Cicero, Illinois | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Cicero in Cook County, Illinois | |
  Cicero  Cicero  Cicero | |
| Coordinates:41°50′40″N87°45′33″W / 41.84444°N 87.75917°W /41.84444; -87.75917[1] | |
| Country |  United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| Township | Cicero |
| Incorporated | February 28, 1867 (1867-02-28) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • President | Larry Dominick |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.86 sq mi (15.19 km2) |
| • Land | 5.86 sq mi (15.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 607 ft (185 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 85,268 |
• Estimate (2024)[3] | 82,090 |
| • Density | 14,538.3/sq mi (5,613.28/km2) |
| Standard of living (2011) | |
| • Per capita income | $14,539 |
| • Median home value | $157,500 |
| ZIP Code | 60804 |
| Area code(s) | 708/464 |
| Geocode | 17-14351 |
| FIPS code | 17-14351 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2584746[1] |
| Website | thetownofcicero |
| [4] | |
Cicero is atown inCook County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb ofChicago. As of the2020 census, the population was 85,268, making it the11th-most populous municipality in Illinois.[5] The town is named afterMarcus Tullius Cicero, aRoman statesman and orator. With a population more than 89% Hispanic, the town is the most Hispanic in the state of Illinois.[6]
Originally,Cicero Township occupied an area six times the size of its current territory. The cities ofOak Park andBerwyn were incorporated from portions of Cicero Township, and other portions, such asAustin, were annexed into the city ofChicago.[7]
By 1911, anaerodrome called the Cicero Flying Field had been established as the town's first aircraft facility of any type,[8] located on a roughly square plot of land about 800 meters (1/2-mile) per side, on then-open ground at41°51′19″N87°44′56″W / 41.85528°N 87.74889°W /41.85528; -87.74889 by the Aero Club of Illinois, founded on February 10, 1910.[9] Famous pilots likeHans-Joachim Buddecke,Lincoln Beachey,Chance M. Vought and others flew from there at various times during the"pioneer era" of aviation in the United States shortly before the nation's involvement inWorld War I; the field closed in mid-April 1916.[10]
After building his criminal empire in Chicago,Al Capone moved to Cicero to escape the reach of Chicago police.[11] The1924 Cicero municipal elections were particularly violent due to gang-related efforts to secure a favorable election result.
On July 11–12, 1951, arace riot erupted in Cicero when a white mob of around 4,000 attacked and burned an apartment building at 6139 W. 19th Street that housed theAfrican-American family of Harvey Clark Jr., aChicago Transit Authority bus driver who had relocated to the all-white city. GovernorAdlai E. Stevenson was forced to call out theIllinois National Guard. The Clarks moved away and the building had to be boarded up.[12] The Cicero riot received worldwide condemnation.[13]
Cicero was taken up and abandoned several times as site for acivil rights march in the mid-1960s. Cicero had asundown town policy prohibiting African Americans from living in the city.[14] TheAmerican Friends Service Committee,Martin Luther King Jr., and many affiliated organizations, including churches, were conducting marches against housing and schoolde facto segregation and inequality in Chicago and several suburbs, but the leaders feared an overly violent response inChicago Lawn and Cicero.[15] Eventually, a substantial march (met by catcalls, flying bottles and bricks) was conducted in Chicago Lawn, but only a splinter group, led byJesse Jackson, marched in Cicero.[16] The marches in the Chicago suburbs helped galvanize support for the passage of theCivil Rights Act of 1968, extending federal prohibitions against discrimination to private housing. The act also created theUnited States Department of Housing and Urban Development'sOffice of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, which enforces the law.
The 1980s and 1990s saw a heavy influx ofHispanic (mostlyMexican andCentral American) residents to Cicero. Once considered mainly aCzech orBohemian town, most of the European-style restaurants and shops on 22nd Street (nowCermak Road) have been replaced by Spanish-titled businesses. In addition, Cicero has a small black community.
Cicero has seen a revival in its commercial sector, with many new mini-malls and large retail stores. New condominiums are also being built in the city.
