Palos Heights, Illinois | |
|---|---|
 Palos Heights Public Library | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Palos Heights in Cook County, Illinois. | |
  Palos Heights  Palos Heights  Palos Heights | |
| Coordinates:41°39′55″N87°47′50″W / 41.66528°N 87.79722°W /41.66528; -87.79722 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| Township | Palos,Worth |
| Incorporated | 1959 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Robert Straz |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.87 sq mi (10.03 km2) |
| • Land | 3.77 sq mi (9.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.097 sq mi (0.25 km2) 2.58% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,068 |
| • Density | 3,198.0/sq mi (1,234.77/km2) |
| Standard of living (2007-11) | |
| • Per capita income | $39,954 |
| • Median home value | $301,300 |
| ZIP code(s) | 60463 |
| Area code(s) | 708 |
| Geocode | 57381 |
| FIPS code | 17-57381 |
| Website | www |
Palos Heights is a city inCook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwest suburb ofChicago. Per the2020 census, the population was 12,068.[2]
Palos Heights was incorporated on April 11, 1959, on its fourth attempt at the ballot with the results 850 to 684. It officially became a city on April 16, 1959. Shortly thereafter, Z. Erol Smith was elected its first mayor and was re-elected three times, serving until 1973.[3] The city’s name derives from the surrounding Palos Township, which was renamed in 1850—on the recommendation of early postmaster Melanchan A. Powell—afterPalos de la Frontera,Spain.[4][5]
In 1965, a group of scholars met in Palos Heights to discuss the need for a contemporary translation of theBible. The necessity of the project was agreed upon, and shortly thereafter, theNew International Version (NIV) was initiated in Palos Heights.
Beginning in the late 1980s under Mayor Eugene Simpson, the city redeveloped land along the Cal-Sag Channel into what became Lake Katherine; a nonprofit nature center was formalized in 2005 to manage the site.[6]
In 2000, plans by the Al Salam Mosque Foundation to purchase a former church building in Palos Heights drew regional and national attention after the city council voted to offer the group money to abandon the sale; Mayor Dean Koldenhoven vetoed the payout. The foundation sued the city, and in May 2005 a federal jury found Palos Heights did not violate the group’s civil rights. Koldenhoven received a 2002 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his stance during the dispute.[7][8][9]
In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Cook County prosecutors filed a hate-crime case after a 39-year-old man attacked a gas-station worker in Palos Heights; the defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, unlawful use of a weapon, and a hate crime.[10]
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Palos Heights has a total area of 3.87 square miles (10.02 km2), of which 3.77 square miles (9.76 km2) (or 97.47%) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km2) (or 2.53%) is water.[11]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Palos Heights has the following neighborhoods, each with distinct characteristics:
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3,775 | — | |
| 1970 | 8,544 | 126.3% | |
| 1980 | 11,096 | 29.9% | |
| 1990 | 11,478 | 3.4% | |
| 2000 | 11,260 | −1.9% | |
| 2010 | 12,515 | 11.1% | |
| 2020 | 12,068 | −3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 2010[13] 2020[14] | |||
As of the2020 census[15] there were 12,068 people, 4,625 households, and 3,407 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,116.74 inhabitants per square mile (1,203.38/km2). There were 5,114 housing units at an average density of 1,320.76 per square mile (509.95/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.25%White, 1.91%Asian, 1.67%African American, 0.07%Native American, 1.32% fromother races, and 4.78% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 5.35% of the population.
There were 4,625 households, out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.46% were married couples living together, 9.04% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.34% were non-families. 21.75% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 2.55.
The city's age distribution consisted of 17.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 30.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $90,995, and the median income for a family was $105,134. Males had a median income of $64,583 versus $44,342 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $44,721. About 3.8% of families and 5.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 10,727 | 11,456 | 10,734 | 95.27% | 91.54% | 88.95% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 47 | 208 | 196 | 0.42% | 1.66% | 1.62% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 9 | 6 | 4 | 0.08% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 232 | 249 | 224 | 2.06% | 1.99% | 1.86% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 6 | 13 | 29 | 0.05% | 0.10% | 0.24% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 78 | 108 | 235 | 0.69% | 0.86% | 1.95% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 161 | 474 | 646 | 1.43% | 3.79% | 5.35% |
| Total | 11,260 | 12,515 | 12,068 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2000 census,[17] there were 11,561 people, 4,123 households, and 3,133 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,978.6 people per square mile (1,150.0 people/km2). There were 4,268 housing units at an average density of 1,129.0 per square mile (435.9/km2). Theracial 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 orLatino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
The top five ancestries reported in Palos as of the 2000 census wereIrish (27.2%),German (20.5%),Polish (14.1%),Italian (10.5%) andDutch (9.1%).[18]
There were 4,123 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the city was $32,895. About 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Palos Heights is divided between three congressional districts. Most of the city, including all the area inWorth Township, is inIllinois's 1st congressional district; most of the area inPalos Township, excepting some of the southern portions (generally south of 131st Street) are in the3rd district; an area under 0.05 square miles (100,000 m2) northeast of 131st Street and 80th Avenue, along with a small area around Palos Community Hospital, is in the13th district. The City Council is made up of a mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and eight aldermen from wards:
The City Administrator is Dan Nisavic.
| This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Palos Heights is served by four school districts. The four districts are:Palos Heights School District 128,Palos Community Consolidated School District 118,Community High School District 218, andConsolidated High School District 230.[19]
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.[20]
Community High School District 218'sAlan 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'sAmos Alonzo Stagg High School, located inPalos Hills, serves Palos Heights students living west of Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43).[21] 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, Palos Evangelical Lutheran Elementary School, Elim Christian School,Chicago Christian High School, and Stone Church Christian Academy.[19] The latter offers the full range of college preparatory, business, and technology courses.[22] Kennedy School is in nearbyPalos Hills.[19] TheRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago operates the Catholic schools. Incarnation Catholic School closed in 2018.[23]
Palos Heights students can readily commute toMoraine 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.
Palos Heights Public Library serves the community.[24]
Palos Heights has astation onMetra'sSouthWest Service, which provides daily rail service between the village ofManhattan andChicago Union Station. Palos Heights is served by threePace bus routes.[25]
Places adjacent to Palos Heights, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
