Wilmette, Illinois

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Coordinates: 42°04′38″N 87°43′25″W / 42.07722°N 87.72361°W / 42.07722; -87.72361
Wilmette, Illinois
Village
Coat of arms
Country United States
State Illinois
County Cook
Township New Trier Township
Elevation 636 ft (194 m)
Coordinates 42°04′38″N 87°43′25″W / 42.07722°N 87.72361°W / 42.07722; -87.72361
Area 5.41 sq mi (14 km2)
 - land 5.40 sq mi (14 km2)
 - water 0.01 sq mi (0 km2)
Population 27,087 (2010)
Density 5,016.1 / sq mi (1,937 / km2)
Founded 1872
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code 60091
Area code 847 and 224
Location of Wilmette within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Wilmette, Illinois
Website: www.wilmette.com

Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located 14 miles (23 km) north of Chicago's downtown district (4 mi or 6 km from Chicago's northern border) and had a population at the 2010 census of 27,087.[1] Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore region. In 2007, Wilmette was ranked as the seventh best place to raise children in the U.S., according to Business Week.[2]

Geography

Wilmette is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan and is a near northern suburb of Chicago, immediately north of Evanston at 42°4′38″N 87°43′25″W / 42.07722°N 87.72361°W / 42.07722; -87.72361 (42.077178, -87.723736)[3]. The North Shore Channel drainage canal empties into Lake Michigan at Wilmette Harbor.

According to the 2010 census, the village has a total area of 5.41 square miles (14.0 km2), of which 5.40 square miles (14.0 km2 or 99.82%) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.026 km2 or 0.18%) is water.[4]

Wilmette has a well-developed urban forest and since 1983 has enjoyed "Tree City" status.[5][6] As of 2006, village parkways hosted more than 18,600 trees comprising 150 species and sub-species; over 2,800 of these trees were ash trees threatened by the emerald ash borer infestation.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880419
—
18901,458248.0%
19002,30057.8%
19104,943114.9%
19207,81458.1%
193015,23394.9%
194017,22613.1%
195018,1625.4%
196028,26855.6%
197032,13413.7%
198028,229−12.2%
199026,530−6.0%
200027,6514.2%
201027,087−2.0%
Decennial US Census

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 27,087 people, 9,742 households, and 7,533 families residing in the village. The population density was 5,016.1 people per square mile (1,934.8/km2). There were 10,290 housing units at an average density of 1,905.6 per square mile (735.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 85.5% White, 0.8% African American, 0.1% Native American, 10.8% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.8% some other race, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.[1]

There were 9,742 households, out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were headed by married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.23.[1]

In the village the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 16.4% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.8 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.[1]

For the period 2009-11, the estimated median annual income for a household in the village was $117,526, and the median income for a family was $144,885. Male full-time workers had a median income of $107,768 versus $61,939 for females. The per capita income for the village was $64,759. About 1.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.[9]

The village ranks 46th on the list of highest-income places in the United States with a population of over 10,000.

History

Before European settlement, a Potawatomi village was located on "Indian Hill", currently the site of a golf course in nearby Winnetka.[10] The village is named in honor of Antoine Ouilmette, a French-Canadian fur trader married to Archange, a Potawatomi. For his part in persuading local Native Americans to sign the second Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1829, the U.S. government awarded Ouilmette 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) of land in present-day Wilmette and Evanston.

German Catholic farmers from the area of Trier began settling the area in the 1840s. They named their village, which was centered west of Ridge Road, Gross Point. In 1848, Ouilmette sold his land to farmers and developers.

The Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad tracks were built in 1854, facilitating the settlement of what would become the North Shore. In 1857, John G. Westerfield built pickle and vinegar factories in the area. Other early commercial development included a cooperage, a brick kiln, and an icehouse.

In 1869, the Chicago & Milwaukee constructed the first station in the area. Within a few years, the village of Wilmette was incorporated, on September 19, 1872; the village of Gross Point was incorporated on September 19, 1874.[11] September 19 is celebrated locally as Charter Day.

Wilmette was nearly annexed by its neighbor to the south, Evanston, in 1894 and 1897. Proponents wanted to take advantage of Evanston's then superior fire, police, and water works. One annexation referendum lost by a vote of 168 to 165; three others also failed.[12][13]

The Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee (North Shore Line) arrived in 1899 and connected with a Milwaukee Road line into Chicago.