Cicero has long had a reputation of government scandal. In 2002, Republican Town PresidentBetty Loren-Maltese was sent tofederal prison in California for misappropriating $12 million in funds.[17][18]
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Cicero has a total area of 5.87 square miles (15.20 km2), all land.[19] Cicero formerly ran from Harlem Avenue to Western Avenue and Pershing Road to North Avenue; however, much of this area was annexed by Chicago.
Cicero is in the Hot-summer humid continental climate, orKöppen Dfa zone. The zone includes four distinct seasons. Winter is cold with snow. Spring warms up with precipitation and storms. Summer has high precipitation and storms. Fall cools down.[20]
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,272 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,545 | 21.5% | |
| 1880 | 5,182 | 235.4% | |
| 1890 | 10,204 | 96.9% | |
| 1900 | 16,310 | 59.8% | |
| 1910 | 14,557 | −10.7% | |
| 1920 | 44,995 | 209.1% | |
| 1930 | 66,602 | 48.0% | |
| 1940 | 64,712 | −2.8% | |
| 1950 | 67,544 | 4.4% | |
| 1960 | 69,130 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 67,058 | −3.0% | |
| 1980 | 61,232 | −8.7% | |
| 1990 | 67,436 | 10.1% | |
| 2000 | 85,616 | 27.0% | |
| 2010 | 83,895 | −2.0% | |
| 2020 | 85,268 | 1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[22] 2010[23] 2020[24] | |||
As of the2020 census[25] there were 85,268 people, 22,698 households, and 17,508 families residing in the town. The population density was 14,538.45 inhabitants per square mile (5,613.33/km2). There were 25,836 housing units at an average density of 4,405.12 per square mile (1,700.83/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 19.22%White, 3.72%African American, 4.26%Native American, 0.59%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 46.86% fromother races, and 25.30% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 89.00% of the population.
There were 22,698 households, out of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.83% were married couples living together, 19.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.87% were non-families. 18.99% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.63% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.06 and the average family size was 3.55.
The town's age distribution consisted of 28.0% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,726, and the median income for a family was $56,632. Males had a median income of $33,835 versus $26,101 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $20,040. About 11.4% of families and 13.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[26] | Pop 2010[23] | Pop 2020[24] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 16,787 | 7,696 | 5,332 | 19.61% | 9.17% | 6.25% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 674 | 2,690 | 2,870 | 0.79% | 3.21% | 3.37% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 139 | 56 | 71 | 0.16% | 0.07% | 0.08% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 771 | 467 | 456 | 0.90% | 0.56% | 0.53% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 13 | 26 | 14 | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 64 | 90 | 162 | 0.07% | 0.11% | 0.19% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 869 | 257 | 473 | 1.01% | 0.31% | 0.55% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 66,299 | 72,609 | 75,890 | 77.44% | 86.55% | 89.00% |
| Total | 85,616 | 83,891 | 85,268 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of 2011, 52.5% of occupied housing units were owned properties, and 47.5% were rentals. There were 4,667 vacant housing units. The average age of home properties was greater than 66 years.[27]
Cicero is a factory town. As of 1999, about a quarter of the city contained one of the greatest industrial concentrations in the world. There were more than 150 factories in 1.7 mi (2.8 km), producing communications and electronic equipment, sugar, printing presses, steel castings, tool and die makers' supplies, forging and rubber goods.[citation needed]
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On the south side of Cicero, there were two racetracks.Hawthorne Race Course, located in Cicero andStickney, is ahorse racing track still in operation. Just north of it wasChicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park, which was formerly Sportsman's Park Racetrack (for horse racing) for many years. This Sportsman's Park facility is now closed, acquired by the Town of Cicero, and has since been demolished. Facilities of theWirtz Beverage Group have been built on the west half and aWalmart built on the east half.
