Grant Park, Illinois

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Grant Park has a total area of 3.44 sqmi, of which 3.41 sqmi (or 99.27%) is land and 0.03 sqmi (or 0.73%) is water.

Weather events

In 1912 a large tornado swept through grant park destroying several homes in the northern portion of the village, injuring multiple residents.

A second large scale tornado struck grant park April 7, 1948, killing 3, and injuring 8. Extensive damage to homes and livestock was done. this tornado is considered the worst tornado in the history of Kankakee County.

On April 7, 1954, a third tornado caused one fatality, and two minor injuries. Several millions of dollars in damage was done.

On August 10, 2020, a relatively small tornado touched down in Grant Park. It caused major damage to trees and roofs along its path, which ended just nearing Lake Metonga. This tornado formed from the bigger August 2020 Midwest derecho.

Demographics

There were 511 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 5.68% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 27.01% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.74% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.95 and the average family size was 3.27.

The village's age distribution consisted of 36.6% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $63,688, and the median income for a family was $75,114. Males had a median income of $48,456 versus $29,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $24,845. About 5.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Grant Park contains a preschool, elementary school, middle school, and a high school. The mascot for the elementary school, middle school, and high school is the Dragons and the colors are green and gold.

The high school followed a block schedule in which students attend four 87-minute class periods a day, but is now going back to 8 hours a day and tray lunches.

Notable people

• Richard L. Alexander, World War II fighter ace, was born here

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 2398191
3. "Grant Park Chamber of Commerce".
4. Welcome. "History of Grant Park".
5. "Explore Census Data".
6. US Census Bureau. "Gazetteer Files".
7. Welcome. "History of Grant Park".
8. Welcome. "History of Grant Park".
9. Welcome. "History of Grant Park".
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.