06
other = 1.16
zips = 60411
acode = 708
area-km = 4.6
area-mi = 1.8
pci = 8,938
geocode = 26710
mhi = 17,500
mnhv = 46,900
mhv = 75,862 (2000)
website = www.fordheights.org

Ford Heights (formerly East Chicago Heights) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,456 at the 2000 census.

The village adopted its current name in 1987. Prior to that point, it was known as East Chicago Heights.

Ford Heights is predominantly viewed as the most impoverished suburb of Chicago. The village is marred by political corruption, a high crime rate, and decaying infrastructure. Private organizations in the village have made some inroads in ameliorating these problems.

Ford Heights is surrounded by industrial areas. Ford Motor Company's Chicago Heights Stamping plant is located adjacent to the village.

Geography

Ford Heights is located at coor dms|41|30|33|N|87|35|17|W|city (41.509285, -87.587938)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²), all of it land. The village lies on the border of the Tinley Moraine and Lake Bottomland.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,456 people, 984 households, and 779 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,954.9 people per square mile (753.9/km²). There were 1,019 housing units at an average density of 576.4/sq mi (222.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 1.77% White, 95.89% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 1.16% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.52% of the population.

There were 984 households out of which 48.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.5% were married couples living together, 49.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.51 and the average family size was 3.98.

In the village the population was spread out with 45.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 14.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $17,500, and the median income for a family was $16,706. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $20,243 for females. The per capita income for the village was $8,938. About 45.1% of families and 49.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 62.0% of those under age 18 and 29.1% of those age 65 or over. This is one of the highest rates in an urban area in the United States.

Government

Ford Heights is in Illinois' 2nd congressional district.

References

External links

* [http://www.commerce.state.il.us/communityprofiles/profiles/FORDHEIGHTS.HTM Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Community Profile]