Most of Cicero is inIllinois's 4th congressional district; the area south of the railroad at approximately 33rd Street is in the3rd district.[28]
TheUnited States Postal Service operates the Cicero Post Office at 2440 South Laramie Avenue.[29]
Cicero is served byCicero Elementary School District 99 and comprises 16 schools, making it one of the largest public school districts outside of Chicago. Elementary students attend the following schools, depending on residency: Burnham (K-6), Cicero East (4–6), Cicero West (PK-4), Columbus East (4–6), Columbus West (PK-4), Drexel (K-6), Early Childhood Center (PK), Goodwin (PK-6), Liberty (K-3), Lincoln (PK-6), Roosevelt (4–6), Sherlock (PK-6), Warren Park (PK-6), Wilson (K-6), and Unity Junior High (7–8), which is separated into East–west sections. East side being held for eighth graders & seventh graders on the West side. Unity is the second largest middle school in the country. High school students entering their freshman year attend the Freshman Center and then continue high school atMorton East of theJ. Sterling Morton High School District 201. The McKinley Educational Center serves as an alternative school for 5th-8th graders and the Morton Alternative School serves as an alternative school for 9th-12th graders
TheRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago operates two PK-8 schools in Cicero. Our Lady of Charity School is one.[40] St. Frances of Rome School was supposed to close in 2024 but stayed open and is still operating.[41]
From 1927 until 1972, Cicero was the home ofTimothy Christian School.
Cicero is also home toMorton College.
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Cicero is served by two major railroad lines, theBNSF Railway and theBelt Railway of Chicago. Public Transportation is provided byMetra'sBNSF Line betweenAurora and Chicago'sUnion Station with a stop at theCicero station nearCicero Avenue and 26th Street. Currently, this station is undergoing a much needed reconstruction and expansion by Metra. Also, theChicago "L"'sPink Line provides daily service from the54th/Cermak terminal to theLoop. ItsCicero station is also located in Cicero. MultiplePace andChicago Transit Authority bus routes cover portions of Cicero.
The Cicero Fire Department (CFD) has a staff of 97 professional full time firefighters. The CFD operates out of three fire stations.[42]
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The second great aeronautical event of 1911 around Chicago was the establishment by the A.C.I. of a top-notch flying field named 'Cicero Flying Field' (or simply 'Cicero') within the township limits of Cicero (bounded by 16th St., 52nd Ave., 22nd St. and 48th Avenue. At some point during May, the A.C.I. was given a five year lease on the Cicero property by the Grant Land Association, Harold F. McCormick's property holding company. At the conclusion of the 1911 Aviation Meet, the hangars in Grant Park were moved to the southern edge of the 2-1/2 sq. mi. lot in Cicero.
The day before his two-day exhibition flights at theHawthorne Race Track in Cicero, Illinois, on October 16 and 17, 1909,Glenn Curtiss spoke to the Chicago Automobile Club and suggested that an aero club be formed in Chicago. In response to his remarks, the Aero Club of Illinois ('A.C.I.') was incorporated on February 10, 1910, withOctave Chanute as its first president—a perfect choice, to be sure... The second great aeronautical event of 1911 around Chicago was the establishment by the A.C.I. of a top-notch flying field named 'Cicero Flying Field' (or simply 'Cicero') within the township limits of Cicero (bounded by [West] 16th St., 52nd Ave [S. Laramie Avenue]., 22nd St [West Cermak Road]. and48th Ave.), conveniently located adjacent to interurban rail service—just a 15 min. 5¢ trip on theDouglas Park 'L' from downtown Chicago, and also was served by two streetcar lines.
On April 16, 1916, when 'Matty' Laird took off from Cicero Flying Field, at the controls of his self-designed and self-built Boneshaker biplane and flew to the new Partridge & Keller aviation field at 87th St. and Pulaski Road, in Chicago, Cicero Flying Field ceased to be. The next day, the Aero Club of Illinois (A.C.I.) officially opened its new 640 acreAshburn Field on land purchased by A.C.I. President 'Pop' Dickinson for the A.C.I. Ashburn was located at 83rd St. and Cicero Avenue, about 7-1/2 miles almost due south of Cicero. All of the hangars and buildings at Cicero had been moved to Ashburn Field some months earlier.
Although he says the Cicero march was a victory, residents of Cicero probably feel no different about Negroes than they did one week ago. (Negroes are not allowed to live in Cicero, but ironically, 15,000 of them work in the suburb's factories and stores five days a week.)
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