Palos Heights, Illinois

Chicagoland municipality
muni-name = Palos Heights
muni = City
date = 1959
state = Illinois
county = Cook
township = Palos
tcounty = Cook
township2 = Palos
gov = Mayor-council
head_label = Mayor
gov_head = Robert Straz
pop = 11,260
density-km = 1,150.1
density-mi = 2,978.6
status = down
percent = 1.90
prevyear = 1990
white = 96.39
black = 0.44
irish = 0.00
hispanic = 1.43
asian = 2.06
islander = 0.00
native = 0.09
other = 0.25
zips = 60463
acode = 708
area-km = 10.0
area-mi = 3.9
pci = 32,895
geocode = 57381
mhi = 69,907
mnhv = 210,500
mhv = 226,555 (2000)
website = www.palosheights.org

Palos Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 12,561 in 2005.

Geography

Palos Heights is located at coor dms|41|39|55|N|87|47|50|W|city (41.665332, -87.797201)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.0 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.33%) is water.

Demographics

As of the 2000 censusGR|2, there were 11,561 people, 4,123 households, and 3,133 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,978.6 people per square mile (1,150.1/km²). There were 4,268 housing units at an average density of 1,129.0/sq mi (435.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.39% White, 0.44% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.06% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

The top five ancentries reported in Palos Heights as of the 2000 census were Irish (27.2%), German (20.5%), Polish (14.1%), Italian (10.5%) and Dutch (9.1%). [PDFlink| [http://censtats.census.gov/data/IL/1601757381.pdf Profile of General Demographic Characteristics, Palos Heights, Illinois] |38.8 KiB . U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed 2007-04-14.]

There were 4,123 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $69,907, and the median income for a family was $81,100. Males had a median income of $61,786 versus $37,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,895. About 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Palos Heights is divided between three congressional districts. Most of the city, including all the area in Worth Township, is in Illinois' 1st congressional district; most of the area in Palos Township, excepting some of the southern portions (generally south of 131st Street) are in the 3rd district; an area under 1/20 sq mi northeast of 131st Street and 80th Avenue, along with a small area around Palos Community Hospital, is in the 13th district.The City Council is made up on 8 aldermen from wards:Alderman Jeff Prestinario and Jean Gnap (1st Ward)Robert "Bob" Basso and Jack Clifford (2nd Ward)Alan Fulkerson and Dolores Kramarski 3rd Ward)Mike McGrogan and Art Phillips (4th Ward)The City Administrator is Dan Nisavic.Matt Karolczak (City Mascot)

Public and Private Schools

Palos Heights is served by four school districts noted for high quality programs and instruction. The four districts are: Palos Heights School District 128, Palos Community Consolidated School District 118, Community High School District 218, and Consolidated High School District 230.

District 128 operates one pre-school (Indian Hill) two elementary schools(Chippewa, and Navajo Heights) and a junior high school (Independence). District 118 also operates two elementary schools (Palos East and Palos West) and a middle school (Palos South). The district’s Palos East elementary is situated within the city’s boundaries.

Community High School District 218’s Alan B. Shepard High School serves Palos Heights and several neighboring communities. Students can choose from more than 200 different courses, including advanced placement courses, foreign language, computer programming, computer-aided design, robotics, graphic design, and desktop publishing. In addition, students can participate in a full roster of sports.

Consolidated High School District 230’s Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. Located in Palos Hills, serves Palos Heights students living west of Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43). It also offers more than 200 courses designed to meet the academic needs of college-bound students and the training needs of career-oriented students.

Several private and parochial schools in Palos Heights offer alternatives to public school education. Among the schools are St. Alexander Catholic School which is the best Catholic school on the south side of the City of Chicago and is known for academics and also sports, Palos Evangelical Lutheran Elementary School, and Chicago Christian High School. The latter offers the full range of college preparatory, business, and technology courses. Additionally Elim Christian Services offers a school for those with special needs.

Palos Heights students can readily commute to Moraine Valley Community College, in nearby Palos Hills. Moraine Valley serves the local residents through classes, seminars, lectures, concerts, plays, and other activities.

Trinity Christian College is also located in Palos Heights.

Historical Fact

In 1965 a group of scholars met in Palos Heights to discuss the need for a contemporary translation of the Holy Bible. The necessity of the project was agreed upon, and shortly thereafter, the New International Version (NIV) was initiated in Palos Heights.

Notable residents

* Ed Olczyk, played for the USA in hockey at the 1984 Olympics and went on to a career in the NHL.
* Joe Ganz, the current College Football quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Transportation

Palos Heights has a station on Metra's SouthWest Service, which provided daily rail service between Manhattan, Illinois and Chicago, Illinois (at Union Station).

References

External links

* [http://www.palosheights.org/ Palos Heights Home Page]
* [http://www.chsd218.org/shepard Alan B. Shepard High School]