Gross Point's municipal revenues were dependent on the 15 taverns in town. With Prohibition, these revenues disappeared and the village went bankrupt. It was annexed in two parts by Wilmette in 1924 and 1926.[10]

A naval gunboat, named the USS Wilmette, was commissioned in 1918. The vessel was originally the SS Eastland, a passenger ship which in July 1915 rolled over in the Chicago River, resulting in the deaths of 844 passengers and crew and marking the largest loss of life from a single shipwreck in Great Lakes history. The gunboat served as a training ship for naval reservists in the 9th, 10th, and 11th Naval Districts and later trainees from the Naval Station Great Lakes. The gunboat was decommissioned in 1940. During August 1943 the Wilmette was given the honor of transporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Admiral William D. Leahy, James F. Byrnes and Harry Hopkins on a 10-day cruise to McGregor and Whitefish Bay to plan strategies for World War Two.

In 1942, Wilmette annexed No Man's Land, an unincorporated triangular shoreline area bordering Kenilworth, in the vicinity of the present day Plaza del Lago, that had been the subject of numerous municipal disputes and the site of a failed club hotel complex.

The oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship was constructed in Wilmette between 1920 and 1953.[14][15] See "Attractions" below.

Wilmette was also the site of a significant fireworks explosion. According to the 'Wilmette Life,[16] an explosion occurred on March 24, 1978, at 1221 Cleveland Avenue. The owner of the home, George Murray Yule, "had an illegal fireworks factory in the basement of his home." As the newspaper notes, the house was destroyed and "Yule died two weeks later of burns and injuries suffered." Homes in the immediate vicinity were damaged. The sound of the explosion could be heard several miles away, as the author of this entry can confirm. Yule, a 54 year old heating technician, had been illegally manufacturing fireworks in his basement. He was eventually linked to an interstate fireworks ring and was the owner of a warehouse in Chicago from which 10 tons of chemicals were seized. He was, furthermore, linked to a fireworks explosion at a warehouse in McHenry, Illinois, in which five people were injured.[17]

In 2012 Random House published Kurt Andersen's third novel, True Believers. The novel's three main characters grew up in Wilmette during the 1960s. The book is a gold mine of mid–twentieth century Wilmette history, including a reference to a Woolworth's store once located in the Eden's Plaza shopping center—as well as a prominent Encyclopædia Britannica sign once displayed on Wilmette Avenue.

Village government

Wilmette is governed by a village board composed of six trustees and a president. Trustees serve staggered, four-year terms and are elected at large. The current village trustees are Mike Basil, Cameron Krueger, Ted McKenna, Karen Spillers, Alan Swanson, and Mari Terman. The current village president is Chris Canning. Trustee elects for a four-year term starting in April 2011 are Mike Basil, Bob Bielinski, and Julie Wolf.

In 2004, Wilmette was one of the first localities in Illinois to enact a ban on smoking in all public spaces, including bars and restaurants. Also that year, the village government prosecuted local resident Hale DeMar, age 59, for violating the town's handgun ban when he shot a burglar inside his house.[18]

The handgun ban was enacted in direct response to an incident in 1988 when Laurie Dann opened fire on a classroom full of children in neighboring Winnetka. The handgun ban has since been repealed in 2008 after the U.S Supreme Court struck down a similar ban in Washington, D.C.[19]

Education

For grade school education, Wilmette is served by Wilmette Public Schools District 39 which includes elementary schools (grades K–4) Central, Harper, McKenzie, and Romona, Highcrest Middle School (grades 5 & 6), and Wilmette Junior High School (grades 7 & 8).[20] Marie Murphy School, also located in Wilmette, is part of Avoca School District 37. It has the longest school day in the state of Illinois.[21]

There are also several parochial elementary schools in the area, including St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph.[22][23] Other private schools in Wilmette include the Ronald Knox Montessori School.[24]

For public secondary or high school education, serving grades 9 to 12, Wilmette students attend New Trier High School. High school freshmen attend classes at the Northfield campus while other grades attend the Winnetka campus. Wilmette is also home to Catholic high schools Loyola Academy and Regina Dominican High School.

Arlyn School in Wilmette is an alternative school supported by member school districts in the area. It serves junior high and high school students who have been referred by school districts, community agencies, private practitioners, and parents.[25]

The Wilmette Public Library provides educational support to students at all grade levels, including those residing in neighboring Kenilworth.

