Skokie, Illinois
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Skokie is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. It is a suburb of Chicago, located 16 miles north - northwest of downtown Chicago. Like Chicago, it is part of Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 63,348.
The Yellow Line of the Chicago Transit Authority has a stop on Dempster Street in Skokie (the Skokie Swift).
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Geography
Skokie is located at 42°2'13" North, 87°44'24" West (42.037030, -87.740070)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 26.0 km² (10.0 mi²). 26.0 km² (10.0 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Skokie is bordered by Evanston, Chicago, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, and Wilmette.
Skokie has a grid like street pattern with major east-west streets every half a mile. Major east-west streets are Old Orchard Road, Golf Road, Church Street, Dempster Street, Main Street, Oakton Street, Howard Street, and Touhy Avenue. The major north-south streets are Skokie Boulevard, Crawford Avenue, and McCormick Boulevard.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 63,348 people, 23,223 households, and 17,045 families residing in the village. The population density is 2,436.1/km² (6,308.7/mi²). There are 23,702 housing units at an average density of 911.5/km² (2,360.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 68.92% White, 4.51% African American, 0.17% Native American, 21.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 3.23% from two or more races. 5.71% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 23,223 households out of which 32.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% are married couples living together, 9.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% are non-families. 23.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.68 and the average family size is 3.20.
In the village the population is spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $57,375, and the median income for a family is $68,253. Males have a median income of $44,869 versus $33,051 for females. The per capita income for the village is $27,136. 5.4% of the population and 4.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Skokie was originally incorporated in 1888 with the name Niles Centre. Historians estimate that around 1910, the spelling was changed to Niles Center. Confusion was caused by the neighboring village of Niles (both villages were within Niles Twp), and a campaign emerged to change the village's name by the late 1930's. The community became known as the Village of Skokie on November 15, 1940.
Schools
High Schools
See 
for the borders between the districts.
- Niles West of District 219
- Niles North of District 219
- Evanston Township High School of District 202 (Which only serves students who live on the border of Skokie and Evanston around Demspter St and McCormick Blvd)
Elementary Schools
See 
for the borders between districts.
- Jane Stenson School of District 68
- Devonshire School of District 68
- Highland School of District 68
- Madison School (pre-K through 2nd) of District 69
- Edison School (3rd through 5th) of District 69
- Fairview South (pre-K through 8th) of District 72
- Elizabeth Meyer Pre-School of District 73.5
- John Middleton Elementary School of District 73.5
- East Prairie Elementary of District 73
Junior High Schools
See the same map as elementary schools.
- Lincoln Junior High of District 69
- Old Orchard Junior High of District 68
- Oliver McCracken Middle School of District 73.5
- Fairview South of District 72
- East Prairie Middle School of District 73
Higher Education
- Oakton Community College (Ray Hartstein Campus)
Population Trends
- 1900 - 529
- 1910 - 568
- 1920 - 763
- 1930 - 5,007
- 1940 - 7,172
- 1950 - 14,832
- 1960 - 59,364
- 1970 - 68,627
- 1980 - 60,278
- 1990 - 59,432
- 2000 - 63,348
- 2002 - 63,126 (estimate)
Skokie is also the traditional home of Chicago's Jewish population, although in recent years the town has significantly diversified and much of the Jewish population has moved to other suburbs. In 1977 and 1978, members of the National Socialist Party of America (Nazis) attempted to march through Skokie. Because of the large Jewish community in Skokie, it was believed that the march would be disruptive, and the city refused to allow it. The American Civil Liberties Union intereceded on the behalf of the NSPA, and the march was permitted to proceed under court order, however, the Nazis failed to march on the appointed day possibly because they did not have enough members to carry through with their intention and because of anti-fascist counterdemonstrations.
On July 3, 1999, Creativity disciple Benjamin Nathaniel Smith killed former Northwestern University basketball coach Ricky Byrdsong in front of Byrdsong's house in Skokie. In December 2000, Skokie's courthouse on Old Orchard Road became the stage for yet another anti-Semitic organization, the Ku Klux Klan. The rally met fiery resistance from Anti-Racist Action and the Jewish Defense League.
External links
- Village of Skokie (http://www.skokie.org)
- Skokie History (http://www.skokie.org/about/history.html)
- archive on the Nazi march (http://www.skokie.lib.il.us/s_community/cm_history/attempted_march/)
- The ACLU and the Skokie march (http://www.chicagohistory.org/collections/historyfair/subjects/bibliographies/ACLU_and_nazis_in_Skokie_1978.htm)
