Steger, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steger is a village in Cook and Will County, Illinois. The population was 9,682 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 10,409 as of 2005.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] History

In 1893, John Valentine Steger opened a piano factory on 20 acres of land alongside the railroad south of Chicago Heights. With 324 residents, the village incorporated in 1896. John Steger agreed to pay $400 toward election costs to ensure that the name of the town be dubbed "Steger" rather than "Columbia Heights." Steger Pianos were made in Steger until 1926. By 1920, Steger was considered by some as the “piano capital of the world,” producing more than a hundred pianos a day ^[1].

[edit] Geography

Steger is located at 41°28′14″N, 87°37′52″W (41.470530, -87.630984)^GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 9.1 km² (3.5 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,682 people, 3,862 households, and 2,506 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,062.0/km² (2,747.3/mi²). There were 4,051 housing units at an average density of 444.3/km² (1,149.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 87.61% White, 6.30% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 3.08% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.07% of the population.

There were 3,862 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% 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 3.15.

In the village the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $43,275, and the median income for a family was $54,347. Males had a median income of $40,598 versus $26,398 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,816. About 6.0% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.