- Markham, Illinois
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Markham, Illinois County: Cook Township: Bremen Incorporated: City, 1925 Mayor: David Webb, Jr. ZIP code(s): 60428 Area code(s): 708 Population (2000): 12,620 Change from 1990: down 3.93% Density: 2,420.6/mi² (935.2/km²) Area: 5.2 mi² (13.5 km²) Per capita income: $14,870
(median: $41,592)Home value: $80,443 (2000)
(median: $75,200)Website: www.cityofmarkham.net Demographics (2000)[1] White Black Hispanic Asian 17.30% 78.86% 3.14% 0.59% Islander Native Other 0.02% 0.16% 1.61% Markham is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,620 at the 2000 census.
Contents
Geography
Markham is located at 41°35′51″N 87°41′30″W / 41.5975°N 87.69167°WCoordinates: 41°35′51″N 87°41′30″W / 41.5975°N 87.69167°W (41.597467, -87.691570)[2].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13 km2), all of it land.
History
It is claimed this area was beach 10,000 years ago. After countless ages of geologic swamps, marshes and sloughs, the prairies dominated the landscape with groves of trees, flowers, and wildlife in abundance.
Markham, southwest of the southern tip of Lake Michigan, had been a crossroad for early pioneers. In 1816 a treaty was made with the Ottawa, Chippewa and Potawatomi tribes which ceded a corridor of land located between a point north of the Chicago River and the mouth of the Calumet River to the settlers. The southern boundary, one of two Indian Treaty Boundary Lines, was surveyed along a line from the Kankakee River to Lake Michigan. The line still appears on government maps and now includes a short portion of Interstate 57 near the US 6 interchange northwest of Markham.
The village of Markham was incorporated in 1925 with a population under 300. The village was named for Charles H. Markham, President of the Illinois Central Railroad 1911-1918, 1919-1926. In the mid-1930s, the Croissant Park subdivision was built and increased the population from 349 to 1,388. After World War II, Markham's population doubled to 2,753 residents by 1950. The village developed into a bedroom community as residents sought homes, not industry. An airport developed at 165th Street and Kedzie Avenue, and was the nearest field outside of Chicago. The airport site was located nearby what is now the Cook County Sixth Circuit Courthouse. On August 24, 1967 the Village of Markham was incorporated as a city.
The Lone Pine Tree
In 1860, a German immigrant named Lawrence Roesner made his way to the southern boundary and settled on land located in the northwest corner of Markham. He brought with him six seedlings from the Black Forest of Germany and planted them along the Indian Boundary Line. This "Lone Pine Tree" was adopted as the official city symbol in 1985. The lone survivor of six pine trees brought from the Black Forest in 1860 died in 1986. The Markham City Council appropriated money to get a replacement tree from the Black Forest, which the Markham Garden Club planted that year.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census[3], there were 12,620 people, 3,842 households, and 3,119 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,420.6 people per square mile (935.2/km²). There were 4,019 housing units at an average density of 770.9 per square mile (297.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 17.30% White, 78.86% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.14% of the population.
The top three non-African American ancenstries reported in Markham as of the 2000 census were Irish (5.5%), German (5.1%) and Polish (3.1%).[4]
There were 3,842 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 30.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.28 and the average family size was 3.61.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,592, and the median income for a family was $44,149. Males had a median income of $37,281 versus $27,723 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,870. About 13.9% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Markham is divided between two congressional districts. Most of the city is in Illinois' 2nd congressional district, consisting of the area south of the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-57) that is bordered on the west by Homan Avenue from 155th to 161st Streets, Trumbull Avenue from 161st to 163rd, and Lawndale Avenue from 163rd to 167th; the rest of the city is part of the 1st district.
- 1st Congressional District-Congressman Bobby Rush-Democrat
- 2nd Congressional District-Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.-Democrat
In the Illinois State Senate Markham is split by two districts:
- 15th District-Senator James Meeks-Democrat
- 19th District-Senator M. Maggie Crotty-Democrat
In the Illinois House of Representatives Markham is split by two districts:
Police Department
The Markam Police Department is responsible for public safety and law enforcement. Anthony "Tony" DeBois, the deputy police chief, has been subject to numerous law suits alleging brutality and misconduct.[5]
Indian Boundary Prairies
There are approximately 2,500 acres (10 km2) of virgin prairie land located within the boundary of the City of Markham. There are four prairies known as "Dropseed", "Sundrop", "Paintbrush" and "Gensburg".
The prairie is under the supervision of the Northeastern Illinois University Nature Conservancy. Plans are underway to build a Nature Center.
The Gensburg-Markham Prairie within Markham has been designated as a National Natural Landmark. The prairies continue to grow and flourish with the help of the Friends of the Indian Boundary Prairies.
Notable people
- Rodney Harrison, a native of Markham, a retired safety for the New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers.
- Cliff Floyd, raised in Markham, an outfielder for the San Diego Padres.
- Curtis Mayfield, solo artist and member of the soul group the Impressions, once lived in Markham.[citation needed]
- Corey McPherrin, raised in Markham, a sportscaster for the Chicago FOX News station.
- Kid Sister, hip-hop artist raised in Markham.
- Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, hip hop artist and producer born in Markham.
- Floyd Fields, raised in Markham, a retired safety for the San Diego Chargers.
References
- ^ 2000 United States Census Data
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Profile of General Demographic Characteristics, Markham, IllinoisPDF (38.9 KiB). U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed 2007-07-11.
- ^ Markham deputy chief no stranger to lawsuits Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-10-12
External links
Categories:- Markham, Illinois
- Cities in Illinois
- Populated places in Illinois with African American majority populations
- Populated places in Cook County, Illinois
- Populated places established in 1925
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