Hazel Crest, Illinois

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Hazel Crest, Illinois
Location within Chicagoland. The Chicagoland tristate area.
Incorporated Village in 1911.
County; State Cook; Illinois
Township Bremen, Rich, Thornton
Government Council-manager
Mayor Dr. Robert B. Donaldson
Population (2000) 14,816 (up 11.11% from 1990)
Pop. density 1,692.5/km² (4,381.5/mi²)
Zip code(s) 60429
Area code 708
Land area 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²)
Income Per capita:   $19,908
Household: $50,576
Home value Mean:    $113,545 (2000)
Median: $97,200
Website www.villageofhazelcrest.com
Demographics (Full data)
White Black Hispanic Asian Islander Native Other
19.47% 76.32% 3.33% 0.93% 0.02% 0.12% 1.48%

Hazel Crest is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 14,816 at the 2000 census. The Village is located in the Chicago Southland region and is less than 20 miles south of Chicago. The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC), now known as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), projects that by 2030, Hazel Crest will have 15,786 residents and 3,570 jobs compared to the 2000 U.S. Census Estimate of 14,816 and 2,933 respectively. Major employers in the Village are listed as follows:

  • Mi-Jack
  • Advocate South Suburban Hospital
  • Graycor Construction
  • Giercyzk Real Estate
  • Waterford Estates Retirement

Two of the companies listed above are located within the Palmer Lake Corporate Business Park at 175th Street and Governors Highway

Contents

[edit] History

Hazel Crest was first settled in 1870 in a farming community known as South Harvey. An enterprising newspaper editor named William McClintock moved here from Ohio in 1890, buying 80 acres from farmer Fred Puhrman.

McClintock built a depot so that the local milk train would stop here, and this single move opened up transportation opportunities to Chicago and beyond. The little depot which he built served as the area’s first real estate office, a public meeting place, a Sunday School room, a day school, and eventually, the post office.

In 1900, the name was changed to Hazel Crest to reflect the large numbers of hazelnut bushes that grew on a rise of land just South of town. At the time, the southern border was 175th Street and the western edge of the Village was Kedzie Avenue.

Hazel Crest was incorporated in 1912. Many of the families of the early residents still live in the Village, and they continue the founders’ tradition of community involvement and commitment to excellence.

Over the years, significant developments have occurred because groups of residents joined together for common goals. Examples of this spirit range from the construction of the Community Church in 1894 to the 1984 adaptation of an elementary school building which has now become the Martin J. Kauchak Municipal Center, named for President Kauchak who served the Village for twenty years.

[edit] Geography

Hazel Crest is located at 41°34′23″N, 87°41′9″W (41.573084, -87.685870)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²). 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.59%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 14,816 people, 5,067 households, and 3,729 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,692.5/km² (4,381.5/mi²). There were 5,303 housing units at an average density of 605.8/km² (1,568.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 19.47% White, 76.32% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.33% of the population.

There were 5,067 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.39.

In the village the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,576, and the median income for a family was $54,049. Males had a median income of $40,482 versus $33,243 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,908. About 5.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Governing Structure

As of January, 2007, the Village Board is comprised of the following:

  • Mayor Dr. Robert "Bob" Donaldson
  • Clerk Dr. Florine Robinson
  • Village Manager Robert L. Palmer

Mayor Pro Tempore/Trustee Dr. Jane P. Brown

Trustee Elizabeth Wakefield-Waldren

Trustee Lee Fantroy

Trustee Eric Leaner

Trustee Vernard Alsberry

Trustee Susan Pate

All Trustees are elected At-large.

Federal, State and Local Government Elected Officials

Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. D-Chicago

  • 19th State Senate District of Illinois

State Senator M. Maggie Crotty D-Oak Forest

  • 38th State Representative District of Illinois

State Representative Al Riley D-Park Forest (former State Rep. Robin Kelly, now Chief of Staff for Alexi Ginnoulias, Illinois State Treasurer.

  • 15th State Senate District of Illinois

Rev. James T. Meeks D-Calumet City

  • 30th State Representative District of Illinois

State Representative William Davis D-East Hazel Crest


[edit] Transportation

Several modes of transportation serve the Village of Hazel Crest.

Major Arteries

  • 167th Street
  • 175th Street
  • 183rd Street
  • Kedzie Avenue
  • Pulaski Road
  • Wood Street
  • Dixie Highway
  • Governors Highway

To the east, in Hazel Crest Proper, are portions of the Canadian National / Illinois Central intermodal facility. Along on the train tracks, is the Metra Electric Line. The Hazel Crest station moves commuters either north to downtown Chicago at the Millennium Station or south to University Park, the last stop on the line.

Hazel Crest serves as the locale of where Interstate 80 merges with the Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294).

The village also has an extensive array of state highways. The intersection of 175th Street and Kedzie Aveneue is located the center of the village. Also, 167th Street intersects with Kedzie on the north side of the village and Kedzie Avenue also intersects at 183rd Street to the south, all are divided four lane highways except for 167th Street before intersecting at Park Avenue.

[edit] Education

Hazel Crest is served by three elementary school districts which include, Prairie-Hills Elementary School District 144, Hazel Crest Elementary School District 152.5, and Flossmoor Elementary School District 161. Three high school districts service the village, they include;

School District 144 operates Mae Jemison, Highlands, and Chateaux Elementary Schools in Hazel Crest and six others in surrounding areas. School District 152.5 operates Woodland Elementary School in Hazel Crest and two others in surrounding communities. School District 161 operates five elementary schools outside that serve the village.

There are no high schools in Hazel Crest. High School District 205 operates three high schools; Thornton Township High School, Thornwood High School (which some village residents attend), and Thornridge High School. High School District 228 operates four high schools; Hillcrest High School, a combination of names (Country Club Hills and Hazel Crest) in neighboring Country Club Hills (where the majority of Hazel Crest high school students attend), Bremen High School, Oak Forest High School, and Tinley Park High School.

Hazel Crest sits in two community college districts, South Suburban College in South Holland and Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.

[edit] Housing

There are a number of subdivisions in Hazel Crest, but there are only six people really identify with, Hazel Crest Proper, Chateaux/Versailles, Pottawatomie Hills/Twin Creeks, Highlands, Dynasty Lakes, and Stonebridge.

There are many condominiums in Hazel Crest. English Valley, Stonebridge, Gingko, Ironwood, and Water's Edge Condominums range from $34,000 to $128,000 in pricing.

Housing prices range anywhere from $30,000 to $450,000.

[edit] Hospitals

Hazel Crest is home to Advocate South Suburban Hospital. This hospital was once located at 171st Street and Dixie Highway in Hazel Crest Proper in 1946 and was known as Hazel Crest General Hospital. The hospital is located at 177th & Kedzie Avenue Advocate South Suburban Hospital underwent a $20 million expansion project as of 2005.

[edit] External links

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