palatine, illinois

Palatine is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. It is a northwestern residential suburb of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 65,479.

History

Palatines roots reach back to the 1830s when settlers from New York and New England traveled west to stake their claim in the fertile green prairies they had heard so much about from soldiers who were returning from the 1832 Blackhawk War. Using Indian trails, they continued north and west of the settlement at Fort Dearborn named Chicago, from the Indian phrase for the area which meant "wild onion place." These early pioneers made their homes in the lush groves of trees that became known as Deer Grove, Plum Grove, Englishmans Grove and Highland Grove. George Ela, who built his log cabin in Deer Grove in 1835, is credited with being the first European to live in the area. Two well traveled Indian trails, Woodstock Trail and Lake Zurich Trail, survive in another form todaythey are known as Algonquin Road and Rand Road! The Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad made its way to the Deer Grove Trading Post in 1853. Although the railroad failed, another which ultimately became the Chicago and Northwestern, followed soon after. It is the only left-handed railroad in the country, probably due to the fact that its first engines came from England. A thriving settlement soon grew around the railroad station, guided by the vision of Joel Wood, who surveyed and laid out the Village of Palatine in 1855. The village was incorporated March 19, 1866 and chartered by the state in 1869. Street lights were installed in 1871, after the Village purchased 12 lamps for $3 each and hired a lamplighter for 50 cents a night. Palatine residents take great pride in their long history and deep roots. The George Clayson House, built in 1873 at 224 E. Palatine Road, has been meticulously renovated and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Clayson House Museum holds more than 1,000 treasures of the past from Palatines earliest days. Be sure to stop by for a visit to see, touch and understand the proud history that is Palatines heritage. No history of Palatine would be complete without some mention of the enormous population growth during the last two decades. From 1960 to 1970, the population grew from 11,500 to 25,900 but by 1973 reached 28,800. The most recent census of the Village from 2000 reports a population of 65,479. Today, Palatine operates under the Council-Manager form of government. Six Councilmen are elected on a district basis, while the Mayor and Village Clerk are elected at-large. A professional Village Manager is hired to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Village. Located just 28 miles from Chicagos Loop and 14 miles from OHare International Airport, Palatine puts metropolitan cultural and business advantages within easy reach, while providing an away-from-it-all home town feeling for its residents. A pleasant mix of residential, commercial, light industrial and office space, surrounded by parks and open space, provide Palatine with a solid tax base and a tranquil atmosphere. Recreation and leisure activities abound in Palatine. Civic, religious and community groups of nearly every description welcome new and old residents alike. Dozens of homeowners associations foster a sense of old fashioned neighborliness. Award winning schools are a source of tremendous pride in Palatine.

Other News of Palatine

Palatine is notorious as the location of the Brown's Chicken Massacre in 1993. Seven employees of a local Brown's Chicken & Pasta were shot and their bodies put into the restaurant's freezer, preventing police from establishing a time of death. The unsolved murders scarred Palatine and nearly ruined the Brown's Chicken company. The case was not solved until 2002, when DNA evidence finally pointed to Juan Luna and Jim Degorski; one was a former employee, and both were former students at William Fremd High School.

Government

Palatine operates under the Council-Manager form of local government. Six councilmen are elected from their respective districts, while the entire village elects the Village Clerk and the Mayor. The council then hires a Village Manager to oversee the town's day-to-day operation. The current mayor is Republican Rita Mullins. Palatine is represented in the Illinois House of Representatives by Suzie Bassi (District 54), the Illinois Senate by Wendell Jones (District 27), and the United States House of Representatives by Melissa Bean (District 8).

Education

Palatine is part of Illinois' Community Consolidated District 15 and Township High School District 211. The village is home to two high schools, Palatine High School and William Fremd High School; and one community college, William Rainey Harper College. Both high schools and the college, as well as the public library, have received high national honors.

Geography

Palatine is located at 42°7'1" North, 88°2'26" West (42.116885, -88.040613). According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 34.0 km² (13.1 mi²). 33.6 km² (13.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.99% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 65,479 people, 25,518 households, and 16,586 families residing in the village. The population density is 1,949.2/km² (5,047.2/mi²). There are 26,223 housing units at an average density of 780.6/km² (2,021.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 83.05% White, 2.15% African American, 0.22% Native American, 7.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.08% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. 14.12% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 25,518 households out of which 32.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% are married couples living together, 8.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% are non-families. 27.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.56 and the average family size is 3.18. In the village the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.3 males. The median income for a household in the village is $63,321, and the median income for a family is $76,270. Males have a median income of $50,341 versus $35,342 for females. The per capita income for the village is $30,661. 4.8% of the population and 3.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.2% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

Village of Palatine Home Page - http://palatine.il.us

<< Previous

Word Browser

Next >>

lincolnwood, illinois
lynwood, illinois
lyons, illinois
markham, illinois
matteson, illinois
maywood, illinois
mccook, illinois
melrose park, illinois
merrionette park, illinois
midlothian, illinois
morton grove, illinois

mount prospect, illinois
niles, illinois
norridge, illinois
north riverside, illinois
northbrook, illinois
northfield, illinois
northlake, illinois
oak brook, illinois
oak forest, illinois
oak lawn, illinois
oak park, illinois

olympia fields, illinois
orland hills, illinois
orland park, illinois
list of danish television channels
palos heights, illinois
palos hills, illinois
palos park, illinois
park forest, illinois
park ridge, illinois
phoenix, illinois
posen, illinois

prospect heights, illinois
richton park, illinois
river forest, illinois
river grove, illinois
riverdale, illinois
riverside, illinois
robbins, illinois
rolling meadows, illinois
roselle, illinois
rosemont, illinois
sauk village, illinois