Midlothian, Illinois

Midlothian, Illinois
County:	Cook
Township:	Bremen
Incorporated:	Village, 1927
Mayor:	Terry Stephens
ZIP code(s):	60445
Population (2000):	14,315
Change from 1990:	down 0.40%
Density:	5,059.5/mi² (1,953.0/km²)
Area:	2.8 mi² (7.3 km²)
Per capita income:	$20,150 (median: $50,000)
Home value:	$121,833 (2000) (median: $113,400)
Website:	villageofmidlothian.net
Demographics (2000)[1] White Black Hispanic Asian 88.00% 5.00% 5.00% 0.00% Islander Native Other 0.00% 0.00% 4.00%

Midlothian is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 14,315 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Midlothian is located at 41°37′35″N 87°43′17″W / 41.62639°N 87.72139°W / 41.62639; -87.72139Coordinates: 41°37′35″N 87°43′17″W / 41.62639°N 87.72139°W / 41.62639; -87.72139 (41.626383, -87.721373)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all land.

History

Until the turn of the century, the area now known as the Village of Midlothian - named for an ancient borough in Scotland - was little more than a milk stop along the Rock Island Railroad serving a few area farmers. In 1900, a group of wealthy Chicago industrialists, looking for respite and retreat from the crowded city, discovered the green knolls and rolling fairways of the new Midlothian Country Club and golf course deciding they needed faster transportation, they petitioned the Rock Island to build a spur track, and soon passenger trains were speeding people from Chicago to the quiet little village.

The Rock Island also built a depot - complete with an electric car to ride around Midlothian - and traffic to Midlothian began increasing. By 1915, land developers who saw opportunity in Midlothian began arriving, purchased land from farmers and subdivided the farms into tracts of land for housing developments. Soon the first general store opened, then a school, and then more businesses offering goods and services to serve the community's fast-growing population. The Midlothian Fire Department was organized in 1924.

By 1927, there were so many people living in the area that community leaders decided it was time to formally organize the community and incorporate it. On March 17, it was incorporated as the Village of Midlothian, taking its name from the golf course around which the community had grown and prospered. The following month, John H. Hamilton was elected as the Villages' first president.

In the '30s and '40s, homes continued to be built for people moving to and settling down in Midlothian. The Kreis Brothers opened the Ford Garage (where the village's fire engine was kept) and Chuck Cavallini began selling ice cream from his corner "Sweet Shop" (the Cavallini family would later own and operate the renowned Cavallini's Restaurant - home of the "Chuck Wagon" dinners - which served patrons from Midlothian, surrounding communities and even Chicago for a half century before closing in 1989). The first copy of The Messenger newspaper was printed in 1929 by the Andrews brothers, above the old Largent store located on 147th Street just west of Kildare. The first editor was Kevin McGann, who later served as aide-de-camp to General Dwight Eisenhower during World War II. McGann also worked with the General on his two books.

In 1949 Midlothian's present Village Hall was built at 148th and Pulaski. It provided a permanent "home" for the village staff. The facilities have been expanded and recently renovated; the Village Hall complex now houses the administrative staff, public works offices and garages, the fire department administrative offices and Station 1, the police department administrative offices, records, communications and investigative resources, a conference room and meeting room used by residents as well as staff, and the Village Board Chambers. Monthly hearings for parking tickets and housing-code violations are also held in the Chambers.

Midlothian Country Club

The Village of Midlothian takes its name from the Midlothian Country Club, a private club founded in 1898 by prominent Chicago businessmen looking for a summer retreat for their families. They came "way out to the country" (147th Street) and found a piece of property with rolling hills that reminded them of the Midlothian described in Sir Walter Scott's book The Heart of Midlothian. That Midlothian is in Scotland where golf was first played and so it was chosen as a fitting name for the new club. The club was one of the first golf clubs in the country and remains a prestigious course. The mayor's annual charity golf classic is held every summer at the Midlothian Country Club. The club also played host to the 1914 U.S. Open.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,315 people, 5,158 households, and 3,744 families residing in the village. The population density was 5,059.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,953.0/km²). There were 5,386 housing units at an average density of 1,903.6 per square mile (734.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 88.27% White, 6.13% African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.25% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 6.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The top five non-African, non-Hispanic ancestries reported in Midlothian as of the 2000 census were German (27.5%), Irish (26.5%), Polish (15.4%), Italian (10.4%) and English (5.2%).^[3]

There were 5,158 households out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the village the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,000, and the median income for a family was $58,945. Males had a median income of $43,693 versus $31,116 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,150. About 5.5% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Famous residents

David Dowaliby, who was accused of murdering his adopted daughter, Jaclyn Dowaliby, lived in Midlothian.

Victor Ames, who resided in Midlothian his entire life, flew several missions on D-Day, and in support of the invasion of France. He later became an engineer and took part in inventing the Trackmobile, a vehicle that drives on both streets and railroads.

Government

Midlothian is in Illinois' 1st congressional district.

Schools

• Springfield Elementary School
• Spaulding Elementary School
• Central Park Middle School
• Developmental Learning Program
• St. Christopher School
• Bremen High School

References

1. ^ 2000 United States Census Data
2. ^ "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. 
3. ^ Profile of General Demographic Characteristics, Midlothian, IllinoisPDF (39.0 KiB). U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed 2007-07-11.

External links

• Midlothian Public Library