South Holland, Illinois

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South Holland, Illinois
Location within the Chicago metropolitan area. The Chicago metropolitan area.
Incorporated Village in 1894.
County; State Cook; Illinois
Township Thornton
Government Council-Trustee
Mayor Don A. DeGraff
Population (2000) 22,147 (up 0.19% from 1990)
Pop. density 1,174.6/km² (3,042.1/mi²)
ZIP code(s) 60473
Area code 708
Land area 18.9 km² (7.3 mi²)
Income Per capita:   $24,977
Household: $60,246
Home value Mean:    $141,100
Median: $133,600 (2000)
Website www.southholland.org
Demographics (Full data)
White Black Hispanic Asian Islander Native Other
45.04% 50.81% 3.77% 0.86% 0.01% 0.17% 1.92%

South Holland is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,147 at the 2000 census. South Holland also serves as the seat of Thornton Township. South Holland was first settled in 1846 by immigrants from South Holland, the Netherlands. When the town incorporated in 1894, its population was about 1,000. Originally a general farming community, it later specialized in vegetable growing, especially onion sets. Moreover by the 1940s South Holland was known as the Onion Set Capital of the World. The town was built on low ground near the Calumet River and was originally called de Laage Prairie (Low Prairie) to differentiate it from another Dutch settlement further north on higher ground and called de Hooge Prairie (now the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago). The town is known as "SoHo" for short. In October 2007, Forbes.com declared South Holland to be the "Most Livable Metro-Area suburb" of the Chicago metropolitan area.[1]

South Holland was also the setting of the 1925 Pulitzer Prize winning novel So Big! by Edna Ferber. The Widow Paarlberg inspired one of the main characters and her family farm is preserved in a city park.

The village is bordered by Harvey and Phoenix to the west, Dolton to the north, Thornton to the south, and Calumet City to the east.

South Holland is an anomaly in Chicago Southland because of its laws. All businesses (except travel related establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and gas stations) are closed on Sunday. This can be seen easily when driving on one of the village's main thoroughfares--162nd Street or South Park Avenue. South Holland is a "dry" municipality; that is, no alcohol is sold anywhere within the village limits. Additionally, the sale or rental of pornographic material is prohibited in South Holland. The village's franchise agreements with cable television providers restrict on-demand and other adult-oriented programming [1]. Zoning restrictions do not allow the development of apartment buildings or condominiums. These laws are a remnant of the village's religious roots as a settlement of conservative Dutch Reformed immigrants. Even today, South Holland's motto is "A Community of Churches".

South Holland is home to the main campus of South Suburban College.

Contents

[edit] Geography

South Holland is located at 41°35′51″N, 87°35′57″W (41.597472, -87.599097)[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which, 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.27%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 22,147 people, 7,663 households, and 6,007 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,042.1 people per square mile (1,174.6/km²). There were 7,825 housing units at an average density of 1,074.8/sq mi (415.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 50.81% African American, 45.04% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.

There were 7,663 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the village the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $60,246, and the median income for a family was $67,451. Males had a median income of $46,582 versus $35,557 for females. The per capita income for the village was $24,977. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

South Holland is in Illinois' 2nd congressional district.

[edit] Notable People

[edit] Education

South Holland is served by several school districts [2]:

  • School District 150 South Holland [3]
    • Greenwood School (K-3)
    • McKinley Elementary School (4-5)
    • McKinley Junior High School (6-8)
  • South Holland School District 151 [4]
    • Taft School (PreK-1)
    • Eisenhower School (2-3)
    • Madison School (4-5)
    • Coolidge Junior High School (6-8)

The private K-8 schools, Calvin Christian School and Calvary Academy, are also located in South Holland.

Thornton Township High School District 205 [5] serves all of South Holland.

Thornwood High School is located in South Holland. Thornridge High School and Thornton Township High School are also within District 205.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Village of South Holland - Statement regarding the availability of "on-demand" cable programming." http://www.southholland.org/Cable/on_demand_cable.htm.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links