Attractions

US Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette

Wilmette is home to the Bahá'í House of Worship, the continental Bahá'í House of Worship for North America and presently the only one in the United States, as well as the administrative offices for the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly. In 2007 the house of worship was named as one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois" by the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.[26] It is open seven days a week to anyone who wishes to visit. There is no charge and no collection is taken. Bahá'ís are forbidden from accepting money from others.

Wilmette has a two-theater multiplex named the Wilmette Theater located on Central Avenue in one of its downtowns. This theater shows classic films, contemporary movies, as well as hosting live performances.

Wilmette has three shopping centers. One of them is Plaza del Lago, one of the nation's oldest shopping centers. It is located along Sheridan Road. The other two, Edens Plaza and West Lake Plaza, are on Lake Street along the Edens Expressway.

Other attractions include Gillson Park with beach access, marina, and an off-leash area for dogs; Langdon Beach; and Centennial Park, with a public swimming pool, tennis and ice-skating facilities.[27][28]

Gillson Park hosts a wide variety of activities that the whole family can enjoy. The beach has been a local attraction for decades. Swimming in the beach is only allowed in specific areas of the water. The park also provides its visitors with a part of the beach called the Dog Beach. Here, visitors are allowed to bring their dogs for a fun day in the water. Depending on the weather conditions, the park's beaches may be temporarily closed in order to maintain the safety of the park's visitors.[29]

Gillson Park also hosts a public theater, the Wallace Bowl, which is open during the summer season. This theater provides a variety of performances throughout the summer. The park also provides many opportunities for sports enthusiasts. Tennis courts are open from sunrise to after sunset, and there is space for people to play beach volleyball and soccer. Built-in grills for barbecuing are available throughout the park.[30]

Architecture

In addition to the Bahá'í House of Worship, Wilmette is famous for several other examples of religious architecture.

The oldest existing church building in Wilmette is the First Congregational Church (1909) designed in the Tudor Revival style. Trinity United Methodist Church (1928) is a Neo-Gothic structure and was designed and constructed by Granger & Bollenbacher of Wisconsin Lannonstone. The church features stained glass windows by Willet Studios of Philadelphia, among the top American studios during the 1920s. The church was used as a filming location for Home Alone.[31]

Both St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier Church were designed by the firm of McCarthy, Smith and Eppig. St. Joseph's is Wilmette's oldest religious congregation, established in 1843. The present building (1939) is among the finest examples of Art Deco architecture on the North Shore. The interior is particularly well preserved and features Art Deco light fixtures and stained glass windows designed and fabricated by Giannini & Hilgart of Chicago. The altar floor and sanctuary wall contain Italian and French marble inlaid with Portuguese onyx. The Stations of the Cross are pastel-hued mosaics crafted in the Vatican Studio of Mosaics in Rome. The design and materials of the Y-shaped school designed by Herman J. Gaul of Chicago and constructed in 1934, and the adjacent rectory, harmonize with the church. St. Francis Xavier Church (1939) was designed in the Late Gothic Revival mode while McCarthy, Smith & Eppig were simultaneously working on St. Joseph's. The stained glass windows were made with English and German imported glass by the famed F. X. Zettler Studios of Munich and New York. St Francis Xavier School (1924), just east of the church, is a unique modern blend of Gothic architecture by Chicago architect Barry Byrne.

Wilmette has two houses built by Frank Lloyd Wright: the Frank J. Baker House (and carriage house) and the Lewis Burleigh House (also known as the JJ O'Connor House[32]).[33][34]

  • Frank Baker House

  • Gross Point Village Hall, now the Wilmette Historical Society

Historic preservation

These places in Wilmette are on the National Register of Historic Places:[35]

Site Address Listed
Baha'i Temple 100 Linden Ave. 1978
Bailey-Michelet House 1028 Sheridan Rd. 1982
Frank J. Baker House 507 Lake Ave. 1974
Alfred Bersbach House 1120 Michigan Ave. 2003
Chicago and Northwestern Depot 1135-1141 Wilmette Ave. 1975
Gross Point Village Hall 609 Ridge Rd. 1991
Linden Avenue Terminal 330 Linden Ave. 1984
Oak Circle Historic District 318-351 Oak Circle 2001
Ouilmette North Historic District 46 blocks: Chesnut Ave, Sheridan Rd., Lake Ave. and 13th St. 2005

Transportation

Linden Avenue 'L' Station

The North Shore Line through Wilmette was abandoned in 1955. Wilmette is currently served by the Chicago Transit Authority's Purple Line, the Metra commuter trains operated by Union Pacific Railroad on the old Chicago & Northwestern Railway line, and by the Pace suburban bus system. The northernmost station of the Purple Line is located at Linden Avenue in Wilmette. Wilmette's commuter railroad station is at Green Bay Road and Washington Avenue.

