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Forest Park, IL


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Forest Park, Illinois

Introduction to Forest Park, Illinois

Forest Park, Illinois is 1 mile W of Oak Park, Illinois and 8 miles W of Chicago, Illinois. It is in Cook county. The village is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population of Forest Park is 15,688.

Forest Park History

The early settlers were mostly Italian and German immigrants who settled down along Oak Park Spit, which was a high sand ridge running along Des Palines Avenue. The first major land owner in this area was a French Indian trader named Leon Bourassa, who purchased around 160 acres of land in the area in 1839. He was followed by other land owners and the area was eventually incorporated in 1884 as the Town of Harlem. The name was changed to Forest Park in 1907.

Forest Park and nearby Attractions

  • Forest Park Village Hall
  • Unity Temple
  • Brookfield Zoo
  • Ernest Hemingway Museum
  • Cernan Earth & Space Center
  • Forest Preserve Park

Things To Do In Forest Park

The Village of Forest Park has a large park district that offers a variety of amenities for recreation. The Park District includes a well equipped Aquatic Center and a tree lined picnic grove.

Forest Park Transportation

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the nearest major airport.

Forest Park Higher Education

Morton College, Triton College, Wilbur Wright College and Malcolm X College are all in the neighborhood.

High Points

Forest Park strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Illinois):

CategoryTrophy
Public Transportation Use
(vs. Peers)
Top 2%trophyForest Park Public Transportation Use
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. Peers)
Top 5%trophyForest Park Well-Paid Single Women
Racial Diversity
(vs. Peers)
Top 7%Forest Park Racial Diversity
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. Peers)
Top 9%Forest Park Well-Paid Single Men
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)
Top 12%Forest Park College Educated Adults

Comparative Profile of Forest Park, IL

Comparing Forest Park to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Illinois (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Well-Paid Single Women1010
Racial Diversity1010
Well-Paid Single Men1010
Female Share of the Population77
Children Under 5 Years Old56
Age of the Population54
Senior Citizens44
Male Share of the Population44

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Average Household Size11
Portion of People Married11

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
College Educated Adults99
People in Middle Class or Better77
People Above Poverty66
Median Family Income67

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Public Transportation Use1010
Walking and Biking to Work78
Working at Home33
Short Commute Times22

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People Living Alone1010
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals1010
Affordability of Rents43
Affordability of Property Taxes33
Seasonal and Vacation Housing24
Housing Recently Built23

Detailed pages on related topics: Forest Park mortgage and property.

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All StatesIllinois > Forest Park

Additional Details

Forest Park MortgageForest Park Mortgage
Forest Park property, mortgage, and real estate.

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