Palos Heights, Illinois

History

Palos Heights was incorporated on April 11, 1959, on its fourth attempt at the ballot with the results 850 to 684. It officially became a city on April 16, 1959. Shortly thereafter, Z. Erol Smith was elected its first mayor and was re-elected three times, serving until 1973. The city’s name derives from the surrounding Palos Township, which was renamed in 1850—on the recommendation of early postmaster Melanchan A. Powell—after Palos de la Frontera, Spain.

In 1965, a group of scholars met in Palos Heights to discuss the need for a contemporary translation of the Bible. The necessity of the project was agreed upon, and shortly thereafter, the New International Version (NIV) was initiated in Palos Heights.

Beginning in the late 1980s under Mayor Eugene Simpson, the city redeveloped land along the Cal-Sag Channel into what became Lake Katherine; a nonprofit nature center was formalized in 2005 to manage the site.

In 2000, plans by the Al Salam Mosque Foundation to purchase a former church building in Palos Heights drew regional and national attention after the city council voted to offer the group money to abandon the sale; Mayor Dean Koldenhoven vetoed the payout. The foundation sued the city, and in May 2005 a federal jury found Palos Heights did not violate the group’s civil rights. Koldenhoven received a 2002 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his stance during the dispute.

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Cook County prosecutors filed a hate-crime case after a 39-year-old man attacked a gas-station worker in Palos Heights; the defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, unlawful use of a weapon, and a hate crime.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Palos Heights has a total area of 3.87 sqmi, of which 3.77 sqmi (or 97.47%) is land and 0.10 sqmi (or 2.53%) is water.

Neighborhoods

Palos Heights has the following neighborhoods, each with distinct characteristics:

• Lake Katherine
• Colonial Heights/Old Palos
• Downtown
• Ishnala
• Laurel Glen
• Navajo Hills
• Oak Hills Country Club Village
• Old Westgate
• Palos Pines
• Westgate Valley

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census there were 12,068 people, 4,625 households, and 3,407 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,116.74 PD/sqmi. There were 5,114 housing units at an average density of 1,320.76 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 90.25% White, 1.91% Asian, 1.67% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.32% from other races, and 4.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.35% of the population.

There were 4,625 households, out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.46% were married couples living together, 9.04% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.34% were non-families. 21.75% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 2.55.

The city's age distribution consisted of 17.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 30.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $90,995, and the median income for a family was $105,134. Males had a median income of $64,583 versus $44,342 for females. The per capita income for the city was $44,721. About 3.8% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 11,561 people, 4,123 households, and 3,133 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,978.6 /mi2. There were 4,268 housing units at an average density of 1,129.0 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 96.39% White, 0.44% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.06% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

The top five ancestries reported in Palos as of the 2000 census were Irish (27.2%), German (20.5%), Polish (14.1%), Italian (10.5%) and Dutch (9.1%).

There were 4,123 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $69,907, and the median income for a family was $81,100. Males had a median income of $61,786 versus $37,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,895. About 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Palos Heights is divided between three congressional districts. Most of the city, including all the area in Worth Township, is in Illinois's 1st congressional district; most of the area in Palos Township, excepting some of the southern portions (generally south of 131st Street) are in the 3rd district; an area under 0.05 sqmi northeast of 131st Street and 80th Avenue, along with a small area around Palos Community Hospital, is in the 13th district. The City Council is made up of a mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and eight aldermen from wards:

• Bob Straz (mayor)
• Tom Kantas (city clerk)
• James Daemicke (treasurer)
• Aldermen Jeffrey Key & Don Bylut (1st Ward)
• Aldermen Bob Basso & Jack Clifford (2nd Ward)
• Aldermen Alan Fulkerson and Dolores Kramarski (3rd Ward)
• Aldermen Michael McGrogan and Jerry McGovern (4th Ward)

The City Administrator is Dan Nisavic.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Palos Heights is served by four school districts. The four districts are: Palos Heights School District 128, Palos Community Consolidated School District 118, Community High School District 218, and Consolidated High School District 230.

District 128 operates one pre-school (Indian Hill), two elementary schools (Chippewa and Navajo Heights), and a junior high school (Independence). District 118 also operates two elementary schools (Palos East and Palos West) and a middle school (Palos South). The district's Palos East elementary is situated within the city's boundaries.