Sustainability

The village of Wilmette has a stated commitment to "promoting and creating a more sustainable environment through energy efficiency, improved stormwater management, water conservation, pollution reduction, and recycling." Wilmette and 11 other communities are competing in the ComEd Community Energy Challenge for a $100,000 prize for energy consumption reduction.[36] The village has implemented some lighting and heating efficiency programs in some municipal buildings.[37] Each year since 2010, the village partners with Go Green Wilmette to present Going Green Matters: Wilmette's Green Fair,[38] a sustainable living and recycling event that attracts over 1,000 residents, exhibitors, vendors, and activists.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Wilmette, Illinois

Sister cities

Wilmette's sister city in Australia is Mona Vale in Pittwater Council, New South Wales, and they participate in an annual student exchange program between their high schools. Mona Vale and Wilmette are connected spiritually as well: each is home to a continental Bahá'í House of Worship, of which there are seven in the world with an eighth under construction.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Wilmette village, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved March 20, 2013. 
  2. ↑ Douglas MacMillan (2007-11-16). "Great Places to Raise Kids -- for Less". Business Week. Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  4. ↑ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files for Places – Illinois". United States Census. Retrieved 2012-10-13. 
  5. ↑ "Tree City USA / The Village of Wilmette". Village of Wilmette. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  6. ↑ "Tree Cities Around the Nation". Arbor Day Foundation. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  7. ↑ "Second Illinois Emerald Ash Borer Infestation Confirmed In Wilmette". Press release. Illinois Department of Agriculture. July 13, 2006. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  8. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  9. ↑ "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates (DP03): Wilmette village, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved March 20, 2013. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Historical Development of Wilmette". Village of Wilmette. Archived from the original on 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2008-01-15. 
  11. ↑ "About Our Historic Building". Wilmette Historical Museum. Retrieved 2008-01-15. 
  12. ↑ "Encyclopedia of Chicago, Wilmette, IL". Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 2008-01-15. 
  13. ↑ Scott, David W. (2005-Mar/Apr). "North suburban history: Temperance, tolerance, and the shaping of the northshore". Illinois Heritage. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
  14. ↑ Nancy Ryan. "Bahais celebrate anniversary; Faith's House of Worship in Wilmette 75 years old". Chicago Tribune. June 12, 1987. 6.
  15. ↑ Whitmore, Bruce W. (1984). The Dawning Place. Baha'i Publishing Trust. p. 230. ISBN 0-87743-193-0. 
  16. ↑ Wilmette Life. March 23, 1978. (Cover story)
  17. ↑ Wilmette Life, March 24, 2005. (Pioneer Press).
  18. ↑ Robert VerBruggen (June 2005). "Self-defense vs. municipal gun bans". Reason. Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  19. ↑ http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/handgun.ban.wilmette.2.779941.html
  20. ↑ "Wilmette Public Schools District 39". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  21. ↑ "Avoca School District". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  22. ↑ "St. Francis Xavier Parochial School". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  23. ↑ "St. Joseph Parochial School". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  24. ↑ "Ronald Knox Montessori School". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  25. ↑ "Arlyn School". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  26. ↑ "Seven Wonders of Illinois". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  27. ↑ "Gillson Park". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  28. ↑ "Centennial Park". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  29. ↑ "Gilson Park". Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  30. ↑ "Starlight Theater & Mallinckrodt Concerts". Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  31. ↑ "Trinity United Methodist Church". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  32. ↑ http://www.prairiestyles.com/wright_comm.htm
  33. ↑ "The Baker House". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  34. ↑ "The Lewis Burleigh House". Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  35. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. 
  36. ↑ The Village of Wilmette. "Green Initiatives Home - The Village of Wilmette". Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  37. ↑ "Village Facilities - The Village of Wilmette". Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  38. ↑ "Going Green Matters". Retrieved 2010-03-19. 

Further reading

  • Ebner, Michael. Creating Chicago's North Shore: A Suburban History. 1988.
  • Holley, Horace. Wilmette Story. 1951.

External links

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