Palos Township | |
|---|---|
 Lake Katherine,Palos Heights | |
 Seal | |
 Location in Cook County | |
 Cook County's location in Illinois | |
| Coordinates:41°41′05″N87°51′11″W / 41.68472°N 87.85306°W /41.68472; -87.85306 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| Area | |
• Total | 35.39 sq mi (91.7 km2) |
| • Land | 33.74 sq mi (87.4 km2) |
| • Water | 1.65 sq mi (4.3 km2) 4.66% |
| Elevation | 590 ft (180 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 56,836 |
| • Density | 1,685/sq mi (650.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 60457, 60462, 60463, 60464, 60465, 60480, 60482 |
| FIPS code | 17-031-57355 |
| Website | www |
Palos Township is one of 29townships inCook County,Illinois. As of the2020 census, its population was 56,836,[2] with its most populous municipality beingPalos Hills (pop. 17,484). The vast majority of the township's population resides in its eastern half; the half west ofLa Grange Road consists of thePalos Forest Preserves, a section of theCook County Forest Preserves. In 1850 the small town of Trenton, Illinois changed its name to Palos; this recommendation was made by M. S. Powell, the local postmaster, whose ancestor supposedly sailed withChristopher Columbus fromPalos de la Frontera. When it incorporated as a village in 1914, Palos officially becamePalos Park. Nearby communities incorporated later:Hickory Hills, in 1951, andPalos Hills, in 1958. All three municipalities lie completely or substantially within Palos Township.Palos Heights, partially inWorth Township, incorporated in 1959.
Township offices are located at 10802 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills. The municipalities ofWorth andBridgeview also lie partially in the township. Palos Township's approximate borders areHarlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43) on the east, 135th Street on the south, Will-Cook Road extended to theDuPage County line on the west, and 87th Street on the north; in the northwest, the township border follows theDes Plaines River from 87th Street to DuPage County's southeast corner. TheChicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, designated aNational Historic District in 2011, passes through the township just south of the river, and theCal-Sag Channel roughly bisects the township from east to west.
According to Illinois law, townships are responsible for the maintenance of township roadways, the governance of the General Assistance program and theassessment of real property. In Cook County, townships are not responsible for assessing real property as theCook County Assessor performs that function.
Some townships have adopted other duties, including the provision of health services. Palos Township runs a health service providing low- or no-cost physical examinations, sick visits, cholesterol tests and screenings, pregnancy tests, blood pressure screening, immunizations, podiatry services for senior citizens and other services.
Other services provided by Palos Township include free tax preparation for senior citizens, temporary handicapped placards, voter services, speaker's bureau, and much more.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Palos Township has a total area of 35.39 square miles (91.66 km2), of which 33.74 square miles (87.39 km2) (or 95.34%) is land and 1.65 square miles (4.27 km2) (or 4.66%) is water.[3]
Palos Township is bordered on the north byLyons Township, on the east byWorth Township, on the south byOrland Township, and on the west byLemont Township. The northwest border with Lyons Township follows theDes Plaines River, directly adjacent to theChicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (managed by theMetropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago) which connectsLake Michigan with theMississippi River.
Other bordering township includeHomer Township (Will County) on the southwest corner;Bremen Township (Cook County) on the southeast corner;Stickney Township (Cook County) on the northeast corner andDowners Grove Township (DuPage County) on the northwest corner.
The township contains three cemeteries: Fairmount-Willow Hills, Oak Hill and Sacred Heart Catholic.
Interstate 294
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 45
Illinois Route 7
Illinois Route 43
Illinois Route 83
Illinois Route 171TheseCook County Forest Preserves woods:
As of the2020 census[4] there were 56,836 people, 21,168 households, and 13,852 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,605.85 inhabitants per square mile (620.02/km2). There were 23,107 housing units at an average density of 652.87 per square mile (252.07/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 81.74%White, 3.49%African American, 0.26%Native American, 2.97%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 4.18% fromother races, and 7.34% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 11.27% of the population.
There were 21,168 households, out of which 26.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.04% were married couples living together, 8.71% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 34.56% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.17.
The township's age distribution consisted of 20.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $72,067, and the median income for a family was $90,042. Males had a median income of $56,924 versus $38,459 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $38,372. About 7.0% of families and 9.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 1,436 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,907 | 32.8% | |
| 1950 | 5,707 | 199.3% | |
| 1960 | 17,728 | 210.6% | |
| 1970 | 33,100 | 86.7% | |
| 1980 | 46,412 | 40.2% | |
| 1990 | 50,916 | 9.7% | |
| 2000 | 53,419 | 4.9% | |
| 2010 | 54,615 | 2.2% | |
| 2020 | 56,836 | 4.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] | |||
Palos Township is governed by a township board of trustees sometimes called the township board or town board. The town board consists of five voting members and includes the elected township supervisor and four elected township trustees.
The town board is responsible for providing a budget and taxes sufficient to run the operations of the township government each year. The supervisor is a voting member of the town board but is also the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the township.
The township clerk, assessor and highway commissioner are elected officials; however, they do not have a vote on the town board.
Duties and powers of the supervisor
The township supervisor is the chief executive officer of the township and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the township along with the following other duties:
| Name | Elected position | Party affiliation & village |
|---|---|---|
| Colleen Grant-Schumann | Supervisor | Republican - Palos Heights |
| Jane Nolan | Clerk | Democrat - Palos Hills |
| Robert E. Maloney | Assessor | Democrat - Palos Hills |
| Gene Adams | Highway Commissioner | Republican - Palos Park |
| Brent Woods | Trustee and Supervisor Pro-Tem | Republican - Worth |
| Richard C. Riley | Trustee | Republican - Palos Hills |
| Tasneem Abuzir | Trustee | Independent - Bridgeview |
| Pam Jeanes | Trustee | Republican - Orland Park |
Palos Township has been a generally Republican jurisdiction in presidential elections, having voted for ten of the last eleven Republican presidential candidates.
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024[6] | 42.33%9,992 | 56.35%13,303 | 1.32%312 |
| 2020[6] | 46.95%12,577 | 51.44%13,779 | 1.61%432 |
| 2016[6] | 45.46%11,021 | 48.68%11,802 | 5.86%1,422 |
| 2012[6] | 46.47%10,476 | 51.88%11,697 | 1.65%372 |
| 2008[7] | 50.30%12,004 | 48.44%11,560 | 1.27%302 |
| 2004[6] | 47.06%11,251 | 52.28%12,500 | 0.66%158 |
| 2000[6] | 44.15%9,701 | 52.52%11,540 | 3.32%730 |
| 1996[6] | 42.15%8,862 | 48.45%10,187 | 9.40%1,975 |
| 1992[6] | 32.51%8,083 | 46.04%11,448 | 21.45%5,335 |
| 1988[8] | 32.02%7,189 | 67.98%15,266 | 0.00%0 |
| 1984[9] | 25.88%5,301 | 74.12%15,179 | 0.00%0 |