Community High School District 218's Alan B. Shepard High School serves Palos Heights and several neighboring communities. Students can choose from more than 200 different courses, including advanced placement courses, foreign language, computer programming, computer-aided design, robotics, graphic design, and desktop publishing. In addition, students can participate in a full roster of sports.

Consolidated High School District 230's Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, located in Palos Hills, serves Palos Heights students living west of Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43). It also offers more than 200 courses designed to meet the academic needs of college-bound students and the training needs of career-oriented students.

Several private and parochial schools in Palos Heights offer alternatives to public school education. Among the schools are St. Alexander Catholic School, Palos Evangelical Lutheran Elementary School, Elim Christian School, Chicago Christian High School, and Stone Church Christian Academy. Kennedy School is in nearby Palos Hills.

Colleges and universities

Palos Heights students can readily commute to Moraine Valley Community College in nearby Palos Hills. Moraine Valley serves the local residents through classes, seminars, lectures, concerts, plays, and other activities. Trinity Christian College is also located in Palos Heights.

Public library

Palos Heights Public Library serves the community.

Transportation

Palos Heights has a station on Metra's SouthWest Service, which provides daily rail service between the village of Manhattan and Chicago Union Station. Palos Heights is served by three Pace bus routes.

Notable people

· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability. · The article must mention how they are associated with , whether born, raised, or residing. · The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited. · Alphabetical by last name please · All others will be deleted without further explanation

• Brian Bogusevic, outfielder with Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs
• Peter Brown, singer-songwriter, co-wrote Madonna's "Material Girl", was raised in Palos Heights
• Kendall Coyne Schofield, ice hockey Olympic gold medallist and forward with the PWHPA
• David Dombrowski, president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies
• Brendan Houlihan, former member of the Cook County Board of Review
• Jim Hughes, pitcher with Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox
• Arlene Kotil, professional baseball player
• Jennifer Lien, actress (Star Trek: Voyager)
• Christine Magnuson, two-time Olympic swimming medalist
• Ryan Murphy, USA Olympic swimmer
• Ed Olczyk, member of USA hockey team at 1984 Olympics, NHL player, coach and broadcaster
• Tony Pashos, retired professional football player
• Quentin Richardson, forward and guard with the Miami Heat
• Herb Schumann, former Cook County commissioner
• Robin Tunney, actress (The Craft, The Mentalist)
• Paul Vallas, candidate in 2023 Chicago mayoral election, lists a home in Palos Heights as his primary residence.

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".
2. "Palos Heights city, Illinois".
3. "Z Erol Smith". [[Chicago Tribune]].
4. "History".
5. (2008). "History of Palos Hills".
6. "Our History".
7. "Case Studies Workshop". Harvard University.
8. (May 22, 2005). "Jury finds Chicago suburb did not violate Muslims' rights". The Record (Stockton).
9. "Dean Koldenhoven".
10. (2003). "Arab and Muslim Civil Rights Issues in the Chicago Metropolitan Area". U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Illinois Advisory Committee.
11. "2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files".
12. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades".
13. "Explore Census Data".
14. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Palos Heights city, Illinois".
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Palos Heights city, Illinois".
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Palos Heights city, Illinois".
17. "U.S. Census website".
18. "Profile of General Demographic Characteristics, Palos Heights, Illinois".
19. "[http://www.palosheights.org/schools "Schools"]. {{Webarchive. link. (2017-01-31." Palos Heights. Retrieved on January 20, 2017.)
20. link. (2017-02-02 .)
21. "[http://d230.org/information/attendance-areas/ "Attendance Areas"]. {{Webarchive. link. (2017-02-02 . ''[[Consolidated High School District 230]]''. Retrieved January 19, 2017.)
22. (2025-01-17). "Monorails on the rise".
23. [http://www.palosheightslibrary.org/ "Home"]. ''Palos Heights Public Library''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
24. "Pace Bus: Palos Heights Routes".
25. (17 March 2019). "Slowik: Politics muddies race for seats on Moraine Valley Community College board". Chicago Tribune.
26. (20 April 2019). "Jim Hughes Stats".
27. (2 October 2014). "Herb Schumann: Candidate Profile". [[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois).
28. "Vallas Faces Questions About Whether He Lives in Chicago as Officials Launch Probe of Tax Breaks". [[WTTW]] News.